DURHAM, N.H. -- Presidents of the Yankee Conference universities on Friday invited Northeastern University, James Madison University and the College of William and Mary to join the football-only league.
The affiliations will become effective for the 1993 season and will give the conference 12 members.
The league will be split into two sections, conference officials said.
James Madison, William and Mary and Northeastern, along with current Yankee members Richmond, Delaware and Villanova will be in the Mid- Atlantic Division.
The New England Division will be comprised of Boston University, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
'These three institutions are outstanding additions to the Yankee Conference,' said Yankee Conference Comissioner David Nelson. He added that the new schools have been 'strong, non-league rivals' to many of the existing Yankee teams.
Conference proposals call for each member to play nine league games yearly, five against the other teams within its division and four against teams from the other division.
Presidents of the Yankee Conference schools met Friday in New York City and acted on proposals made by the league's athletic directors.
The Yankee Conference was founded in 1947 with charter members Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Boston University joined in 1973, Richmond and Delaware in 1986 and Villanova in 1988.
