Liberty League, Empire 8 Announce Football Bowl Game
TROY, N.Y. - The Empire 8 Athletic Conference and the Liberty League have announced that they are partnering for a postseason football game between member institutions. The inaugural game will involve the top team from each conference that is not selected for the NCAA Division III championship.
On an annual basis, the top Liberty League team, which did not make NCAAs, will play the top Empire 8 team, which did not make NCAAs. The host institution will alternate by year. In year one, the Liberty League rep would serve as host. The bowl game for 2017 is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 18.
"The Liberty League is pleased to partner with the Empire 8 to provide a postseason championship opportunity for our student-athletes,” said Liberty League Commissioner Tracy King. “This unique experience will provide our football student-athletes with a postseason experience that many of our student-athletes in other sports receive through conference tournament participation. We look forward to this great competitive opportunity.”
Respective conference bylaws would be used to determine which participant earns the bid into the bowl game. For example, if two or more teams are tied to serve as the league representative, the normal tie-breaking procedures of that league will determine which team earns the bid.
“The New York State Bowl Game will be an exceptional event for institutions, student-athletes, football fans and our campus communities,” said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “It’s the beginning of what will be an unrivaled football tradition between two of the best football conferences in the country.”
There are many benefits to this relationship for both leagues with the biggest being a quality game on a member campus that will be well attended and provide a culminating experience for student-athletes and institutions.
NCAA rules permit a conference-sponsored postseason tournament – one between teams that are not identified until the end of the preceding regular season – not to exceed one contest for any one institution.
More information will be available throughout the season and following the announcement of the 32-team NCAA Division III championship field. Check back at the conference websites –libertyleagueathletics.com and empire8.com – for details.