Fordham - Patriot League Scholarship Announcement (official)

[danefan]

http://www.fordhamsports.com/sports/m-f ... 09aab.html

Center Valley, Pa. - Fordham has notified the Patriot League that it will begin awarding athletic scholarships to its football class entering in the fall of 2010. As a result, the Patriot League Football Presidents have endorsed an agreement with Fordham wherein the Rams will continue their association with the League but will be ineligible for the Patriot League title and automatic playoff berth beginning that season, announced Patriot League Executive Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich on Friday.

Fordham will remain as an associate member in the Patriot League, and will continue to be eligible for the League title and automatic playoff berth in the 2009 season. The Rams will be included in the League schedule through 2012, though their games against Patriot League members will not count in the League standings. Fordham will still follow the same academic and eligibility requirements as other League members.

"There is strong desire both on the part of Fordham and the Patriot League to continue our long-standing relationship," said Bucknell President Brian C. Mitchell, the Chair of the Patriot League Council of Presidents. "The interim arrangement we have agreed to will allow Fordham to begin to award scholarships in football while affording the League time to address merit aid for football and broader issues related to membership expansion. This issue comes at a very difficult financial time on all of our campuses."

The Patriot League Council of Presidents will continue to discuss the competitive and financial implications of athletic merit aid for the League football membership as well as the long-term goals of the League. It is anticipated that a decision will be made no later than the end of 2010.

Fordham's eligibility for the League title and inclusion in the standings in future years will be evaluated pending the decision on athletic scholarships for all League members. Patriot League members are permitted to offer scholarships in the League's other 22 sports.

So in summary Fordham is going Indy for the 2010 season and has developed a scheduling agreement with all PL schools to continue playing them.

Will Fordham remain an associate member of the Patriot League for football?

Yes. After a lengthy collaborative process, Fordham and the Patriot League have reached an agreement that was endorsed by the Patriot League Council of Presidents. As part of this agreement, Fordham will continue to be an associate member of the Patriot League in football. However, for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons, the Rams will not be eligible for the Patriot League title or the League's automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs. All games played by Fordham against other Patriot League institutions will not count in the league standings. Fordham student-athletes will not be eligible for regular season or end-of-year league awards and student-athletes will not be included in cumulative league statistics and records during this same three-year period.

[dbackjon]

Wow - ballsy move by Fordham - but I like it!!


I wonder if the NEC gets an auto-bid, and more schollies, they would associate with them?


Or will this force the PL to add schollies.

[danefan]

Wow - ballsy move by Fordham - but I like it!!


I wonder if the NEC gets an auto-bid, and more schollies, they would associate with them?


Or will this force the PL to add schollies.

I don't think the NEC is ever going over 40, at least not for another 10 years.

This is really a brilliant move by Fordham. They have solved the major issue with going independent - scheduling. They have now guaranteed themselves 3/4 of a schedule for 3 years while they play out other options (Big South/Scholy PL/CAA breakup, etc..)

I'm actually really surprised the PL went for that. What is the benefit for the PL?

In all liklihood, if the trend continues, in 2012, Fordham will demolish everyone in the PL and not win the league title.

[JoltinJoe]

The benefit to the PL is that the pro-scholarship schools get a few more years to work over those who don't want scholarships. If it had not been for the current economic conditions, Lehigh and Colgate would have been pushing this issue right now too, at least from what I've been told.

As for me, now that we're full scholarship, I'm thinking down the line, if we schedule a few I-A teams and acquit ourselves well, we might even ultimately take that jump to I-A ... Fordham at Yankee Stadium again ... just like the good old days.

[dbackjon]

Fordham-Army at Yankee Stadium would be a game I would try to see...

[SUUTbird]

Good for Fordham. Probably because of this i could see them joining the NEC or the Big South would be the best fit for them as they could either start a rivalry with Albany, Stony Brook or both. Or god forbid they join the CAA , wouldnt surprise me though

[BlueHen86]

Fordham-Army at Yankee Stadium would be a game I would try to see...

Me too.

[slycat]

Great move. It'll be interesting to see where they go to int he future. Though now they can only make the playoffs as an at-large.

[JoltinJoe]

Fordham-Army at Yankee Stadium would be a game I would try to see...

I don't see how a football field can be configured within the new stadium. I know they are talking about having football there ... so there must be a way. But I don't see it.

[blukeys]

I am new here but I posted this elsewhere and these are my thoughts on this situation.

"WOW Fordham just took the PL behind the woodshed and paddled their respective fannies until they were red. This is a win, win, win for Fordham.

1. Fordham is still in the Pl and eligible for the 2009 PL AQ.

2. Fordham will begin offering scolly's for 2010. (the 2009 recruiting class is already recruited and admitted. This is no concession by Fordham and a big concession by the PL There is no immediate penalty for Fordham)

3. Fordham has PL conference games guaranteed after they go scolly. In short they have guaranteed games against opponents who are not scolly but FCS.

What are the chances of Fordham not getting an at large playoff bid if they win the PL from 2010 onward in the expanded playoff system? With the current announced Fordham schedule they are an at large lock if they handle the PL teams.

Fordham probably had the stronger hand in this but in the end they played it beautifully. Fordham gave up nothing while the PL fuddy duds try to pretend to their adherents that this was a compromise.

Yes and the Munich agreement of 1938 was called a compromise but we all know who won that one. "

I have made some great friends on these FCS boards. I hope I can make more.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I am new here but I posted this elsewhere and these are my thoughts on this situation.

"WOW Fordham just took the PL behind the woodshed and paddled their respective fannies until they were red. This is a win, win, win for Fordham.

1. Fordham is still in the Pl and eligible for the 2009 PL AQ.

2. Fordham will begin offering scolly's for 2010. (the 2009 recruiting class is already recruited and admitted. This is no concession by Fordham and a big concession by the PL There is no immediate penalty for Fordham)

3. Fordham has PL conference games guaranteed after they go scolly. In short they have guaranteed games against opponents who are not scolly but FCS.

What are the chances of Fordham not getting an at large playoff bid if they win the PL from 2010 onward in the expanded playoff system? With the current announced Fordham schedule they are an at large lock if they handle the PL teams.

Fordham probably had the stronger hand in this but in the end they played it beautifully. Fordham gave up nothing while the PL fuddy duds try to pretend to their adherents that this was a compromise.

Yes and the Munich agreement of 1938 was called a compromise but we all know who won that one. "

I have made some great friends on these FCS boards. I hope I can make more.

Good post Blukeys and glad to see you show up over here. We can use a few more like you.

[blukeys]

Thanks Ursus!! Glad to see you and I love your AVATAR!!! If you send her over to me I can help her with her sneeze!!!

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Thanks Ursus!! Glad to see you and I love your AVATAR!!! If you send her over to me I can help her with her sneeze!!!

I don't want you using that old "Blukeys special two ball compound" that you used on me my man. We don't want her sneezing problem fixed anyway I don't think. Delaware is starting to represent pretty well here now...Blukeys, Bluehen86, SCBH, 93 henfan, Rob Iola, 89hen (when he wants to take a couple of shots at us), pretty good grouping there.

[wideright82]

Thanks Ursus!! Glad to see you and I love your AVATAR!!! If you send her over to me I can help her with her sneeze!!!

I don't want you using that old "Blukeys special two ball compound" that you used on me my man. We don't want her sneezing problem fixed anyway I don't think. Delaware is starting to represent pretty well here now...Blukeys, Bluehen86, SCBH, 93 henfan, Rob Iola, 89hen (when he wants to take a couple of shots at us), pretty good grouping there.

Yeah, just what everyone needs. MORE hens fans.

[dbackjon]

Good to see you over here, blukeys!