FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[Hawks88]

The NJAC also features a smaller team roster (100 players) than what Wesley has traditionally had, so Wesley has to pick it's players with more care.

I think they expanded it to 125 didn't they?

[Teamski]

The NJAC also features a smaller team roster (100 players) than what Wesley has traditionally had, so Wesley has to pick it's players with more care.

I think they expanded it to 125 didn't they?

Yeah, they added a 25 player JV roster when Wesley joined the conference.  Good eye!

-Ski

[rams1102]

Pick Em'S Are Posted On The NJAC Pick Em Board For Week #7.

[Swish3]

CNU will likely have its first losing season in program history....time for the coaching staff to step up their game.  That really should have been done prior to now....

[bman]

CNU will likely have its first losing season in program history....time for the coaching staff to step up their game.  That really should have been done prior to now....

Do you feel that is due to the change in league, or a cyclical anomaly (or a combination of both?)?

[jknezek]

CNU will likely have its first losing season in program history....time for the coaching staff to step up their game.  That really should have been done prior to now....

I think that's a good way of putting it. The whole program will need to step up to be close to as strong in the NJAC as they were in the USASAC. We don't get a whole lot of league comparisons outside of a few OOC games, so it's interesting to see CNU's welcome to the NJAC. Shenandoah had a similar one when they switched to the ODAC, going from a mid-pack USASAC team to winless in conference year one and only 5 conference wins in 3+ seasons.

I'll be interested to see what happens when Catholic, an ODAC bottom dweller for most of the last 14/15 years, switches to a New England league (NEWMAC).

[Pat Coleman]

I'll be interested to see what happens when Catholic, an ODAC bottom dweller for most of the last 14/15 years, switches to a New England league (NEWMAC).

Catholic's all-time ODAC finishes: 1, 3, 7, T5, 5, 7, T5, 6, 6, T1, 7, 5, T6 of 7. .... Then 7, T4, 8 of 8.

[jknezek]

I'll be interested to see what happens when Catholic, an ODAC bottom dweller for most of the last 14/15 years, switches to a New England league (NEWMAC).

Catholic's all-time ODAC finishes: 1, 3, 7, T5, 5, 7, T5, 6, 6, T1, 7, 5, T6 of 7. .... Then 7, T4, 8 of 8.

Ok. So you agree or disagree? I tend to agree. The first two years, darn good. 10 of the next 11, not good at all. Overall they averaged 5th place of 7 teams. In the most recent 3 years, second last, mid pack, dead last. That is 6th of 8 on average. Somewhere south of the 30th percentile regardless of the number of teams in the league, so clearly the bottom third of the league.

I suppose I could spend the time and check if anyone in the league, on average, finished worse over the same span, but I doubt anyone on the NJAC boards will care...

[gordonmann]

The ODAC is likely a better leage in football than the NEWMAC will be. I expect Catholic to go from cellar dweller to no worse than middle of the pack, and maybe better than that.

[D O.C.]

Gordon Mann....it's your turn in the rotation to visit McMinnville again.

IMHO...Wesley in the NJAC is great for them. The rest of the conference will have to learn to play full out in every phase of the game or get spanked.

(THX bman)

[jknezek]

The ODAC is likely a better leage in football than the NEWMAC will be. I expect Catholic to go from cellar dweller to no worse than middle of the pack, and maybe better than that.

I agree. But the fun thing is we actually get to find out. College teams are of course fluid, so the team that plays in the ODAC on year isn't the same that will start in the NEWMAC the next, but it's really about the only decent full schedule comparison we get. Thankfully I won't miss Catholic, as I don't think they ever really developed a strong presence in the ODAC or any real rivalries, so there aren't even any strings attached to me looking forward to this comparison...

Well except for the gymnastics a 7 team conference has to do with scheduling as opposed to an 8 team. I'm not looking forward to that and hope the ODAC can find a team to replace Catholic for that reason.

And with that I'm done hijacking the NJAC thread. Sorry guys...

[Pat Coleman]

Gordon Mann....it's your turn in the rotation to visit McMinnville again.

IMHO...Wesley in the NJAC is great for them. The rest of the conference will have to learn to play full out in every phase of the game or get spanked.

(THX bman)

You're going to have to develop a fantastic basketball team, then. Gordon is primarily focused on D3hoops.com these days.

[gordonmann]

Ha. But I'd love to come back to Linfield.

It's one of the coolest things I've done in my 15+ years working with these sites.

I still have the sweatshirt that my host family gave me as a reminder of the trip!

[D O.C.]

Touche', PC.
Perhaps someone in the NW will create a tournament.

Now back to football.

[CNU85]

CNU will likely have its first losing season in program history....time for the coaching staff to step up their game.  That really should have been done prior to now....

Do you feel that is due to the change in league, or a cyclical anomaly (or a combination of both?)?

I feel it is the change to the NJAC. CNU would not be 1-4 in the USA South this year. The distinct possibility of CNU's first ever losing season is not lost on the players and coaches. Nobody wants to be a part of that "first team ever".  I talk to them daily and it is on their minds. You can call it "stepping up" or whatever you like...but CNU will be competitive again - and very soon! I have full confidence in the current coaching staff to "right the ship".

CNU puts equal emphasis on all athletic teams and there is a "silent" competition between the coaches and teams. Last year football finished #24 in the polls and had a solid post season. Softball finished #12. Currently we have - Volleyball #4, Men's Soccer #13, Field Hockey #13, M Tennis #37, W Tennis #37, Cheerleaders finished 3rd in Nationals, and the Dance team is heading to nationals. I think it was 2 or 3 years ago the only team without a winning record was women's tennis. So, CNU made a commitment to change that - and they did.

My point is that it is not only the players and coaches who know what is happening and are working very hard to put a good team on the field, they have support from Administration. Winning % for the past few years for all teams:


2014-15   Christopher Newport   69.5%
2013-14   Christopher Newport   69.4%
2012-13   Christopher Newport   76.2%
2011-12   Christopher Newport   74.3%
2010-11   Christopher Newport   77.9%
2009-10   Christopher Newport   72.0%
2008-09   Christopher Newport   69.2%

This comes from VaSID which honors schools with overall winning %. CNU won the title during this 7 year run for non D1 Schools within the Commonwealth. You can't put up numbers like this without Admin support.

Like I said in an earlier post, I am enjoying this season because I know a season like this is a catalyst for the future. But don't count us out yet. We have some tough games left, but we will come to play. Every game is a playoff game now for CNU. Not to make the post season but to not make history. And we're still looking for win #100!!