A Sea Of Red

Asbury Park Press wrote:Monmouth without a conference in football
Jan. 24, 2013 6:23 PM, |


Monmouth University football coach Kevin Callahan do not currently have a conference to play in next season. / FILE PHOTO

Written by
Tony Graham
@tonygsports

Monmouth University football is searching for a new home which, in turn, could be leading to a substantial increase in scholarships for its program.

The Northeast Conference announced Thursday in a statement that it has denied the school’s request to become an associate member in football in the wake of Monmouth’s recent decision to join the Metropolitan Atlantic Athlete Conference (MAAC) which does not sponsor football.

What this means in terms of Monmouth’s football schedule for 2013 or where it will play football in the future was unclear Thursday.

Monmouth is slated to play Cornell, Columbia, and Lehigh this season in non-conference games which would not seem to be affected by Thursday’s developments.

“I think it means that we would not be playing for an NEC championship,’’ Monmouth president Paul Gaffney II said. “Whether we play any of these schools is to be determined. I would hope so but I don’t know.

“Obviously we would look to affiliate with other conferences, especially as all these conferences change so fluidly. We would be looking at those opportunities.’’

At least one conference that appears open to expansion is the FCS full scholarship Big South Conference headquarters in Charlotte, N.C.

Big South could come north again to Monmouth

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The conference carousel refuses to stop spinning across college football.

Monmouth has been taken for a ride it didn't want. The private university along the Jersey Shore learned on Thursday that the Northeast Conference has denied its application to be an associate member in football going forward.

The next stop for Monmouth? Perhaps the Big South Conference.

Stephen Edelson wrote:All of which makes this annual exercise known as National Signing Day that much more important.
Say the most likely scenario comes to fruition and the Hawks find themselves in the Big South, facing teams with up to 63 scholarships in 2014. If they hope to beat the likes of Coastal Carolina and Liberty, finding better athletes, not just more athletes, is the key.

Big South Conference Big South Conference ‏@BigSouthSports

It's official: new associate member starting in 2014 for #BigSouthFB ... the Monmouth Hawks. The NJ-based school has signed on for 4yrs.

Big South Conference Big South Conference ‏@BigSouthSports

We welcome the Monmouth Hawks to #BigSouthFB (starting 2014)! More on the Conf addition & on the Hawks here: http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArtic ... =206394001

Big South Sports wrote:Big South Adds Monmouth University as Associate Football Member

Published: February 14, 2013 1:00 PM
Updated: February 14, 2013 1:00 PM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (http://www.BigSouthSports.com) - The Big South Conference has added Monmouth University as an associate member in football, it was announced today by Big South Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander. Monmouth will begin competing in the Big South in 2014 and will be eligible for the League's championship and automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs upon entry. Monmouth will host a press conference on Friday, Feb. 15 at 1:00pm to formally announce the move.

"The Big South Conference is excited to expand our football membership with the addition of Monmouth University," said Kallander. "It is clear that Monmouth is committed to athletic excellence at the FCS level, which matches its impressive academic and institutional profile. Monmouth will be a great fit in the Big South. We are very pleased to welcome the Hawks!"

The addition of Monmouth will return the Big South to seven Division I Football Championship Subdivision members in 2014, joining Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Liberty, Presbyterian College and VMI. The Hawks' associate membership is for four years and returns the Conference to the New Jersey-New York metropolitan area following the departure of former associate member Stony Brook. Monmouth, which has competed at the FCS level as a member of the Northeast Conference (NEC) since 1996, will make the necessary upgrades to meet the requirements of being a full scholarship FCS program in 2014. The Hawks will compete as an Independent in 2013 and will play at Liberty on Sept. 7.