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October 18, 2007

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

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