(02-10-2020 01:14 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote: Speaking of the Northeast Conference - how come Central Connecticut State is in the Northeast Conference and not America East Conference? They are the only public school in the Northeast Conference.
It was more muddled when CCSU went to D-I. When they elevated in the late 80's/early 90's, the (then) NAC had, or recently had, privates like Canisius, Niagara, Colgate, Northeastern, BU, Siena, Hartford, Drexel, and Hofstra. The conference wasn't the "Small Northeast Public" conference it is now.
CCSU initially joined the reformated East Coast Conference with fellow newcomers UMBC and Buffalo, plus existing Towson, Hofstra, and American. The conference later added Chicago State, Troy, and Northeastern Illinois. Shockingly, that didn't last long. Three more years in the absolute mess that was the Mid-Con (CCSU, Troy, Youngstown, Western Illinois, Valpo, Buffalo, Northeastern Illinois, Chicago State, UMKC, Southern Utah, Oral Roberts...). The NEC invite came at that point. CCSU wasn't the only public in the NEC in 1997, and the America East still had a fair few privates. It wasn't an automatic fit (plus the league was much better in basketball than CCSU was at that point).
Now, sure it might on paper make sense to flip/flop CCSU and Hartford but Hartford has been a good, longtime league citizen and no one is going to boot them. Also, CCSU has football. The NEC won't let you leave the all-sports conference and stay in football (see: Monmouth). AE doesn't offer football and CCSU sure as heck isn't getting into the CAA. So, with no real football options, CCSU is stuck.