The Centennial Conference announced that Susquehanna has accepted an invitation to join the Centennial as an associate member in football and women's golf beginning in 2010. Susquehanna's football team currently competes in the Liberty League as an associate member, and will continue to do so in 2009.

"Athletics is the window by which a large number of people come to know and become acquainted with colleges and universities," said Jay Lemons, president of Susquehanna. "You are known by the company that you keep. An association with the Centennial Conference aligns us with some of the top liberal arts institutions in the country and reunites us with some of our oldest rivals."

The addition of Susquehanna brings the number of Centennial members who sponsor football to 10. The other conference members are Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, Johns Hopkins, Juniata, McDaniel, Moravian, Muhlenberg and Ursinus.

"As we discussed the future of Centennial football scheduling, the state of NCAA Division III football, women's golf and the economic realities faced by our institutions and the country, the conference's Presidents Council looked in our backyard and found our perfect answer in Susquehanna University," said Joan Develin Coley, president of McDaniel and chair of the council. "The academic reputation, the tradition in football, the emergence of women's golf and the commitment to the legacy of the scholar-athlete at Susquehanna were also deciding factors as we enhance the conference."

"The addition of Susquehanna in football and women's golf adds to our reputation as one of the elite small-college conferences in the country," added Steven F. Ulrich, executive director of the Centennial. "The commitment to excellence on the gridiron, the links and in the classroom makes Susquehanna a fit for our conference."

The programs will begin full competition in the Centennial in 2010 with the women's golf team vying for the conference title in the spring and the football team beginning round-robin play in the fall. SU women's golf will compete in the Centennial championships in the spring of 2009 as a non-scoring team.

"We've been fortunate to establish great relationships with our football team across different regions," said Briggs. "But we're very happy with the invitation to join the Centennial Conference. Moravian and Juniata, two teams that we've fostered tremendous rivalries with historically, will both be part of our Centennial schedule, so now we'll be competing against them and other great schools every year for a conference championship."