Those who have visited Northeastern's Parsons Field and the Huskies' other football facilities were not shocked by the school's decision to drop football. Northeastern yesterday announced the cut, which leaves the Colonial Athletic Association with 11 teams for 2010. Old Dominion joins in 2011, and Georgia State enters in 2012.
"Elevating and sustaining a competitive Division I program would require additional multimillion-dollar investments on an ongoing basis," a Northeastern release stated.
Parsons Field, in Brookline, Mass., accommodates 7,000, and is a high school-level venue wedged into a neighborhood away from Northeastern's urban campus. The school determined that building a new facility was unrealistic. The Huskies have posted 20 losing seasons among the last 25.
"We're disappointed, but at the same time understand the study and the analysis that the university went though," said CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager. "In part, I think some of the success of our programs has made the challenges that Northeastern was facing even more daunting."
Yeager added that the economy was also a factor in Northeastern's decision. Today, athletic directors at CAA schools will consider the possibility of adding a school in the long-term, according to Yeager. Old Dominion already has a 2010 schedule in place.
"I don't foresee them being able to, in essence, drop eight games, which they would have to do, to be able to play in the league. I'm not looking at that as an option," Yeager said.
The University of Richmond was scheduled to play Northeastern at Robins Stadium next October. Another North Division team will fill that obligation.
"We have put together an initial [2010] schedule without Northeastern being involved. We're probably going to have to tweak that a little bit," Yeager said. "I guess if there's a blessing of having a large number of teams in the league, it's that you can shuffle opponents and still be able to provide your eight conference games that everyone desires.
"It will be a little complex, but it's doable."
Northeastern players with eligibility remaining are free to transfer and gain immediate eligibility. That includes moves to other CAA schools.
Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233
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