1980collegegrad

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 to Add Athletic Scholarships in Football - PATRIOT OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

hudsonvalley51

Are any other Patriot League football-playing schools (FCS-level, that is) currently offering athletic scholarships? Do any plan to? If Fordham, although a football-only associate member, plans to go that route will other schools likely join them? I personally would hope not, but can schools like HC and Colgate remain competitive at the (former) DI-AA level without athletic scholarships? If they have to drop Fordham as an associate member are there other schools out there that could be brought in that meet the Patriot League's academic standards and which do not offer atheltic scholarships for football? How about William and Mary, Villanova or Davidson?

1980collegegrad

These are all good questions. My guess is that the Patriot League will go scholarship in football but I may be wrong. Only time will tell. The Patriot League does not allow football scholarships currently and that is why Fordham's unilateral decision to offer them is such a bold move. They are basically trying to force the hand of the league or if unsuccessful they will need to leave.