Jan 11, 2010 9:56:44 AM

Buffalo State will join the Empire 8 in 2012 as the league's fourth affiliate member in football.

The addition will boost the league's membership for football to nine members. Two other affiliate members, Frostburg State and Salisbury, will begin play in the Empire 8 this fall.

Buffalo State currently plays football in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and is a member of the State University of New York Athletic Conference in other sports. The SUNYAC does not sponsor football as a championship sport.

"We are very excited to begin this partnership with Buffalo State," said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. "They are a fine academic institution with a rich and storied football history that will add to the quality of the football conference.  For many years, college football fans in our geography had hoped to see this kind of relationship and we are thrilled to embark on this historic association."

The Bengals also will compete in league play against members Alfred, Hartwick, Ithaca, St. John Fisher and Utica and affiliate member Springfield. Those six teams played in the Empire 8 last season.

"The Buffalo State Bengals are proud to be joining the Empire 8 football conference," said Dennis K. Ponton, the school's interim president. "We look forward to competing in a league with such a strong academic reputation and storied history in intercollegiate athletics."

During the past eight season, five of the league's six current football members have played at least one postseason game in either the NCAA Division III Football Championship or Eastern College Athletic Conference, and the six teams have compiled a 54-23 record against nonconference Division III opponents (.701 winning percentage).

A former Empire 8 affiliate member, Norwich, moved last season to the new Eastern Collegiate Football Conference and was that league's first champion.

"I am thrilled for Buffalo State College football to be joining the Empire 8 conference," said Jerry Boyes, director of athletics and head football coach. "This is a great fit for Buffalo State and we look forward to once again playing a regular schedule against so many of our traditional in-state rivals as well as some other familiar foes."