With more conferences changes in the Mid-Atlantic and Atlantic regions, this seems like a good time to summarize where everyone stands…at least for now. Below is a listing of who will be where in 2007-2008 (new members in bold).
I hypothesized on Hoopsville that, when all the moves are finished, the little conferences will hurt the most. The Interstate 8 (now 7) pulled members from the CAC, MAC Commonwealth and Freedom and Skyline. As those conferences scramble to fill spots and protect their AQs, they are pulling members from the PAC, NEAC and Skyline.
The PAC lost Wesley to the CAC and Arcadia to the MAC-Commonwealth. The Reading Eagle reports that Alvernia could also move soon.
I don’t think the PAC will approach the same endangered status as the AWCC. But the Skyline could be in trouble, at least for the women’s AQ. They lost King’s Point, Manhattanville and Stevens Tech, leaving just 7 members. And SUNY-Maritime is struggling as a program after dropping out of conference play for last season.
The Reading Eagle article cited above also says the MAC is immediately considering four teams – Arcadia, Alvernia, Manhattanville and a mystery team. Alvernia might be a natural fit for the MAC Commonwealth since it’s very close to current member Albright. Perhaps the fourth team has football, which is a concern given the departure of Juniata, Moravian and Susquehanna.
AWCC (Lost 4)
Notre Dame
Trinity (DC)
Wilson
Chatham will join the Presidents Athletic Conference. Mary-Baldwin will join the USAC.
CAC (Added 3, lost 2)
Gallaudet
Hood
Marymount
Mary Washington
Salisbury
St. Mary’s (Md.)
Villa Julie
York (Pa.)
Wesley
Hood men will join the CAC in 2006 since they are independent.
Interstate 7 (Added 8, lost 1)
Drew
Catholic
Goucher
Juniata
King’s Point
Moravian
Susquehanna
Stevens Tech ducked out of this new entity to join the Empire 8.
MAC-Commonwealth (Added 1, lost 3)
Albright
Elizabethtown
Lebanon Valley
Lycoming
Messiah
Widener
MAC-Freedom (Added 2, lost 2)
Arcadia
Delaware Valley
DeSales
FDU-Florham
King’s
Manhattanville
Scranton
Wilkes
PAC (Lost 2)
Alvernia
Cabrini
Cedar Crest (Women’s only)
Eastern
Gwynedd-Mercy
Immaculata
Marywod
Misericordia
Neumann
Rosemont (Women’s only)
NEAC (Added Chestnut Hill women, lost 1)
Baptist Bible
Bard
Cazenovia
Chestnut Hill (Women added)
D’Youville
Keuka
Keystone
Penn State-Berks
Philadelphia Bible
Polytechnic
SUNY-Purchase
Skyline (Lost 3)
Centenary
Mount St. Mary
Mt. St. Vincent
St.Joseph’s (L.I.)
SUNY-Farmingdale
SUNY-Maritime (Men only?)
SUNY-Old Westbury
The SUNY-Maritime women did not compete in the Skyline Conference last season.
The Skyline Conference must be feeling the heat.
Stevens must have wanted out badly. They first said they were going to the Interstate 8 and then moved to the Empire 8.
Manhattanville is now departing for the MAC Freedom. The North Eastern Athletic Conference picked up provisional SUNY-Purchase and former Polytechnic out of Gotham area. The NEAC is on track for Pool A status. Do those two schools look more attractive to the Skyline Conference than they did 3-5 years ago?
Errata–Former “Independent” Polytechnic.
SUNY-Maritime women’s program played just two games last year before disbanding. They had real numbers issues.
I’m also moving two of Ralph’s comments onto this entry from the previous NAthCon post.
Thanks for the update, Pat!
Question: Will the MAC survive? If so, in what form?
I think the MAC as an entity is in better shape with these two teams than without. Alvernia strikes me as a good addition to give the Commonwealth a seventh team. Maybe they add a fourth team for football.
Several months ago, Alvernia appeared to be a likely pick for membership. What happened since then?
There were similar rumors anent Shenandoah, a football-playing venue.
(BTW I assume there’s no chance that TCNJ will be invited in.)
WT:
Alvernia is still going through the review process. Andrews made positive remarks about the Crusaders’ athletic department in the Reading Eagle article above.
Andrews also made interesting remarks about a mystery fourth possibility and separate remarks about wanting to expand into Delaware, New Jersey or DC.
If those two comments are linked — and they may not be — then TCNJ and Shenandoah may be the mystery team.
Make that TCNJ OR Shenandoah may be the mystery team.
Got a tip today that Russell Sage is joining the Skyline. And it’s looking more and more like Chestnut Hill is actually going to Division II.
Russel Sage would fill the vacancy left by SUNY Maritime, Manhattenville and Stevens.
Russell Sage is women’s!
(Boy, I miss the edit and modify features, sometimes!) 🙂
I seem to recall that when Chestnut Hill added men’s athletics, they also projected D2 membership.
In today’s (5/16) Baltimore Sun, there is a story about a basketball player from Parkville H.S. The last paragraph referes to her going to Chestnut Hill, a Division III school that is going Division II.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/highschool/bal-sp.unsung16may16,0,7854303.story?coll=bal-sports-highschool
Someday perhaps Chestnut Hill will consider owning up to it on its Web site. 🙂