PHILADELPHIA – Hofstra will join the Atlantic 10 football conference beginning July 1, 2001, with competition to begin as early as next season, the conference announced Thursday.

“I think it’s a great add,” said University of Maine athletic director Suzanne Tyler. “We’ve been playing them now for several years in just about every other sport, so it’s a natural fit for us.”

Hofstra, which is currently an independent in football but is part of the America East in basketball, could become a full member as early as the 2001 season if the schedules of the 10 other conference teams can be rearranged to include Hofstra. Hofstra as well as the other conference teams already have set up their 2001 schedules.

If The Pride cannot reschedule enough games within the conference, then Hofstra would not be eligible for the Atlantic 10 championship – or for the automatic berth in the Division I-AA playoffs – until 2002. Hofstra already has three games scheduled with A10 competitors in the 2001 season.

“The Atlantic 10 is currently one of the top football conferences in the country, but I think with the addition of Hofstra we’re going to be the premiere conference among anyone who plays I-AA football,” conference Commissioner Linda Bruno said Thursday.

“It’s been a dream of ours for many years,” Hofstra football coach Joe Gardi said.

Hofstra’s addition to the conference was approved this week in an unanimous vote of the Atlantic 10 Football Conference directors of athletics and presidents of the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Atlantic 10 Football Conference.

“I think this solidifies our football future, but I think the rest of our sports are in further hiatus in terms of conference makeups,” said Tyler when asked how this affects the changing dynamic of conference affiliation in the Atlantic coast region.

Hofstra (7-3) has been to three NCAA tournaments over the last six years, including the 1999 tournament. The Pride are 58-20-1 since joining the I-AA in 1994.

The Atlantic 10 Football Conference currently includes Maine, the University of Delaware, James Madison University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of New Hampshire, Northeastern University, the University of Rhode Island, the University of Richmond, Villanova University and the College of William & Mary.