LFN: Eastern Football: Endangered Species?

[Lehigh Football Nation]

http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com/2009/12/northeast-football-endangered-species.html


Two weeks ago, the Colonial Athletic Association had twelve teams, had four of the top teams in FCS, and had the biggest conference in FCS. With Old Dominion coming in 2011 and Goergia State in 2012, the future couldn't have looked any rosier.

Now, CAA football looks like it will be two teams shorter for next year - and the long-term future of CAA football is very, very much in doubt - and makes one wonder, who's the next domino to fall?

[GannonFan]

Well, outside of Rhode Island closing shop, who else is thinking about closing?

Let's not get carried away here, the CAA will be at 11 or 12 teams come 2012, and even before then will be at 10 teams, which I think still makes it the largest FCS conference out there. How is that unhealthy? Northeast football has always been precarious, but UNH, Maine, and UMass aren't going anywhere anytime soon. We all knew some programs were likely to fold, and while Hofstra is the most shocking, it wasn't that shocking about Northeastern nor would it be about Rhode Island. Unless others are falling, and no one seems to think the other 3 Northeastern teams are anywhere close to doing that, I see one more domino falling.

[DFW HOYA]

Canisius, Fairfield, Siena, St. John's, Iona, St. Peter's, Northeastern, Hofstra.

What do all these schools have in common?

1. They are private
2. They could not draw fans; and most importantly,
3. They have a college president who felt like he can get away with it. And did.

What was the last state sponsored school to drop Division I football, Lamar in 1989? (Returning to I-AA in 2010, by the way.) The fact is that a state university president can't keep this under a radar and would be pilloried for doing so. Anyone imagine the response if Patrick Harker told the Delaware faithful that "we could not continue to justify the expense of football compared to the benefits it brought to the University"? Chances are he'd be escorted to the state line.

And does anyone, ANYONE think this budget money stays to improve athletics? Not a chance. Almost every school that says they will reinvest in athletics never does. The cynics would suggest that the Hofstra Presidential Scholarship Fund just got a $4 million gift.

[Bogus Megapardus]

http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com/2009/12/northeast-football-endangered-species.html

My biggest question : are there any Patriot League schools that might be down the path of dominoes started by Northeastern and Hofstra?

Whomsoever do you have in mind, LFN? xconfusedx :(

[DFW HOYA]

OK, Center Valley, here's your chance: pass on Fordham, go to 30 schoalrships, and offer to take URI, UNH and Maine in a package deal. xlolx

In general, does anyone see even the remotest chance the PL will be proactive on expansion? Didn't think so.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

And does anyone, ANYONE think this budget money stays to improve athletics? Not a chance. Almost every school that says they will reinvest in athletics never does. The cynics would suggest that the Hofstra Presidential Scholarship Fund just got a $4 million gift.

So true. I think it's especially hypocritical though when the basketball team is flying around the country already.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Canisius, Fairfield, Siena, St. John's, Iona, St. Peter's, Northeastern, Hofstra.

What do all these schools have in common?

1. They are private
2. They could not draw fans; and most importantly,
3. They have a college president who felt like he can get away with it. And did.

True as well. Woudl BU also apply here?

[letsgopards04]

I think it is a culture thing too. Football is life in the south not as much in the north.So much of my life goes toward supporting my NJ cost of living that I do not have time to visit Lafayette (this year I did not attend a single game). The northeast has a culture of small D3 schools with small uppity crowds and smaller budgets going at it on Saturdays for the purity of the game. I don't think that the NE needs D1 football as much as the South does (although I do).

[Green Cookie Monster]

Hofstra Prez has already said the money would go towards academic endeavors.

[DetroitFlyer]

If anyone at Georgetown would like to know where the PFL application should be mailed, please feel free to contact me....

[T-Dog]

What was the last state sponsored school to drop Division I football, Lamar in 1989? (Returning to I-AA in 2010, by the way.)

East Tennessee State in 2003. xrulesx

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I think it is a culture thing too. Football is life in the south not as much in the north.So much of my life goes toward supporting my NJ cost of living that I do not have time to visit Lafayette (this year I did not attend a single game). The northeast has a culture of small D3 schools with small uppity crowds and smaller budgets going at it on Saturdays for the purity of the game. I don't think that the NE needs D1 football as much as the South does (although I do).

I would say that to be true more so about New England. If you include PA/NJ in to that then i'll beg to differ. PA is one of the best states for any level of football in the country imo. We love our pigskin! NJ while not as fantatical is still a good football state.

New England is different. Those are basketball schools imo. Uconn does the best attendance wise but i'm not sure how long that will continue. All things considered the better Ivy's still draw pretty good. The lack of any real New England FBS program with history hurts. Penn State is the blood of PA and i am not a fan. The Eagles, Giants and Jets carry enough weight in NJ that combined with PSU, ND and recently Rutgers, people have strong bonds. There's also some top notch HS football programs there too.

NY i haven't figured out. Since as a whole it's quite rural, i don't believe HS football is too big which hurts. I could be wrong about that though. Out on Long Island, forget about it.

[RichH2]

NY for reasons I cannot fathom has never been a big football state. Lots of schools playing ball but competition levels are wildly inconsistent thru out the State.

But, football is big in NJ and Pa. Not much in Ne at all. Mass has some good leagues. Coached for 2 years in western Conn. Level of play very low.

Have gone to games at Hofstra. The high school playoffs there bring in crowds 10x larger than at any Hofstra game I saw. Their attendance or lack thereof has been commented on by all of us for years. Sad but HU students just not interested. Heard their Pres on radio. He's right ,if the kids aren't interested why waste the $$ on the program. Money better spent on programs that will benefit kids.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

In the 1930s and 1940s, college football was king in NY state, with Colgate, Cornell, Syracuse, Fordham, and NYU all with credible Top 25 programs. But a decision was made to de-emphasize football after the war and every single one of these programs have suffered. I'd say the genesis of it goes back that far - and since then, the SUNY folks holding the purse strings have been very anti-football in general IMO. To a limited degree that pointy-headed thinking is part of the crowd that bashes SUNY-Binghamton for trying to have a decent basketball program (though in that case, it's more justified).

[hebmskebm]

I would say that to be true more so about New England. If you include PA/NJ in to that then i'll beg to differ. PA is one of the best states for any level of football in the country imo. We love our pigskin! NJ while not as fantatical is still a good football state.

New England is different. Those are basketball schools imo. Uconn does the best attendance wise but i'm not sure how long that will continue. All things considered the better Ivy's still draw pretty good. The lack of any real New England FBS program with history hurts. Penn State is the blood of PA and i am not a fan. The Eagles, Giants and Jets carry enough weight in NJ that combined with PSU, ND and recently Rutgers, people have strong bonds. There's also some top notch HS football programs there too.

NY i haven't figured out. Since as a whole it's quite rural, i don't believe HS football is too big which hurts. I could be wrong about that though. Out on Long Island, forget about it.

Uh, Boston College?

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Syracuse i will be competitive against in the Big East. There's enough people that bleen Orange in CNY to ensure that the current suckiness will not continue forever. However, i don't think you'll see the 'Cuse return to a Top 10 fixture again. At least as long as they continue to play in the dome.

Binghamton could field a successful football team imo. There's enough talent in the immediate and NEPA to field a solid FCS team. BU also carries a good amount of academic cred in the region. It's one of those really smart schools that no one knows about. They would be a great addition to the PL imo. Minus the coke scandal of course.

[Go...gate]

If anyone at Georgetown would like to know where the PFL application should be mailed, please feel free to contact me....

Same goes for Dayton's Patriot League application. xrotatehx

[DFW HOYA]

Georgetown has less than zero interest in the Pioneer and likes it in the Patriot.

Besides, it would do just as well to be an independent, with half the travel.

[Model Citizen]

Georgetown ... would do just as well to be an independent, with half the travel.

Probably just as true for the PFL schools, especially with no more Grid Classic after this year. What's the advantage of being in the PFL versus indy status? It's not like any of the member schools need to play 8-9 I-AA non-scholarship teams to have a functioning schedule...

[UNH Fanboi]

Well, outside of Rhode Island closing shop, who else is thinking about closing?

Let's not get carried away here, the CAA will be at 11 or 12 teams come 2012, and even before then will be at 10 teams, which I think still makes it the largest FCS conference out there. How is that unhealthy? Northeast football has always been precarious, but UNH, Maine, and UMass aren't going anywhere anytime soon. We all knew some programs were likely to fold, and while Hofstra is the most shocking, it wasn't that shocking about Northeastern nor would it be about Rhode Island. Unless others are falling, and no one seems to think the other 3 Northeastern teams are anywhere close to doing that, I see one more domino falling.

I don't see UNH, Maine or UMass folding, but by 2011 the geographic center of the CAA will have shifted significantly southward. There were already rumors about UNH and Maine being unhappy about the addition of GSU and ODU, and the demise of NU and Hofstra will only exacerbate their concerns. I'm not an expert on the situation, but I wouldn't be surprised to see some pressure for them to exit the CAA and join a new more northern conference.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Uh, Boston College?

Boston College does not have that much history. They've been a solid program the last 15 years but historically, definitely not. They did have Flutie and some bright spots here and there but from WWII until Flutie they failed to finish in the top 25.

[Bogus Megapardus]

With all that I am reading today, I am beginning to like my Patriot League more and more just the way it is right now. Fordham - perhaps it's not too late to reconsider.

[BDKJMU]

Hofstra Prez has already said the money would go towards academic endeavors.

Title IX lawsuit, with the men sueing???

I asked this same ? in regards to NU, and no-one answered. HU was in Title IX compliance, right?, as there was no mentioning of this being due to Title IX problems. So now with eliminating football, if all of that $ is plowed back academics as opposed into other mens' sports or some womens' teams are eliminated, would HU be out of Title IX compliance (not enough funding and percent of the athletes being men)?

I would LOVE to see a reverse Title IX lawsuit. That would be interesting.....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

With all that I am reading today, I am beginning to like my Patriot League more and more just the way it is right now. Fordham - perhaps it's not too late to reconsider.

I think it depends on who you are. I don't believe Lehigh would struggle in scholarship football financially assuming they're fielding quality teams, which historically they have. A good team at Lehigh means >10k per game. Lafayette has done ok despite their success. Everyone else struggles to draw support for their teams. Colgate and Bucknell's locations certaintly don't help.

Bucknell is the school who i'd keep my eye on. They're a strange bird when it comes to football.

[Bogus Megapardus]

I think it depends on who you are. I don't believe Lehigh would struggle in scholarship football financially assuming they're fielding quality teams, which historically they have. A good team at Lehigh means >10k per game. Lafayette has done ok despite their success. Everyone else struggles to draw support for their teams. Colgate and Bucknell's locations certaintly don't help.

Bucknell is the school who i'd keep my eye on. They're a strange bird when it comes to football.

PL procedures require Council of Presidents decisions to be unanimous. Do you think there's a chance that Lafayette, Lehigh and Bucknell go their separate ways?

[CFBfan]

PL procedures require Council of Presidents decisions to be unanimous. Do you think there's a chance that Lafayette, Lehigh and Bucknell go their separate ways?

does the unanimous vote requirement govern most leagues??

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

PL procedures require Council of Presidents decisions to be unanimous. Do you think there's a chance that Lafayette, Lehigh and Bucknell go their separate ways?

I could see Bucknell being a bit of a hang up. I just think it's rediculous for everyone to use the same line of thinking when each insitution is in a different situation. From a strickly business/football perspective Lehigh has very little in common with Bucknell imo.

Lehigh is caught in the middle imo when it comes to the PL. They're the ultimate tweener in the league.

[Franks Tanks]

I think it depends on who you are. I don't believe Lehigh would struggle in scholarship football financially assuming they're fielding quality teams, which historically they have. A good team at Lehigh means >10k per game. Lafayette has done ok despite their success. Everyone else struggles to draw support for their teams. Colgate and Bucknell's locations certaintly don't help.

Bucknell is the school who i'd keep my eye on. They're a strange bird when it comes to football.

10k more?

So you are saying Lehigh sells out every game when the team is good?

Hofstra and Northeastern could afford FB just as Lehigh and Lafayette can afford football. They simply choose to no longer make the sacrafices to have a FB team

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

10k more?

So you are saying Lehigh sells out every game when the team is good?

Hofstra and Northeastern could afford FB just as Lehigh and Lafayette can afford football. They simply choose to no longer make the sacrafices to have a FB team

>10k means Lehigh averages more than 10,000 a game.

[mizzoufan1]

I mentioned this a couple weeks ago folks...Northeast Football is in HUGE trouble. I have a feeling that the America East, Patriot and Ivy leagues will be the only Football Playing leagues left after these shakedowns occur...

I have gathered that Lacrosse and Soccer are bigger in the NE than football is.

Realistically guys...how many more private schools are currently conducting "cost analysis" studies? If your a private school and you have a football hating president, I'd worry BIG TIME!

[seattlespider]

I mentioned this a couple weeks ago folks...Northeast Football is in HUGE trouble. I have a feeling that the America East, Patriot and Ivy leagues will be the only Football Playing leagues left after these shakedowns occur...

*I have gathered that Lacrosse and Soccer are bigger in the NE than football is.

**Realistically guys...how many more private schools are currently conducting "cost analysis" studies? If your a private school and you have a football hating president, I'd worry BIG TIME!

*Don't forget about Hockey.

**I agree pretty much. I don't think this is over. Thank god Richmond is getting that new stadium built on campus.

[UNHWILDCATS05]

I mentioned this a couple weeks ago folks...Northeast Football is in HUGE trouble. I have a feeling that the America East, Patriot and Ivy leagues will be the only Football Playing leagues left after these shakedowns occur...

I have gathered that Lacrosse and Soccer are bigger in the NE than football is.

Realistically guys...how many more private schools are currently conducting "cost analysis" studies? If your a private school and you have a football hating president, I'd worry BIG TIME!

UNH is committed (http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20091203-SPORTS-912039974) to remaining in the CAA and to pushing for better facilities...

[Bogus Megapardus]

I have gathered that Lacrosse and Soccer are bigger in the NE than football is.


Trust me - every high school kid on Long Island (where Hofstra is located) walks around cradling a $200.00 titanium lacrosse stick in his hand all day long. They take their sticks to class and they wear their lacrosse shirts and visors (not hats, but visors) everywhere. Every brick or concrete wall is an impromptu practice field, including the cafeteria. From that perspective, lacrosse is what football was 40 years ago.

[UNH Fanboi]

Trust me - every high school kid on Long Island (where Hofstra is located) walks around cradling a $200.00 titanium lacrosse stick in his hand all day long. They take their sticks to class and they wear their lacrosse shirts and visors (not hats, but visors) everywhere. Every brick or concrete wall is an impromptu practice field, including the cafeteria. From that perspective, lacrosse is what football was 40 years ago.

Another reason LI sucks. I hate to stereotype, but lacrosse players are, on average, the douchiest of all athletes I've encountered.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Another reason LI sucks. I hate to stereotype, but lacrosse players are, on average, the douchiest of all athletes I've encountered.

It's cultish, I agree. It's been played in my family for four generations, however. You can blame that little private high school about 10 miles south of Durham for that!

[Jackman]

I have gathered that Lacrosse and Soccer are bigger in the NE than football is.

Those sports still lag waaaaaaaay behind football in attendance, but all the kids up here do grow up playing them. Lacrosse is a spring sport though, so that doesn't really impact football. Youth soccer hurts a bit.

Bigger problem to me is that we have far too many Division I universities in the Northeast all competing with each other. Football is a "big" sport in every sense of the word, and it succeeds best at places where all the resources are centered on a single large institution. We don't have that setup up here, we're like dozens of tiny divided Greek city-states trying to fend off the Roman Empire(s) to the (south)west. Northeastern and Hofstra bowing out probably helps the survivors a little bit in the long run though. It's not like there's a shortage of other teams in the area to play. I think UMass still has around 27 other Division I football teams in bus range.

[aceinthehole]

Those sports still lag waaaaaaaay behind football in attendance, but all the kids up here do grow up playing them. Lacrosse is a spring sport though, so that doesn't really impact football. Youth soccer hurts a bit.

Bigger problem to me is that we have far too many Division I universities in the Northeast all competing with each other. Football is a "big" sport in every sense of the word, and it succeeds best at places where all the resources are centered on a single large institution. We don't have that setup up here, we're like dozens of tiny divided Greek city-states trying to fend off the Roman Empire(s) to the (south)west. Northeastern and Hofstra bowing out probably helps the survivors a little bit in the long run though. It's not like there's a shortage of other teams in the area to play. I think UMass still has around 27 other Division I football teams in bus range.

I kinda agree, the recruiting pool just got bigger, but do you really have 27 teams in bus distance willing to play you? If the PL-IVY only play each other, the pool gets much, much smaller.

[BDKJMU]

Those sports still lag waaaaaaaay behind football in attendance, but all the kids up here do grow up playing them. Lacrosse is a spring sport though, so that doesn't really impact football. Youth soccer hurts a bit.

Bigger problem to me is that we have far too many Division I universities in the Northeast all competing with each other. Football is a "big" sport in every sense of the word, and it succeeds best at places where all the resources are centered on a single large institution. We don't have that setup up here, we're like dozens of tiny divided Greek city-states trying to fend off the Roman Empire(s) to the (south)west. Northeastern and Hofstra bowing out probably helps the survivors a little bit in the long run though. It's not like there's a shortage of other teams in the area to play. I think UMass still has around 27 other Division I football teams in bus range.

Yeah, but close to 80+% of those aren't fully scholly:
-There's only 5 full scholly I-AA left in NJ, NY and the 6 New England States: the remaining 4 in the CAA and SBU.
-Ivy- non scholly
-Patriot: non scholly/equivalencies
-NEC: 35? schollies

5 fully scholly I-AA schools in those 8 states. Not a whole lot compared to the Mid-Atlantic and South.

[Franks Tanks]

Yeah, but close to 80+% of those aren't fully scholly:
-There's only 5 full scholly I-AA left in NJ, NY and the 6 New England States: the remaining 4 in the CAA and SBU.
-Ivy- non scholly
-Patriot: non scholly/equivalencies
-NEC: 35? schollies

5 fully scholly I-AA schools in those 8 states. Not a whole lot compared to the Mid-Atlantic and South.

PA has 14 D-II schools that give scholly's.

[Spiderbone]

I mentioned this a couple weeks ago folks...Northeast Football is in HUGE trouble. I have a feeling that the America East, Patriot and Ivy leagues will be the only Football Playing leagues left after these shakedowns occur...

I have gathered that Lacrosse and Soccer are bigger in the NE than football is.

Realistically guys...how many more private schools are currently conducting "cost analysis" studies? If your a private school and you have a football hating president, I'd worry BIG TIME!

That is the firiggin truth...Richmond was looking at going no scholarships for football only 4 years ago and were days away from the decision. That was in Clawson's first year of "rebuilding" the program. Cooper a "football hating president" that raised tuition, deemphasized athletics and generally pissed all of the alumni off whenever he could wanted it that way and saw Richmond as a 'Southern Ivy league School" (barf alert). If NOT for the uprising of the alumni and subsequently getting his A$$ fired we very well could be dropping football right now and would not have won the National Championship last year. Clawson, the players, the students, faculty and alumni banded together to save Spider football from a certain death sentence.

[Bogus Megapardus]

PA has 14 D-II schools that give scholly's.

By contrast, Virginia has three.

[Sader87]

Boston College does not have that much history. They've been a solid program the last 15 years but historically, definitely not. They did have Flutie and some bright spots here and there but from WWII until Flutie they failed to finish in the top 25.

As much as it pains me to say this, BC has a very storied football history. They went to major bowls in the 30's and 40's, were basically Boston's team selling out Fenway Park through the 50's and though they may not have been ranked in the 60's and 70's had some significant wins in that era over teams like Texas etc. Were they a Notre Dame or Michigan from the 30's to 70's? No, but to say they have no "history" at the highest D1 level is very misinformed.

[BDKJMU]

PA has 14 D-II schools that give scholly's.


By contrast, Virginia has three.

I didn't think any of the 14 DII PSAC schools were at the full DII allottment of 36 schollies. I remember in 06' when JMU played Bloomsburg Bloomsburg reportedly had a total of 8 divided schollies (1/2 and 1/4), and they were the top team in the PSAC, going undefeated after the JMU loss and losing in the DII quarterfinals.

And by contrast, PA has one fully scholly I-AA: Villanova. VA has 8: JMU, UR, W&M, VMI, Liberty, Hampton, Norfolk State, and ODU (will be up to the 63 ballpark in a couple of years).

[Jackman]

Boston College is a uniting force for the cheering interests of New England area college football fans, in the sense that we are united in cheering for the earth to open up under their stadium and swallow their entire campus. Nobody likes BC, except BC.

[blukeys]

I didn't think any of the 14 DII PSAC schools were at the full DII allottment of 36 schollies. I remember in 06' when JMU played Bloomsburg Bloomsburg reportedly had a total of 8 divided schollies (1/2 and 1/4), and they were the top team in the PSAC, going undefeated after the JMU loss and losing in the DII quarterfinals.

And by contrast, PA has one fully scholly I-AA: Villanova. VA has 8: JMU, UR, W&M, VMI, Liberty, Hampton, Norfolk State, and ODU (will be up to the 63 ballpark in a couple of years).

The maximum for DII PSAC teams is 24. The PSAC has steadily downgraded their scollies over the years. At one time (early 80's) West Chester and Delaware were on a par regarding scollies. Now UD is at 63 and WCUPA is at 24 and the results show that.

[DTSpider]

That is the firiggin truth...Richmond was looking at going no scholarships for football only 4 years ago and were days away from the decision. That was in Clawson's first year of "rebuilding" the program. Cooper a "football hating president" that raised tuition, deemphasized athletics and generally pissed all of the alumni off whenever he could wanted it that way and saw Richmond as a 'Southern Ivy league School" (barf alert). If NOT for the uprising of the alumni and subsequently getting his A$$ fired we very well could be dropping football right now and would not have won the National Championship last year. Clawson, the players, the students, faculty and alumni banded together to save Spider football from a certain death sentence.

No way Richmond football would have lasted this long if Cooper had gotten away with the "secret" board meeting. UR football would have been gone within a year or two.

We can all thank the one board member that tipped off the press and ensured that the real agenda for the meeting was disclosed. It would have hurt. If people don't believe us about how bad Cooper was...just remember that he drove away the entire Robins family. Yes - the same Robins family that has about half the buildings on campus names for them and saved UR from closing in the 1960s.

[ccd494]

Maine: "Future Secure"

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/131920.html

[Dignan]

Maine: "Future Secure"

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/131920.html

It's reassuring to hear this from both Maine and UNH, although I still fear for the CAA as we know it.

[Franks Tanks]

I didn't think any of the 14 DII PSAC schools were at the full DII allottment of 36 schollies. I remember in 06' when JMU played Bloomsburg Bloomsburg reportedly had a total of 8 divided schollies (1/2 and 1/4), and they were the top team in the PSAC, going undefeated after the JMU loss and losing in the DII quarterfinals.

And by contrast, PA has one fully scholly I-AA: Villanova. VA has 8: JMU, UR, W&M, VMI, Liberty, Hampton, Norfolk State, and ODU (will be up to the 63 ballpark in a couple of years).

No, but add them all up and its a lot of kids that get funds.

CAl, IUP, Mercyhurst, and Gannon fund the full amount of 36 or will do so very soon.

Edinboro, Slippery Rock, Clarion, Ship, and Seton Hill have somwhere between 10-20 as I understand.


Bloom, West Chester and others in the East have less most most schools do give out around 10.

Cretainly they all dont give out 36, but there are a lot of good players recieving full scholarship too PA D-II schools.

Also what Bloom is able to do with 8 or so scholarships is quite amazing. Tuition is pretty low to begin with and kids want to play there, so I believe that helps overcome the lack of scholarship money.

[RichH2]

Tuition is negligible at Pa State schools and they also offer need aid

[89Hen]

It's reassuring to hear this from both Maine and UNH, although I still fear for the CAA as we know it.
I don't. The CAA is a Mid-Atlantic conference. I have absolutely nothing against Maine, UNH, UMass or URI (or Hofstra or Northeastern) but I wouldn't lose sleep if Delaware only played them each every once in a while OOC. xpeacex

[Dane96]

Title IX lawsuit, with the men sueing???

I asked this same ? in regards to NU, and no-one answered. HU was in Title IX compliance, right?, as there was no mentioning of this being due to Title IX problems. So now with eliminating football, if all of that $ is plowed back academics as opposed into other mens' sports or some womens' teams are eliminated, would HU be out of Title IX compliance (not enough funding and percent of the athletes being men)?

I would LOVE to see a reverse Title IX lawsuit. That would be interesting.....

Been a bunch of them-- they never win.

[Dane96]

I mentioned this a couple weeks ago folks...Northeast Football is in HUGE trouble. I have a feeling that the America East, Patriot and Ivy leagues will be the only Football Playing leagues left after these shakedowns occur...

I have gathered that Lacrosse and Soccer are bigger in the NE than football is.

Realistically guys...how many more private schools are currently conducting "cost analysis" studies? If your a private school and you have a football hating president, I'd worry BIG TIME!

You must really have a clue on Northeast football-- America East??????


Dude...two schools who have diverging goals dropped football. As noted in the numerous outpouring of press releases...other NE schools are going nowhere...and we just gained Bryant.

This is a financial situation that is ACROSS THE BOARD. My cousin sits on the FAU athletics board...and they (along with FIU) are losing huge dollars on sports. In fact, most of these far flung leagues and those leagues without huge gameday crowds are in financial straits.

This isnt a "Northeast thing".

[Lehigh Football Nation]

This is a financial situation that is ACROSS THE BOARD. My cousin sits on the FAU athletics board...and they (along with FIU) are losing huge dollars on sports. In fact, most of these far flung leagues and those leagues without huge gameday crowds are in financial straits.

Talk about not being surprised about FAU & FIU. Those move-ups were incredibly ill-advised.