Archive For The “NEC” Category
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that sometime Lehigh opponent Monmouth recently made a move to leave the Northeast Conference (NEC) in all sports to join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in all the sports that they sponsor.
As it turns out, the MAAC does not sponsor three sports in which the Hawks compete: women’s field hockey, women’s bowling, and football, which meant that Monmouth president Paul G. Gaffney II needed to apply back to the NEC to become an associate member in all three sports to remain.
It didn’t seem impossible that Monmouth would remain in the league in these three sports.
But today, Monmouth got their reply from NEC commissioner Noreen Morris, returning the will of the NEC presidents: yes to field hockey, and no bowling and football.
With Monmouth’s “Plan A” going by the wayside, the Hawks are now certainly looking at their “Plan B”‘s – one of which could very well be the Patriot League.
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(Photo Credit: Lehigh Valley Live/Brown & White)
Back in November, I released a tentative version of Lehigh’s 2013 football schedule, which included 11 games.
There’s nothing earth-shattering about that, either. Most seasons FCS football teams play 11 regular-season games.
But thanks to a quirk in the calendar next season, 2013 offers a rare opportunity for Lehigh: to play a 12th game.
For Lehigh or other schools in the Patriot League, is it a good idea to play a 12th game?
Absolutely.
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(Photo Credit: Staten Island Live)
While the news has broken that Quinnipiac and Monmouth will be accepting bids to the MAAC conference and leaving the NEC in all sports, nothing is official just yet.
The MAAC’s presidents will be conducting a formal vote on the matter tomorrow, and until then, it’s technically speculation.
So is the thought of Wagner and Monmouth headed to other football conferences – something that seems fairly logical, should their moves to the MAAC be confirmed. The MAAC does not sponsor football, and while the Hawks and Seahawks could spend $250,000 in exit money and then re-apply for associate, non-voting membership in the NEC for next season, it’s far from clear whether either party would welcome the arrangement.
If Wagner is thinking about joining the Patriot League in football, what could that mean to them?
It could open up an interesting concept I’ve felt has been a missed opportunity for years – annual contests to see who’s the best FCS team of New York City.
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According to sportswriter Mark Blaudshun, a 30+ year beat veteran of college football now residing in New Jersey, a key move was made by two schools, Monmouth University and Wagner College, that affects the FCS football landscape next season.
“Conference reconfiguration continues on all levels,” the short blog post stated. “According to the sources familiar with the process, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will add Quinnipiac, Wagner and Monmouth from the Northeast Conference. The announcement will be made on Friday.”
In and of itself the announcement doesn’t directly affect the Patriot League. But it might.
With their move to the MAAC, a conference which does not sponsor football, the Seahawks and Hawks now have to make a decision on their football programs.
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