Posted 6/28/2008 12:21 PM EDT on Asbury Park Press
This story will run in the Press in a few days....
By TONY GRAHAM, STAFF WRITER

Beginning in 2009 the Northeast Conference will be adding more football scholarships to the 30 currently allowed each of its programs. NEC Commissioner Brenda Weare said NEC presidents agreed at a June 11 meeting to add two per year over the next five years bringing its total to 40 by 2013.

Kevin Callahan, Monmouth University football coach, said ""it's certainly a possibility'' the NEC could eventually boost that number to the 63 authorized by the NCAA for its Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools. ""When you consider the NEC has the automatic qualifier (to the FCS playpffs) in 2010 the last thing you would want to do is qualify for the playoffs and not be representative and not be competetive,'' Callahan said.

""I think movement to 40 is going to get us there even though we wont' be at 40 by 2010. It's kind of getting us closer and I think if the NEC sees all the positive things the playoffs can bring to the institutions within the league it's possible we might move beyond the 40 mark whether it's to 50, or 55, or 63.

""(For 2009) we'll have the two additional new ones and also from what we'll have from players who are exhausting their eligibility after this year,'' Callahan said.

NEC schools also have access to the FCS playoffs in 2008 and 2009 if its regular season champion meets specified criteria.

The NEC first or second place team (if the champion goes to the playoffs) will also participate in the Gridiron Classic vs. the regular season champion of the Pioneer League for the next two seasons.

""Football is an important sport for the NEC,'' Weare said. ""We've made a lot of progress both in competitiveness and post-season opportunities with the Grid Iron Classic and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

""This move to increase scholarships continues to solidify our commitment to football and provide an outstanding
experience for our student-athletes."

""As with any initiative, the league will monitor and evaluate the effects it has on the membership,'' Weare said.