FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[Jonny Utah]

Just throwing some data out there. I don't know what it means, if anything. I simply find it interesting.

Kean - 4-5  Lost games by 51,20,49,32 and 14

CNU 5-5 Lost games by 3,7,7,20 and 70

Records since 2017

CNU 19-22
Kean 12-29

Post Season Accolades - ALL-Conference Players - Kean 10 Including ST Player of year
                                                                         CNU 9 - Including Offensive POY

Kean HC - Co-Coach of the Year in NJAC
CNU HC - looking for a job

Athletics is a crazy world!

Don't know much about NJAC football these days, but from an outsiders perspective......

The Kean coach has been there for 15+ years and although he has had his ups and downs, there are some recent ups before this season.  The CNU coach has been coaching 4-5?  And was 5-5 this year?  Not sure about the standards of CNU football but it looks like they have had some pretty good teams over the past 30 years.  Maybe they just didn't like the direction the coach was going?  I think a d3 coach needs one more year than he got with the covid stuff going on. 

As far as the co-coach of the year and players of the year?  Kean was 2nd in the NJAC and CNU was 3rd.  I mean it's clear Salisbury smoked everyone but Kean was still 2nd place.

Points in their losses?  Kean played completely different OCC games than CNU did (including two top 25 teams).  So you can't really use those numbers.  Plus Kean beat CNU, that should mean something.

In the end a 15 year head coach is going to get a much longer rope.  That appears to be the case here although 5-5 isn't horrible for the NJAC and covid issues imo.

[CNU85]

good points Utah -- it is indeed a crazy world of college athletics.

[CNU85]

New coach is...

https://www.cnusports.com/news/2021/12/8/christopher-newport-university-names-paul-crowley-head-football-coach.aspx

Really excited about this choice. Paul knows CNU as an athlete, coach, and recruiter. He understands the expectations from the University. And he's an old school Kelchner type of guy!
I just spoke to him and offered my sincere congratulations. I'm excited about the future of CNU football!

[MRMIKESMITH]

It looks like the scheduling for Salisbury will not be any easier next year...Salisbury is still looking for games in Wk 2 and Wk 3 of 2022. Salisbury running the Triple Option and being on the Eastern Shore of MD is a tough logistic issue as well as being a quality opponent, making it tough for teams to play them. During the ITH broadcast during the Semi-Finals, Coach from Heidelberg mentioned that many teams within driving distances didn't want to schedule OAC schools and mentioned they'll play anyone anytime within driving distances. However, when it was mentioned that Salisbury had openings, he adamantly indicated that he did not want to play the Triple Option. I'm surprised that was the case for a team from a prestigious conference. Looking at D3Football open dates, there are many schools open wk 2 and wk 3 that are driving distances.

Week 2
Albion - 680 Miles or 12 hours
Brockport - Have played multiple times in the past
Christopher Newport - Conference member
DePauw - 727 miles - 12+ hour ride
East Texas Baptist - 1358 or 23 hours or definitely flight.
Howard Payne - 1620 or 27 hours or definitely flight.
Mary Hardin-Baylor - 1592 miles or 26+ hours or definite flight
North Central - 832 miles  or 14 hours
Ohio Wesleyan - 526 miles or 9 hours
Rhodes - 996 mile or 17 hours
Rowan - Conference opponent
St. John Fisher - have played OOC and as conference affiliate
Wabash - 729 miles or 12 hours
Wittenberg 548 or 9 hours

Week 3
Brockport - again have played both OOC and as former ACFC/E8 (1 yr) members
Endicott - 463 miles or 7+ hours
Husson - have played once - 670 miles or 11 hours
Rhodes - 996 mile or 17 hours
St. John Fisher - have played OOC and as conference affiliate
UW-Stevens Point - 1066 miles  or 18 hours, will Salisbury play its annual WIAC opponent for 3 straight seasons?

I'd love to play Brockport and St. John Fisher again as both teams are quality E8 opponents and we have played each other multiple times. Also, the fan in me would love to play Endicott for the "Battle of Gulls" title. Other reasonable matchups are Ohio Wesleyan and Wittenberg. Some unlikely, but not out of the realm are NCC and UMHB, two teams in the national title game that have made East Coast Trips before, NCC to CNU  and UMHB to Wesley. Then there UW-Stevens Point, who has played Webber Int'l, Willamette, Azusa Pacific in the pass, so maybe budget may not be such a huge issue.

[Jonny Utah]

It looks like the scheduling for Salisbury will not be any easier next year...Salisbury is still looking for games in Wk 2 and Wk 3 of 2022. Salisbury running the Triple Option and being on the Eastern Shore of MD is a tough logistic issue as well as being a quality opponent, making it tough for teams to play them. During the ITH broadcast during the Semi-Finals, Coach from Heidelberg mentioned that many teams within driving distances didn't want to schedule OAC schools and mentioned they'll play anyone anytime within driving distances. However, when it was mentioned that Salisbury had openings, he adamantly indicated that he did not want to play the Triple Option. I'm surprised that was the case for a team from a prestigious conference. Looking at D3Football open dates, there are many schools open wk 2 and wk 3 that are driving distances.

Week 2
Albion - 680 Miles or 12 hours
Brockport - Have played multiple times in the past
Christopher Newport - Conference member
DePauw - 727 miles - 12+ hour ride
East Texas Baptist - 1358 or 23 hours or definitely flight.
Howard Payne - 1620 or 27 hours or definitely flight.
Mary Hardin-Baylor - 1592 miles or 26+ hours or definite flight
North Central - 832 miles  or 14 hours
Ohio Wesleyan - 526 miles or 9 hours
Rhodes - 996 mile or 17 hours
Rowan - Conference opponent
St. John Fisher - have played OOC and as conference affiliate
Wabash - 729 miles or 12 hours
Wittenberg 548 or 9 hours

Week 3
Brockport - again have played both OOC and as former ACFC/E8 (1 yr) members
Endicott - 463 miles or 7+ hours
Husson - have played once - 670 miles or 11 hours
Rhodes - 996 mile or 17 hours
St. John Fisher - have played OOC and as conference affiliate
UW-Stevens Point - 1066 miles  or 18 hours, will Salisbury play its annual WIAC opponent for 3 straight seasons?

I'd love to play Brockport and St. John Fisher again as both teams are quality E8 opponents and we have played each other multiple times. Also, the fan in me would love to play Endicott for the "Battle of Gulls" title. Other reasonable matchups are Ohio Wesleyan and Wittenberg. Some unlikely, but not out of the realm are NCC and UMHB, two teams in the national title game that have made East Coast Trips before, NCC to CNU  and UMHB to Wesley. Then there UW-Stevens Point, who has played Webber Int'l, Willamette, Azusa Pacific in the pass, so maybe budget may not be such a huge issue.

They need to play Springfield and Merchant Marine!

[thewaterboy]

Passing this along for any Wesley faithful still around. I was going through my garage and found a bunch of old DVDs. I was able to get these two on YouTube. They are the 2009 and 2010 Wesley Football Recruiting Films. I left them "unlisted" in hopes they wouldn't get pulled down. Here's the link though! Merry Christmas!

2009 Semifinal Season: https://youtu.be/IrgIzINpAHU

2010 Semifinal Season: https://youtu.be/0F4v6aLDs6c

Enjoy and happy New Year!

[MRMIKESMITH]

Passing this along for any Wesley faithful still around. I was going through my garage and found a bunch of old DVDs. I was able to get these two on YouTube. They are the 2009 and 2010 Wesley Football Recruiting Films. I left them "unlisted" in hopes they wouldn't get pulled down. Here's the link though! Merry Christmas!

2009 Semifinal Season: https://youtu.be/IrgIzINpAHU

2010 Semifinal Season: https://youtu.be/0F4v6aLDs6c

Enjoy and happy New Year!

waterboy, let me know if you get those game tapes up on YouTube, that'd be awesome to watch. I know of bunch of Alumni were trying to get game tapes, but not sure the Statute of Limitations at Salisbury will allow for them to be posted.

[MRMIKESMITH]

In other news, Salisbury Alum (Class of 2008), Matt Barnes is now the Defensive Coordinator at Memphis, spent the past year calling some plays for Ohio State -.

[thewaterboy]

Passing this along for any Wesley faithful still around. I was going through my garage and found a bunch of old DVDs. I was able to get these two on YouTube. They are the 2009 and 2010 Wesley Football Recruiting Films. I left them "unlisted" in hopes they wouldn't get pulled down. Here's the link though! Merry Christmas!

2009 Semifinal Season: https://youtu.be/IrgIzINpAHU

2010 Semifinal Season: https://youtu.be/0F4v6aLDs6c

Enjoy and happy New Year!

waterboy, let me know if you get those game tapes up on YouTube, that'd be awesome to watch. I know of bunch of Alumni were trying to get game tapes, but not sure the Statute of Limitations at Salisbury will allow for them to be posted.

I know a few full game tapes were posted on YouTube already. The 2005 Salisbury, 2005 UMHB and 2005 Bridgewater games are on there.

Most of the ones I have are from the 2010 season. Maybe a few from 08 too. They are ones that were supposed to be sent to opposing teams, so you get the endzone view of each play as well.... not sure how cumbersome that would be to remove.

[thewaterboy]

Steve Azzanesi, longtime Wesley assistant and currently Del State's OC, just got named Alvernia's Head Football Coach. Congrats Coach Azz!

https://auwolves.com/news/2022/1/24/alvernia-names-steve-azzanesi-as-next-head-football-coach.aspx

[CNU85]

Steve Azzanesi, longtime Wesley assistant and currently Del State's OC, just got named Alvernia's Head Football Coach. Congrats Coach Azz!

https://auwolves.com/news/2022/1/24/alvernia-names-steve-azzanesi-as-next-head-football-coach.aspx

good stuff! Congrats to Coach!

[MRMIKESMITH]

Had a chance to review what was a great year for Salisbury. Congratulations to the Seniors and Grad students. They end their careers as the winniest class in school history. Kudos to the players that had taken time off or taken on postponing graduation to play one last season. Kudos to the staff their continued effort to put out a respectable program that is well known nationally. It is very difficult to win at a high level on a consistent basis. Overall, I'm disappointed in how this past weekend outcome, however I'm excited that this program is respected. Now here is my Good, Bad, and Ugly recap of the season and my take on what is needed going forward:

Good: OOC Scheduling - Although Salisbury only had a 9 game slate and 3 OOC games. Kudos to the staff for scheduling the likes of UWW and a respectable WNE team. Although this team came in with high expectations, based upon 2019 results and didn't get to get back to the quarters, I'm excited that there were quite a lot of underclassmen playing this year, not at key positions, but enough to say that the future is still bright. Salisbury withstood everyone's best shot in the NJAC and although the NJAC was down this year, I think Salisbury stayed true to its philosophy and a lot of players grew as the season went along.

Bad: The lack of explosive running plays, 4th down conversions, and coverage. Although Salisbury had its share of big run plays, I didn't see the explosive output from some of the potent teams in the past. I felt that there were a lot of points left on the field. There were quite a few moments throughout the season where a sack or TFL put the offense in long yardage across the 50 that didn't matriculate into scoring and that leads to my next point, the poor 4th down conversion rate, Salisbury did not put itself in position to succeed on 4th down, they had one of the worst conversion rates of Top 25 caliber teams. The great teams were very dominant in the category. Lastly, the coverage unit had a few good players and all-america, but schematically the secondary was put in a bind throughout the season, CBs lining up 8 -10 yards from the ball created easy opportunities for opposing offenses and when they did change coverage it was immediately know.

Ugly: Penalties and poor usage of timeouts. Usually you will find teams that are super agressive get called for penalties and a lot of top teams tend to trend to having more than average, however both Offensively and Defensively, it appeared that Salisbury early and a key moments in the season hurt themselves quite too often. When you run a particular offense (Triple-Option), you can't put yourself long yardage situations, the offense is not built or capable of getting those yards back. Defensively, it appeared that every touchdown scored was a result of a bad penalty that kept a drive alive that ended up with the opposing offense scoring. With the defense playing a conservative bend don't break Cover 4 shell, you can't have penalties. People take for granted the usage of Timeouts, I think Salisbury did a poor job on getting the right call in crucial games, while opposing teams did a great job and succeeded.

Going forward, Salisbury no longers has the Wesley excuse to why they aren't here nor there. Salisbury has played the class of DIII multiple times and have played two respectable teams from the CC in that of Muhlenberg. Salisbury has played Delaware Valley and Salisbury has played the likes of Cortland and Ithaca in postseason. It appears that Salisbury has not had good success in games that are considered toss-ups over the year's. Salisbury is well respected program and has come a long way from being an average program. However, over the past 15 year's, we have seen the DIII landscape have only 1-2 teams that realistically had a shot at championship to 6 or 7. We have seen the CC teams (Johns Hopkins and Muhlenberg) have respectable games in the playoffs and make the semi's and quarters multiple times. However, as dominant as Salisbury been against teams they are suppose to beat, Salisbury has yet to put up a signature win. Yes, 2019 win against UW-Oshkosh and Wesley were hurdles, however, that UW-Oshkosh team were fully of freshman, sophomores, and 1st year players. Also, that 2019 Wesley team was not as good as the 2000s and early 2010s Wesley teams. Salisbury as a program sees these other programs and want to be them, being respected is good, but no one fear's Salisbury. Salisbury as a program has hit a ceiling. I think to get past that ceiling, Salisbury either has to recruit superior talent, higher more analyst to help coordinators on what opposing teams will do against schemes or get better in what they do. The recruiting area (DMV) is not as lucrative to non-scholarship teams anymore, there are so many scholarship (DII, FCS) programs that are reeling in that talent than it was 15 years ago. Salisbury either needs to move up to Division II or FCS or make some schematic changes. I respectfully believe that you can't win big games being one-dimensional and expect to beat similar or better talented opponents. Defensively, you can't sit in your base and just expect to read and react, you have to make offenses think as opposed to allowing them to immediately know. Defensively, Salisbury doesn't have the talent up front to just sit in base defense. All of Salisbury supporters want the program to maintain the success, however we also want to see the program get better and compete for National Championships. The school has a rich history of championships in many of its other sports, so the support is there. Salisbury has to really evaluate itself inside and out. No more being happy with being a top 5 rushing offense, heck the NCC and other top programs are top 10-15 in both passing and rushing. So the formula for success is there. We can't be scared to get outside of the norm, push the program/players to the limit. Be creative on offense and defense, raise the bar.

I knew the NJAC was a pretty poor conference (not surprising after the losses of Wesley and Frostburg especially) after seeing two teams that DelVal demolished, Kean and Montclair, having decent NJAC records........more so Kean). If there isn't some improvement soon, does Salisbury do more than just the current sniffing around for a different football conference?

With Eastern coming on board as a 12th MAC football program, I am hearing rumors about an eventual 14 team / 2 division football conference with a slightly expanded football footprint. 6 division games, 2 vs. the other division, 1 true out of conference and a championship game, along with other cross-division matchup's across the board (2 vs. 2, 3 vs. 3, etc.).

Would Salisbury and another "more Southern" program make sense pared with Stevenson................and some combo of Lycoming, Lebanon Valley, Widener and Eastern in a South Division"..........and Misericordia, King's Wilkes, FDU, Albright, Alvernia and DelVal in  "North Division"?

Gordon? Pat?

Revisiting this since the new changes. I wouldn't be surprised over the next few months to year that Salisbury and CNU will join this newly formed MAC "2" conference with Stevenson, Widener, Eastern, Delaware Valley, and FDU. Then Lycoming, Wilkes, Lebanon Valley, King's, Misericordia, Alvernia, and Albright. You will have 7 full conference members in each "Conference", making 6 games with 2/3 crossover games. Allowing each team to schedule 1 to 2 OOC games. Salisbury and CNU departure from the NJAC, although it's been very welcoming to both teams. For Salisbury only finding 1 to 2 conference games and having a full slate is both rewarding to the program and players. Also, possibly creating a "New" Regents cup with an in-state rival in the battle of the real SU with Stevenson would mean so much to the alumni and fan bases who really want to see that matchup yearly. As far as the NJAC, that would leave them with 5 full-time playing members and possibly falling into Pool B realm.

There are variety of options out there, one answer could be to simply do nothing. Let the MAC split into two 6 team conferences, the NJAC stay at 7. However, Salisbury would still be struggling to find opponents unless, the MAC, which can play a round robin with it's 12 teams play each other. I think Salisbury and CNU both are trying to find a conference for all sports that would be good fit and if that's part of two MAC conferences for football and part of a 14 team conference for all other sports, I think they'd be all in.

[CNU85]

Interesting

[HSCTiger74]

  The late Sam Mills, a Montclair State grad, was (finally) named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He had a 12 year NFL career with the Saints and Panthers and is on the Ring of Honor for both teams.

[JT2]

I've been away both mentally and physically for a while. My Dad was suffering from Agent Orange related dementia and parkison's. He passed in January. Thankfully, he's no longer suffering, and he's probably playing 36 holes every day with his Dad, Mom, and Sister. I'm glad he avoided the end stages of Lewy Body Dementia, and that God took him in his sleep on a recent January night. This next Fall football season will be really strange without him. We spent so much time around football... either me playing, us reffing together, or tailgating to pro and college games. I started playing football at 10, and have been around football ever since. That would be 44 years with some kind of football every Fall. The worst was COVID in 2020, which took the DIII college game away. We never tailgated together again after 2019.

Anyway, I am so glad that Sam Mills finally made the Pro HOF. A man I knew, as I watched him train with my neighbor Vince DeMarinis for the new USFL that was just starting up. He completely deserves this honor. Just a great guy, who took time to teach me some techniques on defense that I used in HS.

Hey Pat, do you have my Sam Mills article archived somewhere from 2005 when Montclair had a night in his honor. It's probably on one of my old computers in storage. I remember it was raining and that Montclair was playing Kean. It was low scoring too... like 3-0 or 6-0 Montclair winning... very sloppy and wet game.

I'm gonna try to make it to the HOF inductions in August. I told his family in 05, that I'd go if could.