Wednesday, October 26, 2005

MORAVIAN COLLEGE TO JOIN CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE AS ASSOCIATE MEMBER FOR FOOTBALL IN 2007

BETHLEHEM, PA – Moravian College has accepted an invitation from the Centennial Conference to become an associate member for football only, effective during the 2007 season.

“After careful consideration and with the approval of our Board of Trustees, Moravian has elected to take advantage of this opportunity to renew our traditional football rivalries with the members of the Centennial Conference,” said Ervin J. Rokke, Moravian College President. “This move also will bring even greater excitement and prestige to our longstanding rivalry with Muhlenberg College, which began more than a century ago.”

Joining Moravian in its move to the Centennial Conference is Juniata College, which has also accepted an invitation to become an associate member in football. Centennial football playing members include Dickinson College, Franklin and Marshall College, Gettysburg College, Johns Hopkins University, McDaniel College, Muhlenberg College, and Ursinus College. “We’re pleased to affiliate with institutions that share Moravian’s emphasis on high academic standards and the overall development of the student-athlete,” President Rokke noted.

“The strong academic reputations of Moravian and Juniata were attractive to the Centennial Conference's Presidents Council," said Jerome Schnydman, Executive Assistant to the President of Johns Hopkins University and Chair of the Council. "The solid tradition in football and the commitment to the legacy of the scholar-athlete at these two institutions were also deciding factors as we seek to enhance the Conference.” Steve Ulrich, Executive Director of the Centennial Conference, echoed Schnydman’s comments. “We are thrilled to add Moravian and Juniata to our football family,” he added. “The combination of outstanding academics and a commitment to excellence in athletics makes Moravian and Juniata a perfect fit for our Conference.”

“This invitation affirms the long history we’ve had with many Centennial schools and it brings back some of those great football contests our alumni cherish so deeply,” said Paul Moyer, Moravian College Director of Athletics. “At the same time, many of our other athletic teams will continue to compete with Centennial members. For example, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams will begin their 2005-06 seasons at the Gettysburg College and Dickinson College Tournaments next month.” Moravian Head Football Coach Scot Dapp cited the strength and competitive nature of Centennial football. “It will be a difficult schedule,” he said, “but we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Moravian holds an all-time record of 56-54-4 in football competition against Centennial Conference schools that began in 1900. In addition to their annual regular season finale with Muhlenberg, the Greyhounds recently played Franklin & Marshall College and McDaniel College in Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships games in 2004 and 2002 respectively.

Moravian’s first football game as an associate member of the Centennial Conference is scheduled to be a home game versus McDaniel College at Rocco Calvo Field on Saturday, September 15, 2007.

A decision has not yet been made regarding the conference affiliation of Moravian’s other 19 varsity sports. The Greyhounds have the option of remaining in the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation through the 2007-2008 academic year.