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Bryant University to join Northeast Conference

By KEVIN McNAMARA

SMITHFIELD - Bryant University's athletics department has been accepted as the newest member of the Northeast Conference. The Bulldogs will become a full-fledged member and make the jump from Division II to Division I by the fall of 2012.

The Northeast Conference's presidents voted to accept Bryant at a meeting Wednesday, according to NEC commissioner Brenda Weare. A formal annoucement of the move is expected later today.

The NEC was founded in 1981 by charter members Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island University, Robert Morris, St. Francis (NY), Saint Francis (PA) and Wagner. They are currently joined by Monmouth College, Mount St. Mary’s, Central Connecticut State, Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart.

The NEC currently offers 21 sports for men and women. Bryant is expected to compete is every sport, including football. The Bulldogs currently compete in the Northeast 10 Conference, one of the premier D-II leagues in the East.

Bryant will continue as a Northeast-10 member this year and then begin an NCAA-mandated `transition period' of five years where its teams will play both D-1 and D-II opponents.

``We have extended and offer and bryant has accepted, pending the five-year transition process,'' said the NEC's Weare. ``We're very excited to have Bryant in our league. We hope the next five years go very quickly.''

Posted by Kevin  at 2:39 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Revolution extend contracts for two players

FOXBOROUGH, Mass (AP) - The New England Revolution have signed contract extensions with midfielder Shalrie Joseph and defender Jay Heaps.

Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Joseph, 29, has scored 15 goals and added 16 assists since joining the Revolution in 2003 and is a four-time All-Star. He was drafted by the Revolution in the second round in the 2002 SuperDraft, having previously played in Europe and for the New York Freedoms of the D3 Pro League.

Heaps, 31, is New England's all-time leader in career games, games started and minutes played. The Longmeadow, Mass., native joined the Revolution through a trade with Miami in 2001.

Heaps has scored 16 career goals and added 29 career assists.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:36 PM to Revolution | Permalink | Comments 0

Download today's sports cover

Today's sports cover page details what the Red Sox need to do to revisit history and earn their way to the World Series.

Download a copy of the page in .pdf format.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: Turning to the past for inspiration

Head to the SoxBlog to listen to today's edition of projo SoxTalk with Sean McAdam, and read excerpts from the conversation. The topics: the weather forecast in Cleveland; whether the Sox are more likely to win three straight because they have done it before; the mysterious disappearance of the Boston offense; Cleveland's MVPs; Josh Beckett's ability to pitch deep into tonight's game; Manny Ramirez's post-home-run posing and interesting comments to the media; and the back story to the Yankees' continued dance with Alex Rodriguez.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments 0