BANGOR – Ever since Husson College brought varsity football back to its Bangor campus five years ago, the unquestioned goal was to eventually get the program a conference affiliation.

Starting in the fall of 2009, the Eagles will have just that as members of the North Atlantic Conference with at least five other school football teams.

“It’s tremendous. It’s been a long time coming and we’re extremely excited about it,” said Husson head football coach and athletic director Jonathan “Gabby” Price. “I think the first question people ask about us is ‘Are you guys in a conference?’ and now we can say yes.”

Husson has been an independent Division III program since it began play in 2003.

NAC commissioner Julie Muller made the official announcement Wednesday that the NAC would add football as a conference sport with Husson, Becker College of Worcester, Mass.; Gallaudet University of Washington, D.C.; Maritime College State University of Throggs Neck, N.Y. (SUNY-Maritime); Mount Ida College of Newton, Mass.; and Norwich University of Northfield, Vt.

Norwich is leaving the well-regarded Empire 8 Conference to join the NAC as one of five associate members. Only Husson will be a full conference member.

“I think Norwich was the trump card. It took a lot for them to come over as they were in a good league to come to ours,” Price said. “That was a big move by them and we commend and thank them for it.”

Price said conference membership further legitimizes Husson’s program and gives it more credibility.

“Conference affiliation is very big in college, even at the Division III level. We’ve fought a long time for this,” he said. “With our players, it gives them a chance to get weekly awards and play for a conference championship. Very few teams go to the NCAA, particularly from New England, so that gives us a better chance for that.”

Price said it also helps build natural rivalries as well as relationships with coaches and other players. Having the same basic schedule each year also makes it easier in terms of administrative preparation.

It’s also good news for the players.

“That’s going to be another challenge for us,” said sophomore tailback Bryan Ferguson. “We’ll have to work harder to be successful, but this is only going to make us a better team and program.

“The teams will be different and that will be exciting, but having the same schedule and growing into a conference will be great too.”

The NAC currently sponsors 14 sports and has been an NCAA Division III conference since 1996. It will sponsor a league championship football playoff. Without at least seven members, it will not be immediately eligible for an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III football championship tournament.