The eight football programs formerly set to play under the banner of the North Atlantic Conference have instead formed a new single-sport conference and received active status from the NCAA, putting the group in line for an automatic bid after a two-year waiting period.

The league will be called the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference and will begin competition this fall.

The institutions are Anna Maria, Becker, Castleton State, Gallaudet, Husson, Mount Ida, Norwich and SUNY-Maritime.

"Our college conference presidents voted unanimously to support the new ECFC because we believe that it will enhance the overall student-athlete educational experience at our institutions, expand Division III non-scholarship football opportunities, create an automatic qualifier for the NCAA (playoffs), and focus on sportsmanship, fair play, moral integrity and competitive excellence," said Castleton State president Dave Wolk.

Norwich athletic director Tony Mariano said, "The establishment of the ECFC will offer our member institutions the opportunity to participate in an outstanding regional football conference and provide our student athletes with a competitive and enriching football experience with the opportunity for postseason participation and athletic and academic recognition."

Competition among ECFC institutions will begin in September 2009. Two programs, Anna Maria and Castleton, will begin their first season of collegiate competition in 2009. Five institutions have been playing an independent schedule, while Norwich had been competing in the Empire 8. A full conference schedule will be played between the eight institutions beginning in 2010.