FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[jmcozenlaw]

Unfortunately Wesley doesn't have a large endowment primarily because it wasn't a 4 year college for most of its history.  Those big buck alums don't exist as they would like Muhlenberg or Del Val.

-Ski

They have to look outside of alums. DelVal got a $25 million+ gift from a non-alum........a woman in the local area who loved what the school has done and what they have planned (if the pandemic doesn't get them before that)!!

I'm sure there are some non-alums in the Dover area who have a soft spot for Wesley and some change to spare. It's up to the President (and his vast connections) and the Fundraising and Alumni Departments. Put some nice bonuses on good fishing. It's amazing what can happen when you incentivize people vs. putting the fear of God in them if they don't bring in xyz. Fear is NOT a motivator..........it is what gets one to clean up their resume and LinkedIn profile . I know that DelVal has a lot of folks outside of the fundraising group that are out fishing OFTEN right now...............and having some degree of success as well. I help them out and I'm not even an alum.

[jmcozenlaw]

TCNJ is out for the fall

https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/college/2020/06/26/tcnj-cancels-all-fall-sports-including-football/3267192001/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot

Well, there you go.  The hammer is falling.

-Ski

That is a bitter pill.  Seems premature, I wonder how Wm Patterson, Montclair and Kean respond....

The NJAC has gotten screwy enough with the departures of schools (that geographically never made sense) Frostburg and Southern Virginia. IF Wesley bites the bullet, I do wonder what the NJAC does. I believe (without looking..........lazy, and in pain after attempting to "run" (jog) 8 miles) IF (not WHEN) Wesley is done, that leaves them with just 7 schools and looking for 4 non-conference games per year.

I also wonder if Salisbury and Christopher Newport (especially given the non-proximity to anything New Jersey) would start to look around at that point with 5 Jersey schools and the two of them. I don't know what makes more sense for either though. If Rowan does have bigger aspirations and moves on and up, with any of these (Wesley closing, Salisbury and Christopher Newport reassessing).............it might be night night for the NJAC. I don't know who would make sense to fill some holes unless FDU wants to reduce expenses (and the NJAC will have them) and/or Stockton starts a program (while they've looked, this would be a BAD time unless some alums throw a pile of money at it).

P.S. The rumblings are starting again about a significant downsizing/combining of the number of PSAC (PA D-II Conference) schools as the state is bleeding. They did an extensive study a couple of years ago and the proposed cuts were drastic (5-6 schools going away), but never implemented. The dust has been blown off and it is the hands of folks who can make the call fairly quickly.

If that were to happen, it would be a boon to D-III programs like a few of the OAC schools and Western PA D-III schools (from the PSAC West)...........and a school like DelVal could potentially clean up (from the PSAC East) as programs like Kutztown (lead by an ex-Del Val head coach), West Chester, East Stroudsburg, Bloomsburg and Shippensburg are littered with tons of kids from the Greater Philadelphia area and the surrounding counties. Greco and Brady would have a field day!!

[JT2]

It is highly likely that Rowan's football schedule for 2020 will change, perhaps multiple times. Highly doubt they play the weekend of Sept. 5.

My Dad will be disappointed, he's looking forward to the Rowan @ Widener game.

[The Mole]

The PSAC mergers have been rumbling for some time. Cheyney dropped. Mansfield is sprint only. Only West Chester and Slippery Rock are net positive enrollment since 2016. They added Shepherd WV last year. You could see Kutztown and Millersville merge/drop, ditto with the following geographic clusters: East Stroudsburg and Bloomsburg. Lock Haven/Mansfield. California/IUP. Slippery Rock/Edinboro/Clarion. You can get 6 right there. Frostburg saw the writing on the wall. Salisbury could follow them to D2 or play in ODAC along with CNU. Tough times all around. The possibility of a season looks bleak. Hope it doesn't come to this.

Unfortunately Wesley doesn't have a large endowment primarily because it wasn't a 4 year college for most of its history.  Those big buck alums don't exist as they would like Muhlenberg or Del Val.

-Ski

They have to look outside of alums. DelVal got a $25 million+ gift from a non-alum........a woman in the local area who loved what the school has done and what they have planned (if the pandemic doesn't get them before that)!!

I'm sure there are some non-alums in the Dover area who have a soft spot for Wesley and some change to spare. It's up to the President (and his vast connections) and the Fundraising and Alumni Departments. Put some nice bonuses on good fishing. It's amazing what can happen when you incentivize people vs. putting the fear of God in them if they don't bring in xyz. Fear is NOT a motivator..........it is what gets one to clean up their resume and LinkedIn profile . I know that DelVal has a lot of folks outside of the fundraising group that are out fishing OFTEN right now...............and having some degree of success as well. I help them out and I'm not even an alum.

[CNU85]

ODAC by laws do not allow public schools. SU and CNU to ODAC will NEVER be an option.

[The Mole]

I was not aware of that, but never say never. Necessity is the mother of invention. Times like these could change things quickly. Hate to see this stuff happen

ODAC by laws do not allow public schools. SU and CNU to ODAC will NEVER be an option.

[jmcozenlaw]

The PSAC mergers have been rumbling for some time. Cheyney dropped. Mansfield is sprint only. Only West Chester and Slippery Rock are net positive enrollment since 2016. They added Shepherd WV last year. You could see Kutztown and Millersville merge/drop, ditto with the following geographic clusters: East Stroudsburg and Bloomsburg. Lock Haven/Mansfield. California/IUP. Slippery Rock/Edinboro/Clarion. You can get 6 right there. Frostburg saw the writing on the wall. Salisbury could follow them to D2 or play in ODAC along with CNU. Tough times all around. The possibility of a season looks bleak. Hope it doesn't come to this.

Unfortunately Wesley doesn't have a large endowment primarily because it wasn't a 4 year college for most of its history.  Those big buck alums don't exist as they would like Muhlenberg or Del Val.

-Ski

They have to look outside of alums. DelVal got a $25 million+ gift from a non-alum........a woman in the local area who loved what the school has done and what they have planned (if the pandemic doesn't get them before that)!!

I'm sure there are some non-alums in the Dover area who have a soft spot for Wesley and some change to spare. It's up to the President (and his vast connections) and the Fundraising and Alumni Departments. Put some nice bonuses on good fishing. It's amazing what can happen when you incentivize people vs. putting the fear of God in them if they don't bring in xyz. Fear is NOT a motivator..........it is what gets one to clean up their resume and LinkedIn profile . I know that DelVal has a lot of folks outside of the fundraising group that are out fishing OFTEN right now...............and having some degree of success as well. I help them out and I'm not even an alum.

Mole.....................you are pretty spot on!! In addition to being close friends with two PSAC head football and three head basketball coaches, I know a few people at the conference level and with the State of PA. i have no clue what the outcome will be, but from I've been told.................you are pretty close. I don't see many around here who are up on the PSAC. I think that makes two of us. Does that make us a "group"?

[jmcozenlaw]

I was not aware of that, but never say never. Necessity is the mother of invention. Times like these could change things quickly. Hate to see this stuff happen

ODAC by laws do not allow public schools. SU and CNU to ODAC will NEVER be an option.

Spot on Mole. What's a rule or law now, scrub the word "never" from the lexicon. Things they are a changing!!!

[The Mole]

Small world, for sure. I grew up and still live in SEPA and coached at a MAC school in the 90s. Still follow the PSAC, Centennial and MAC as closely as I can. Its all good competition and the level of HS play in PA helps all those conferences. But the demographics don't support full enrollment at many of these institutions. Prevailing wisdom suggests the PSAC schools offer a pretty good "bargain" price relative to private schools, but again, the number of bodies just aren't there to fill the beds/seats. The pandemic obviously exacerbates the situation and it is not isolated to PA. Hope some of these schools can "hang on".

I was not aware of that, but never say never. Necessity is the mother of invention. Times like these could change things quickly. Hate to see this stuff happen

ODAC by laws do not allow public schools. SU and CNU to ODAC will NEVER be an option.

[CNU85]

Mole - You're correct.....schools have to "hang in there". I've heard many schools are seriously considering a cancellation of all non conference games. They just haven't officially announced. With the news from TCNJ, that leaves 6 games to play in the NJAC. The NCAA says you need 5 to qualify for post season. I'm afraid this season could be in real jeopardy.

[jmcozenlaw]

Small world, for sure. I grew up and still live in SEPA and coached at a MAC school in the 90s. Still follow the PSAC, Centennial and MAC as closely as I can. Its all good competition and the level of HS play in PA helps all those conferences. But the demographics don't support full enrollment at many of these institutions. Prevailing wisdom suggests the PSAC schools offer a pretty good "bargain" price relative to private schools, but again, the number of bodies just aren't there to fill the beds/seats. The pandemic obviously exacerbates the situation and it is not isolated to PA. Hope some of these schools can "hang on".

I was not aware of that, but never say never. Necessity is the mother of invention. Times like these could change things quickly. Hate to see this stuff happen

ODAC by laws do not allow public schools. SU and CNU to ODAC will NEVER be an option.

Smaller world mole. After moving out of NE Philly, I was raised in Bucks County and have lived in the Doylestown area for years. I 'adopted' DelVal, as I went to Swarthmore as an undergrad. I spent many a Friday night watching the best high school football program in the state (back then)................and top 20 in the country, year in and year out, at War Memorial Field watching legendary Coach Mike Pettine's C.B. West Bucks maul opponents. The private school recruiting mess destroyed all of it!!! St. Joe Prep has 20-25 kids a year from South Jersey. Archbishop Wood's football team is primarily from Philadelphia, where the kids take two or three buses just to get to and from school. The cheating and scheming that goes on is unreal. I could tell you a story about the lengths to which Wood tried to get C.B. South stud RB, Josh Adams, to transfer. He rejected them each time........but kept the cleats and other "goodies".

The PIAA WILL end this mockery soon and do what New Jersey does...................separate championships for Public and Private schools. It's a joke to have landlocked, public schools competing against teams that recruit from multiple states..................and give free tuition to half of the "best" athletes (oh, I 'forgot' students).

Let me get off my soapbox!!

[The Mole]

Once the PIAA let in the Philadelphia Catholic League with the "open enrollment" policy, it has been a free for all in "cough cough" recruiting. Basketball might be worse, its all a cesspool. The other big shift was the split of CB West into CBW and South. Hasn't been the same since. In addition, those kids get poached by all the PCL and Inter-Ac schools. Affluent area that can afford private schools. They get picked clean. Its happening everywhere, but very prevalent in the collar counties of Philly with the population. Too many private schools. Wood vs Cheltenham in the 5A championship last year was symbolic of a watered down and very week classification. Those two teams may have gone winless in the Inter-Ac last year.

Small world, for sure. I grew up and still live in SEPA and coached at a MAC school in the 90s. Still follow the PSAC, Centennial and MAC as closely as I can. Its all good competition and the level of HS play in PA helps all those conferences. But the demographics don't support full enrollment at many of these institutions. Prevailing wisdom suggests the PSAC schools offer a pretty good "bargain" price relative to private schools, but again, the number of bodies just aren't there to fill the beds/seats. The pandemic obviously exacerbates the situation and it is not isolated to PA. Hope some of these schools can "hang on".

I was not aware of that, but never say never. Necessity is the mother of invention. Times like these could change things quickly. Hate to see this stuff happen

ODAC by laws do not allow public schools. SU and CNU to ODAC will NEVER be an option.

Smaller world mole. After moving out of NE Philly, I was raised in Bucks County and have lived in the Doylestown for years. I 'adopted' DelVal, as I went to Swarthmore as an undergrad. I spent many a Friday night watching the best high school football program in the state (back then)................and top 20 in the country, year in and year out, at War Memorial Field watching legendary Coach Mike Pettine's C.B. West Bucks maul opponents. The private school recruiting mess destroyed all of it!!! St. Joe Prep has 20-25 kids a year from South Jersey. Archbishop Wood's football team is primarily from Philadelphia, where the kids take two or three buses just to get to and from school. The cheating and scheming that goes on is unreal. I could tell you a story about the lengths to which Wood tried to get C.B. South stud RB, Josh Adams, to transfer. He rejected them each time........but kept the cleats and other "goodies".

The PIAA WILL end this mockery soon and do what New Jersey does...................separate championships for Public and Private schools. It's a joke to have landlocked, public schools competing against teams that recruit from multiple states..................and give free tuition to half of the "best" athletes (oh, I 'forgot' students).

Let me get off my soapbox!!

[jmcozenlaw]

Once the PIAA let in the Philadelphia Catholic League with the "open enrollment" policy, it has been a free for all in "cough cough" recruiting. Basketball might be worse, its all a cesspool. The other big shift was the split of CB West into CBW and South. Hasn't been the same since. In addition, those kids get poached by all the PCL and Inter-Ac schools. Affluent area that can afford private schools. They get picked clean. Its happening everywhere, but very prevalent in the collar counties of Philly with the population. Too many private schools. Wood vs Cheltenham in the 5A championship last year was symbolic of a watered down and very week classification. Those two teams may have gone winless in the Inter-Ac last year.

Small world, for sure. I grew up and still live in SEPA and coached at a MAC school in the 90s. Still follow the PSAC, Centennial and MAC as closely as I can. Its all good competition and the level of HS play in PA helps all those conferences. But the demographics don't support full enrollment at many of these institutions. Prevailing wisdom suggests the PSAC schools offer a pretty good "bargain" price relative to private schools, but again, the number of bodies just aren't there to fill the beds/seats. The pandemic obviously exacerbates the situation and it is not isolated to PA. Hope some of these schools can "hang on".

I was not aware of that, but never say never. Necessity is the mother of invention. Times like these could change things quickly. Hate to see this stuff happen

ODAC by laws do not allow public schools. SU and CNU to ODAC will NEVER be an option.

Smaller world mole. After moving out of NE Philly, I was raised in Bucks County and have lived in the Doylestown for years. I 'adopted' DelVal, as I went to Swarthmore as an undergrad. I spent many a Friday night watching the best high school football program in the state (back then)................and top 20 in the country, year in and year out, at War Memorial Field watching legendary Coach Mike Pettine's C.B. West Bucks maul opponents. The private school recruiting mess destroyed all of it!!! St. Joe Prep has 20-25 kids a year from South Jersey. Archbishop Wood's football team is primarily from Philadelphia, where the kids take two or three buses just to get to and from school. The cheating and scheming that goes on is unreal. I could tell you a story about the lengths to which Wood tried to get C.B. South stud RB, Josh Adams, to transfer. He rejected them each time........but kept the cleats and other "goodies".

The PIAA WILL end this mockery soon and do what New Jersey does...................separate championships for Public and Private schools. It's a joke to have landlocked, public schools competing against teams that recruit from multiple states..................and give free tuition to half of the "best" athletes (oh, I 'forgot' students).

Let me get off my soapbox!!

It is a brutal cesspool indeed!!!!

[CNU85]

I love reading about other areas concerning HS football and how things are done. Here in Va public and private schools do not compete for championships with each other. And while there are a few good private programs, the big boys are the public schools, having many NFL (even HOF) players. Pretty much anyone who went to school around here, attended school with an eventual NFL player.  One local HS is the #3 winningest HS coach in the country. He coaches the rival of my old HS. So, BOOOO!!!!! Hahahahaha!

We have very good AAA and AA teams all within a few miles of each other on the Peninsula (Newport News, Hampton, York Co. Williamsburg).

Again, I love the stories. Interesting backgrounds of people posting. Thanks for sharing!

[jmcozenlaw]

I love reading about other areas concerning HS football and how things are done. Here in Va public and private schools do not compete for championships with each other. And while there are a few good private programs, the big boys are the public schools, having many NFL (even HOF) players. Pretty much anyone who went to school around here, attended school with an eventual NFL player.  One local HS is the #3 winningest HS coach in the country. He coaches the rival of my old HS. So, BOOOO!!!!! Hahahahaha!

We have very good AAA and AA teams all within a few miles of each other on the Peninsula (Newport News, Hampton, York Co. Williamsburg).

Again, I love the stories. Interesting backgrounds of people posting. Thanks for sharing!

No problem CNU, I love it as well. Not that there are not good public school players in PA................but the private schools have become AAU meets All Star meets football factory programs and they do compete in the same state playoffs. Some of us have been hammering Harrisburg (our state capital) for a while and changes could be coming. It sleezy.......at BEST!!