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BU gains membership in America East Conference |
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America East Map/Membership America East History Binghamton Division I Timeline BU and America East - Miscellaneous Notes Press-conference photo gallery |
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Binghamton University today announced it has accepted an invitation to join the America East Conference as the University embarks upon its first season as a NCAA Division I competitor. Conference members voted unanimously to accept Binghamton as a full participant in America East effective July 1, 2001.
Originally established in 1979 as the ECAC North with league competition only in men’s basketball, America East is now in its 13th year as an all-sports conference with a proven record of success in 21 different sports for men and women. Gaining immediate entry into an established and well-respected conference represents an enormous victory for Binghamton. "To begin our first year at Division I as a member of America East rather than as an independent is truly exciting," said BU President Lois B. DeFleur. "Not many schools have such an opportunity right out of the gate and we see it as a crowning moment for our program. This provides outstanding opportunities for the University, its athletes and our community." America East’s members include Boston University, Northeastern University and the universities of Hartford, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The University at Albany and Stony Brook University, both SUNY schools, will also compete in America East beginning this fall, after playing as independents for two years. The conference recently accepted the resignations of the University of Delaware, Drexel University, Hofstra University and Towson University from membership effective June 30, 2001 to allow those schools to join the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) for the next academic year. "The America East Conference is very excited about the addition of Binghamton University," said Chris Monasch, conference commissioner. "The institution is a natural fit for the conference with an academic and athletics mission similar to those of our current members. Combined with the recent additions of Albany and Stony Brook, America East is now positioned to move forward as a significant mid-major conference in this part of the country." "We are elated to join America East," BU Athletic Director Joel Thirer said. "It’s an outstanding conference comprised of institutions that share our academic and athletics mission. It’s a perfect fit for Binghamton." Binghamton will compete in men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field and men’s golf during the 2001-02 academic year. With fall schedules already set for men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball, these sports will begin America East competition in fall 2002. Binghamton’s cross country teams will be the first teams to participate in America East championships when they compete in the conference championships, October 27, on the campus of University of Maine. America East members are currently eligible for admission to NCAA championships in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, field hockey, men’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis and volleyball. Additional America East student-athletes compete as individuals in NCAA championships in cross country, swimming and diving and track and field. "The fact that our athletes can compete for conference championships and a chance at NCAA tournament berths right away is a major benefit," said Thirer. "Conference membership will also dramatically improve our recruitment of student-athletes. In addition, as members of America East, our large alumni base in Boston, metropolitan New York and throughout the Northeast can watch our teams compete on a regular basis." Thus far in 2000-01, Binghamton teams are 11-7 overall against their future conference opponents. That mark includes an 8-4 collective won-loss record against Albany and Stony Brook. |
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