March 20, 2007

Stony Brook, N.Y. -

Click here for coverage on BigSouthSports.com, including audio from the teleconference.

Stony Brook University will join the Big South Conference as an associate member in the sport of football beginning in Fall 2008, Director of Athletics Jim Fiore announced today. Stony Brook will become the conference's sixth member along with Charleston Southern University, Coastal Carolina University, Gardner-Webb University, Liberty University and Virginia Military Institute following one season as an Independent in 2007.

"Joining the Big South Conference is the right move for the Stony Brook football program. As with everything we do at this University, our goal is to compete and be successful at the highest levels," Fiore said. "Under the leadership of Coach Chuck Priore, I am confident our football program will continue its growth process and ultimately prosper as a member of the competitive Big South Conference and as a strong member of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision."

The Big South Conference is coming off its fifth season of football in 2006 and its most successful campaign to date. Nationally-ranked Coastal Carolina became the first Big South team to clinch a berth in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs; Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina were ranked in the Top 25 in the same week, another conference first. The Big South will be eligible to qualify for an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs beginning in 2010.

"The Big South Conference is thrilled to welcome Stony Brook University as a football member," said Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander. "The Conference is guided by the principle of growing with excellence. Stony Brook's personnel, facilities and commitment to FCS football, will have it competing for Conference championships right away, and enhance the Big South's national competitiveness."

Big South members appeared on the ESPN family of networks on four different occasions; Coastal's Tyler Thigpen was the Conference's first finalist for the Walter Payton Award; Big South members won a League-record 21 non-conference games; and the League enjoyed a record-breaking season at the gate, as the five football members averaged a combined 6,838 fans per game.

"This is the right time and the right conference at this moment in our history for the Stony Brook football program," said Stony Brook President Shirley Strum Kenny. "We are excited about the opportunity to showcase our student-athletes and our athletic program against a highly competitive national schedule."

Stony Brook, which has competed at the FCS level as a member of the Northeast Conference (NEC) since 1999, recently completed its first season with limited scholarships. The program continues to add scholarships and recently signed a strong recruiting class which includes several Division I-A transfers as well as top high school graduates. The Seawolves captured the 2005 NEC title and finished as the runner-up in 2006.

"Having the opportunity to join such a respected conference will foster the growth of our program," said Priore. "Balancing the Big South Conference schedule with an extremely challenging non-conference schedule in the Northeast region will greatly benefit our recruiting efforts. This will allow us to develop and ultimately compete with the top NCAA Football Championship Subdivision programs in the country."

The Big South Conference schedule will also provide balance to Stony Brook's non-conference schedule. Conference affiliation guarantees outstanding match-ups with teams from the south that will complement a non-conference schedule that includes many of the most established programs in the Northeast. Stony Brook's contracted non-conference schedule in the next few years includes Hofstra University, University of Maine, Youngstown State, Colgate University, Brown University, University of Massachusetts, University of Richmond, Bucknell University, Georgetown University, University at Albany, Central Connecticut State University, Monmouth University and Elon University.

Stony Brook sponsors 20 intercollegiate sports, 19 of which compete as a member of the America East Conference.