Introduction
The Northeast Conference (NEC) is an NCAA Division I athletic conference comprised of schools from the northeastern United States. Established in 1981, the NEC comprises ten full-time members and four associate members.
History
The Northeast Conference traces its roots back to the establishment of the ECAC North Atlantic Conference ( ECAC-NAC) in 1981. In the wake of a national restructuring in NCAA Divison I athletics in 1979, several schools in New England formed the ECAC-NAC to participate in Division I-A playoffs. The original charter members included Boston University, Hartford, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Providence, and UMass-Lowell. As other teams joined, the conference was soon renamed the ECAC North Atlantic Conference. After a few more name changes, the conference was eventually rebranded as the Northeast Conference in 1988.
Member Institutions
Today, the NEC includes 10 full-time members and four associate members. Schools in the NEC are located in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The full-time members of the NEC are Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU-Brooklyn, Mount St. Mary’s, Sacred Heart, Saint Francis (PA), Robert Morris, Wagner, and Saint Francis University. The associate members of the NEC are Long Island University-Post, Saint Francis, Wagner, and Bryant.
Sports Competed
The NEC offers teams in 20 NCAA sanctioned sports, including football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s lacrosse, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track & field, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, volleyball, and golf. Each school must compete in at least seven sports in order to be considered for full-time membership.
Notable Achievements
The NEC has produced numerous NCAA champions across several sports. In football, Robert Morris won the championship in 1994; in baseball, Central Connecticut won the championship in 1991; and in lacrosse, Bryant won the championship in 2008. In 2009, the NEC won its first-ever national championship in women’s soccer when the LIU-Brooklyn Lady Sharks defeated defending champion Stanford. In men’s basketball, the NEC has produced a number of NCAA tournament wins, including Bryant’s win in the first round of the 2014 tournament. The NEC’s teams have also won several conference championships and division titles in all sports.
Rivalries Within the Conference
The NEC is well-known for its fierce rivalries. Some popular rivalries within the conference include Sacred Heart vs. Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson vs. LIU Brooklyn, Robert Morris vs. Saint Francis (PA), and Wagner vs. Mount St. Mary’s. These rivalries are fueled by exciting match-ups each season that often involve high-stakes bragging rights.
How the Conference Operates
The NEC is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of the presidents and athletic directors of each member school. The board is responsible for making decisions regarding conference policies, regulations, and rules. They also oversee the scheduling of games, television exposure, championship events, and postseason awards.
The Role of the Conference
In addition to providing an athletic platform for member institutions, the NEC has been an important source of education and exposure for many student-athletes. The conference has produced several All-Americans in all sports and provided an opportunity for athletes to pursue a higher education. It has also provided a platform for the display of academic and community service at the collegiate level, with several teams participating in initiatives such as Habitat For Humanity, Adopt-A-School, and Toys For Tots.
Impact on the Local and National Sports Scene
The Northeast Conference has been a major force in the local northeast sports scene. The conference’s teams have garnered attention in the local media, hosted rivalries, and promoted multiple sports events. The NEC has also had a wide range of impact on the national sports scene. Several NEC teams have achieved national rankings in their respective sports. NEC athletes have gone on to become professional athletes, and the success of NEC teams have led to several invitations to participate in more nationally-recognized tournaments.
Future Prospects of the Northeast Conference
The Northeast Conference is well-positioned to continue its success in the years to come. The conference is always looking for ways to improve its competitive advantage and visibility in the national sports scene. The conference has recently announced plans to increase the number of teams in the conference, as well as expand its television coverage. Additionally, the NEC is working to strengthen relations with other conferences, increase their outreach to northeast student athletes, and boost their presence in the NCAA tournament.
Conclusion
The Northeast Conference has come a long way since its inception in 1981. The conference provides a platform for northeast schools to compete in athletics and offers the opportunity for student-athletes to pursue an education and success at the collegiate level. The NEC has also had a lasting impact on the local and national sports scene and has a bright future ahead.