Buffalo State to Join NJAC as Affiliate Football Member in 2006
The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced today that Buffalo State College will become an affiliate football member of the NJAC beginning in the 2006-07 academic year. The addition of Buffalo State to the NJAC became official following successful votes on the institution’s membership by both the conference’s Presidents Council and its Board of Athletic Administrators.
“We are extremely excited about the future addition of Buffalo State football to the NJAC beginning in the 2006 season,” said Terry Small, Commissioner of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. “Our conference has benefited greatly from the addition of Cortland and Western Connecticut as affiliate members in football, and we’re fortunate to be able to add another outstanding Division III Eastern program in Buffalo State.”
Established in 1981, the Buffalo State Bengal football program has made 10 postseason appearances in its 24-season history, including seven NCAA playoff berths and three ECAC Bowl Championships. The program currently is under the direction of second-year head coach Paul Shaffner, who guided the Bengals to a 4-6 overall record in 2004. Buffalo State will still compete in the Atlantic Central Football Conference for the 2005 season.
“We are delighted to be joining what is arguably one of the most competitive football conferences in Division III,” said Jerry Boyes, Director of Athletics at Buffalo State. “We have established rivalries with several NJAC schools during our football history, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen those rivalries and relationships. The move to the NJAC will also enable Buffalo State to play a full schedule within our region and it will give us the opportunity to play in areas where we have significant alumni support.”
The addition of Buffalo State to the New Jersey Athletic Conference in 2006-07 will increase the league’s number of football members to eight institutions including full-conference members: Kean University, Montclair State University, Rowan University, The College of New Jersey and William Paterson University. The conference will also feature three affiliate football members in: SUNY Cortland, Western Connecticut University and Buffalo State College, beginning in the 2006 season. In a related development, the conference’s Board of Athletic Administrators adopted the league’s first-ever composite block football schedules for both the 2006 and 2007 seasons at its annual retreat held in June.
“We are extremely excited about the future addition of Buffalo State football to the NJAC beginning in the 2006 season,” said Terry Small, Commissioner of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. “Our conference has benefited greatly from the addition of Cortland and Western Connecticut as affiliate members in football, and we’re fortunate to be able to add another outstanding Division III Eastern program in Buffalo State.”
Established in 1981, the Buffalo State Bengal football program has made 10 postseason appearances in its 24-season history, including seven NCAA playoff berths and three ECAC Bowl Championships. The program currently is under the direction of second-year head coach Paul Shaffner, who guided the Bengals to a 4-6 overall record in 2004. Buffalo State will still compete in the Atlantic Central Football Conference for the 2005 season.
“We are delighted to be joining what is arguably one of the most competitive football conferences in Division III,” said Jerry Boyes, Director of Athletics at Buffalo State. “We have established rivalries with several NJAC schools during our football history, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen those rivalries and relationships. The move to the NJAC will also enable Buffalo State to play a full schedule within our region and it will give us the opportunity to play in areas where we have significant alumni support.”
The addition of Buffalo State to the New Jersey Athletic Conference in 2006-07 will increase the league’s number of football members to eight institutions including full-conference members: Kean University, Montclair State University, Rowan University, The College of New Jersey and William Paterson University. The conference will also feature three affiliate football members in: SUNY Cortland, Western Connecticut University and Buffalo State College, beginning in the 2006 season. In a related development, the conference’s Board of Athletic Administrators adopted the league’s first-ever composite block football schedules for both the 2006 and 2007 seasons at its annual retreat held in June.
Media Contact:
Jeffrey Ventura, Sports Information Director | 7168786030 | venturjm@buffalostate.edu