1. New Haven

The Chargers were again the class of the league but stumbled in the playoffs to IUP. They fell short of their national championship aspirations but have nothing to be ashamed of in 2012. They finished their second straight season undefeated in NE-10 play. They won the inaugural NE-10 championship game. They have several players recognized with top awards in the league this year. Despite their playoff loss, it was a solid season for the Chargers.

2. AIC

AIC played very well in the middle of the season but struggled against 2012 playoff teams. They fell to Shepherd in the opening game and lost to New Haven over the final two weekends. In between, they were very good and know that they have some work to do to overtake New Haven. The Yellow Jackets surprised some teams with their offensive explosive. They had their usual strong defense and have a young core of players that will keep them in contention for the near future.

3. Bentley

Bentley had one of the best defenses in the league and were this close to making the NE-10 title game. But consecutive losses to New Haven and AIC kept them out of it. They still had a good season and have some returning offensive weapons that make the future bright. The Falcons will lose some leadership on the defensive side but they always seem to recruit good players that fill in for the graduated ones.

4. Stonehill

It was a breakthrough season for Stonehill. They made strides on both sides of the ball and are ready for bigger things in the future. They have a lot of talent back for next year and want to continue their upward march. The Skyhawks proved that they are capable of playing with top ranked teams and now need to beat them on the field instead of playing them strong in a loss.

5. Merrimack

Merrimack had high hopes for the season but struggled too often in big games. They are going to have to replace two offensive players that earned major awards this year and are also going to need to sure up the defense if they are going to compete for the league title. The Warriors will always score a lot of points but need to find a way to keep the other team from racking up that many points.

6. Assumption

Assumption was on the verge of good things but had too much inconsistency kept them from winning more games. They were in most of the games and showed down the stretch what they were capable of. The Greyhounds have a solid nucleus of players returning and are a tough match-up for all of the teams in the NE-10. If they are able to play a full 60 minutes, they can contend for the league title.

7. Southern Connecticut

It is not often that Southern Connecticut struggled like they did this year. The Owls were young and need to mature on and off the field. They have some talented players but they need to play together as a team. Southern Connecticut always seems to recruit solid players and the coaching staff will need to continue that trend for the Owls to return to the top of the NE-10.

8. St. Anselm

St. Anselm seems to make strides each season but it has yet to translate into wins. The coaching staff wants to win on the field, not in the almost or solid effort category. They have a young quarterback and some promising defensive players to build around. The Hawks showed signs against Bentley and AIC that they can compete against good teams. They will need to start beating those teams if they are going to get in the top half of the league.

9. Pace

Pace continued to struggle this year. They were not able to compete in most of the games and still have some work to do to be competitive in the NE-10. The Setters have faced an uphill battle for many years now as most teams have handled them easily week in and week out. They need to continue to recruit players and hopefully find a couple diamonds in the rough to help them get the program back into the win column more consistently.


10th Football Member

It appears that LIU-Post will be back in the NE-10 next season. They have applied for re-entry to the NE-10 and are in the middle of the process right now. They have one final hurdle to pass but it appears that it is just a formality.

What does it mean to the NE-10?

First, it means a balanced schedule. Now five games can be played each weekend and no more bye weeks during the season. It also helps the NE-10 with another solid team in the mix.

Post did not dominate the PSAC East but they were respectable. They can now bring that same swagger back to the NE-10 and help to continue getting the league moving in the right direction.

Also since the NE-10 is now offering football scholarships, Post will be on the same footing as the rest of the league and does not need to make any major changes. The scholarship issue is why they left in the first place and now that they are back, they will need to continue to recruit top talent to compete in the league.

It also helps to expand the NE-10 footprint into the New York City area and help the league gain some exposure. Post was a top team when they left the league in 2007 and one of only two teams to win a playoff game in the league. Their presence in the league is a good thing for all parties involved.

2013 Predictions

It is nine months until training camps open in the NE-10 but he are most first impressions on the 2013 finishing order. New Haven will be on top of the league until some other team steps up and knocks them off.

1. New Haven
2. AIC
3. Bentley
4. Post
5. Stonehill
6. Merrimack
7. Southern Connecticut
8. Assumption
9. St. Anselm
10. Pace

Until next NE-10 football season.