FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

how are we possibly not yet understanding that our region has precisely zero "A to A+ teams" and also precisely zero that would make a top team from the Midwest or Texas leave its starters in the game after halftime.

Out there is Bama/Clemson/ND. We are the Sun Belt. I don't know how we got here and I hope to hell it doesn't stay like this but here we are, my dudes.

100% agree. I think the abundance of D3 teams in the east prevent one team from being a contender. Way too much recruiting competition.

Wesley?

Meh. Never made it past the semis and have been known to embarrass themselves against the big boys. they haven't been very dominant of late.

Well, if you go buy that standard, I think only 4 or 5 teams have made it past the semis in the last 13 years so that would mean there are really only 2 big boys and a few others who got to play against them.  So the big boys are Mount and UWW, with UMHB, Oshkosh, and St. Thomas almost big boys since they made it past the semis once or twice and then the rest of D3.

Wesley has been -by far- the most successful team the east has had over the past 15 years or so. I guess the shockingly blowout losses to UWW and mount are still relatively fresh in my mind. On the flip side they have gave mount a couple of good games over the years. So I don't think they've been too far behind the D3 elite when Wesley'a At their best.

I'd say they are up there historically. The past few years... not so much. They have only really been blown out 3 times. All semifinal games.

05: UWW L 58-6
06: UWW L 44-7
09: Mount L 24-7... was 10-7 heading into the 4th quarter... then Cecil Shorts happened.
10: UWW L 27-7... again 10-7 until 3:25 in the 3rd.
11: Mount L 28-21... after going through Linfield and UMHB to get there.
13: Mount L 62-59...Quarterfinal game.
14: Mount L 70-21... Most embarassing game IMHO.
15: Mount L 56-35... had multiple chances to make it a 1 score game in the 4th quarter. Wouldn't exactly call it a blow out.

Prior to 2015, Wesley was South Region, and a nemesis to UMHB.

[Teamski]

As a Mount guy, I always thought Wesley had the talent and speed to be a legit threat but wasn't fundamentally sound enough to seal the deal.  Plenty big and fast enough, but didn't play particularly crisp or looked to be well coached.   Not as sloppy as Rowan back in the day, but they always seemed to be more physically gifted than they played.

By contrast I thought SJFisher was the opposite.   A decent physical team that played much better than their individual parts.   Clean, crisp play but lacking the difference making athletes to compete with Mount.  Wheaton from the North was always that way too.  These were teams that would play hard, sound football for 60 minutes but as long as Mount didn't get careless they'd pull away late.  Wesley on the other hand would oscillate back and forth between implosion or great.  Sometimes from play to play or drive to drive.

Much of that success came from Wesley's QB play.  For Pete's sake, Callahan hung 8 TD pases against Mount Union and went on to back up Aaron Rodgers!  From Warwick, McSweeny, Sottilaire to Callahan, there was always a QB that galvanized the team and kept the team moving down field.  We just didn't have that since Callahan left.  Instead, we had some really poor passing and a mass of turnovers by a QB that did his best, but ultimately unwound Wesley's ability to keep the offense on the field.  Just look at the stats and it becomes obvious that while a good team needs good play in all three phases of the game, if you have a QB that constantly turns the ball over, well, you just can't compete.  Wesley found that out last year against Brockport and that repeatedly stung Wesley this year.  If Wesley had a decent back-up, the starter would have been benched a long time ago.  If Wesley is to compete next year at any decent level, they are going to have to recruit a good QB.  We took our quarterbacks for granted thinking that, hey, another one has to be in the wings.  Well, that just wasn't the case last year and this one.  I SO hope that Coach Knapp and Coach Azzanesi can work their magic and get Wesley back on the road by recruiting a QB that can be a commander on the field.  They have done it before many times and I am sure they can pull it off again.

-Ski

[CNU85]

See you guys in September!

https://golinfieldwildcats.com/schedule.aspx?path=football

Nice to see this! It will be interesting to see how the NJAC teams fill their schedules! Don't be surprised if CNU ends up playing a top caliber team as well! They did it in the past when having to fill 3 games.

[MRMIKESMITH]

https://www.d3football.com/opendates/2019/index

Week 2 - Can do Home and Home for 19/20 with Bold and one and done for glow (19 only)
Alfred - In Region
Chapman
Hanover
Mount St. Joseph
North Central
Puget Sound
Salisbury
St. John's
Southern Virginia
Mary Hardin-Baylor
UW-Oshkosh
Westminster (Mo.)
Whittier
Willamette

Week 3 - Probably One and Done since we are still looking for a 2020 game as well.
N.C. Wesleyan - Have played before.
Salisbury
TCNJ
UW-Oshkosh
Wesley

Week 4 - Probably can do a Home and Home for 19/20
Dean
Morrisville State
Salisbury
SUNY-Maritime
TCNJ
UW-Oshkosh
Wesley

[Oline89]

https://www.d3football.com/opendates/2019/index

Week 2 - Can do Home and Home for 19/20 with Bold and one and done for glow (19 only)
Alfred - In Region
Chapman
Hanover
Mount St. Joseph
North Central
Puget Sound
Salisbury
St. John's
Southern Virginia
Mary Hardin-Baylor
UW-Oshkosh
Westminster (Mo.)
Whittier
Willamette

Week 3 - Probably One and Done since we are still looking for a 2020 game as well.
N.C. Wesleyan - Have played before.
Salisbury
TCNJ
UW-Oshkosh
Wesley

Week 4 - Probably can do a Home and Home for 19/20
Dean
Morrisville State
Salisbury
SUNY-Maritime
TCNJ
UW-Oshkosh
Wesley

Hopefully the Hobart coaches are hitting the phone lines, the team needs to get 10 games this season!

[thewaterboy]

https://www.d3football.com/opendates/2019/index

Week 2 - Can do Home and Home for 19/20 with Bold and one and done for glow (19 only)
Alfred - In Region
Chapman
Hanover
Mount St. Joseph
North Central
Puget Sound
Salisbury
St. John's
Southern Virginia
Mary Hardin-Baylor
UW-Oshkosh
Westminster (Mo.)
Whittier
Willamette

Week 3 - Probably One and Done since we are still looking for a 2020 game as well.
N.C. Wesleyan - Have played before.
Salisbury
TCNJ
UW-Oshkosh
Wesley

Week 4 - Probably can do a Home and Home for 19/20
Dean
Morrisville State
Salisbury
SUNY-Maritime
TCNJ
UW-Oshkosh
Wesley

Some interesting options here. For Wesley, I think the only OOC opponent that has been scheduled is Delaware Valley. Wondering if any of the top teams from this list will get together for a matchup. Wesley-Oshkosh would be an interesting game.

I do miss Wesley's days as an independent and barnstorming throughout the country. Even tougher to get games, but I think it made them a better team in the end.

[Hawks88]

https://www.d3football.com/opendates/2019/index

Week 2 - Can do Home and Home for 19/20 with Bold and one and done for glow (19 only)
Alfred - In Region
Chapman
Hanover
Mount St. Joseph
North Central
Puget Sound
Salisbury
St. John's
Southern Virginia
Mary Hardin-Baylor
UW-Oshkosh
Westminster (Mo.)
Whittier
Willamette

Week 3 - Probably One and Done since we are still looking for a 2020 game as well.
N.C. Wesleyan - Have played before.
Salisbury
TCNJ
UW-Oshkosh
Wesley

Week 4 - Probably can do a Home and Home for 19/20
Dean
Morrisville State
Salisbury
SUNY-Maritime
TCNJ
UW-Oshkosh
Wesley

Some interesting options here. For Wesley, I think the only OOC opponent that has been scheduled is Delaware Valley. Wondering if any of the top teams from this list will get together for a matchup. Wesley-Oshkosh would be an interesting game.

I do miss Wesley's days as an independent and barnstorming throughout the country. Even tougher to get games, but I think it made them a better team in the end.

I believe Huntingdon is looking for something in week 3 or 4 to replace Thomas More. I had heard that they might be talking to Oshkosh but I would kind of like to see the Wesley series renewed.

[MRMIKESMITH]

https://www.d3football.com/opendates/2019/index

Week 2 - Can do Home and Home for 19/20 with Bold and one and done for glow (19 only)
Alfred - In Region
Chapman
Hanover
Mount St. Joseph
North Central
Puget Sound
Salisbury
St. John's
Southern Virginia
Mary Hardin-Baylor
UW-Oshkosh
Westminster (Mo.)
Whittier
Willamette

Week 3 - Probably One and Done since we are still looking for a 2020 game as well.
N.C. Wesleyan - Have played before.
Salisbury
TCNJ
UW-Oshkosh
Wesley

Week 4 - Probably can do a Home and Home for 19/20
Dean
Morrisville State
Salisbury
SUNY-Maritime
TCNJ
UW-Oshkosh
Wesley

Some interesting options here. For Wesley, I think the only OOC opponent that has been scheduled is Delaware Valley. Wondering if any of the top teams from this list will get together for a matchup. Wesley-Oshkosh would be an interesting game.

I do miss Wesley's days as an independent and barnstorming throughout the country. Even tougher to get games, but I think it made them a better team in the end.

I believe Huntingdon is looking for something in week 3 or 4 to replace Thomas More. I had heard that they might be talking to Oshkosh but I would kind of like to see the Wesley series renewed.

This list was based upon D3Footballl Open Dates. Now knowing that you all need Week 3 and with 3 NJAC teams looking for games. It would make since for Salisbury to play N.C. Wesleyan and Wesley to play you all and TCNJ play Oshkosh, similar to how Whitewater made the trip to TCNJ some year's ago. I think regarding Week 2, Salisbury should play either Alfred or Southern Virginia since it is ideal and each has traveled to each others institution and logistics wouldn't be to much of a hassle, plus it gives each team a chance at a home and home. It would make since for Salisbury to play Morrisville in Week 4 for the same reasons as week 3. I would love to see some new matchups (pending budget restraints), however realistically it makes since for my aforementioned matchups.

[JT2]

Well, well, well... not many here would remember JT 1.0. Welcome back JT. It's been a while. The old NJAC just ain't what it used to be... I miss the days of Jersey City State games; Ramapo breaking every NCAA rule in the book; and the biggest game of the year either being Trenton State v. Glassboro, Trenton State v. Montclair, or Glassboro v. Montclair. But time marches on... as does my retreating hairline.

Yeah, it's been a while. Hopefully, I can go to a couple of games next year. My three year old son keeps me quite busy. My business allows me to work from home, and my wife has settled into a good gig about 4 miles away. None of this would have been possible 10 years ago when we first started trying to have kids. Thankfully, I have very little grey and can pass for late 30's - early 40's.

The quality of NJAC football is down from the 90's and 00's. There was a time when there were 2-3 playoff caliber quarterbacks in the NJAC. The freshman QB on TCNJ looks like he could be a good one, and one of the freshman wideouts looks good too.

Continuity and QB play has hurt the Profs over the past decade. Players don't seem to make it four years. More than a few promising freshman and sophomores disappear after one or two years.

[SaintsFAN]

Well, well, well... not many here would remember JT 1.0. Welcome back JT. It's been a while. The old NJAC just ain't what it used to be... I miss the days of Jersey City State games; Ramapo breaking every NCAA rule in the book; and the biggest game of the year either being Trenton State v. Glassboro, Trenton State v. Montclair, or Glassboro v. Montclair. But time marches on... as does my retreating hairline.

Yeah, it's been a while. Hopefully, I can go to a couple of games next year. My three year old son keeps me quite busy. My business allows me to work from home, and my wife has settled into a good gig about 4 miles away. None of this would have been possible 10 years ago when we first started trying to have kids. Thankfully, I have very little grey and can pass for late 30's - early 40's.

The quality of NJAC football is down from the 90's and 00's. There was a time when there were 2-3 playoff caliber quarterbacks in the NJAC. The freshman QB on TCNJ looks like he could be a good one, and one of the freshman wideouts looks good too.

Continuity and QB play has hurt the Profs over the past decade. Players don't seem to make it four years. More than a few promising freshman and sophomores disappear after one or two years.

JT:  Great to hear from you, and glad to hear you are well. 

[thewaterboy]

Some thoughts as I watch Ohio State take on Northwestern this evening regarding Wesley and the NJAC.

I am excited that the NJAC gets to schedule more OOC games. I think the whole league may benefit from that, as long as they schedule the right teams. For Wesley, I just hope they schedule competitively, which they usually do, and that they have the budget for it (more on that below).

Next year seems like it could be anyone's race. Montclair, CNU, Wesley, Salisbury and Rowan all could have legitimate shots at the conference title, but would have some work to do in the playoffs based on how this postseason has played out. Wesley should bring back a good core of guys from last year that have real potential.

Looking back over the past 10 or so years for Wesley, I think their best defenses came in the span between 2009 and 2011, and the best offenses came during Joe Callahan's junior and senior years 2014 and 2015. Their best chance to reach the Stagg was 2011. Just unable to put the whole package together.... still vivid recollections of that 2011 Mount game.

Moving forward, it will be interesting to see where the team goes. Will we see a return to the playoffs, or will it be another 6-4 type of season? As far as team needs goes, above all they need a proficient QB next season. They lose Alex Kemp, but should return a solid receiving corps, EJ Lee and a lot of other guys who logged key playing time last season. I hope they can go out and recruit a strong class. I also hope that they can put together a solid OOC schedule, provided they can budget for it, and those two things lead me to my next point.

Division III football has evolved over the past 10 or so years in my opinion. I have seen Wesley play games at Frostburg, Salisbury, Capital, Walsh, Mount Union, North Central, Johns Hopkins, John Carroll, Brockport and Westminster. One thing I have noticed: the stadium. All are larger than Wesley's. Salisbury and Frostburg have also recently upgraded their stadiums over the past 10 years as well. I think it would help Wesley from a recruiting standpoint if they were to do the same. I think it would bring more kids in and be beneficial for the longevity of the program. I think Wesley's strongest selling point is it's history. They can tell a kid that they have a good chance of playing in more games in a season than they would if they chose another school in the surrounding area. They can also tell a kid that they have developed a couple of NFL players in the past few seasons. However, 6-4 is not a playoff appearance. I also think that Wesley has been on a little bit of a decline since 2016.  I hope I am wrong, but say that history falters again next season, say they go 7-3 or similar, then what? We lost Coach Drass, yes. But I don't think the blame would be on the coaching staff. I just think it may be an indication that they may not be getting the same kind of player. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think it would hurt if the Wesley administration invested in the program that put their school on the map for the past 10 years.

[CNU85]

Interesting points from Waterboy. He mentioned budgets a few times. Which brings me to the question about ECAC bowls. I would think that these bowl games are added costs to somebody (the schools, or perhaps the ECAC pays the costs - ). And I'm sure there isn't massive TV revenue to offset the costs. So, those of you in the know, explain the benefit or purpose? I'm missing something.

[thewaterboy]

Interesting points from Waterboy. He mentioned budgets a few times. Which brings me to the question about ECAC bowls. I would think that these bowl games are added costs to somebody (the schools, or perhaps the ECAC pays the costs - ). And I'm sure there isn't massive TV revenue to offset the costs. So, those of you in the know, explain the benefit or purpose? I'm missing something.

Playoff games allow the school to actually make money. Bowl games cost the school money. Especially to travel. Wesley usually gives the team a nice sit down dinner after the last game, and I don't know if they had the money to do that this year.

I think it makes sense for a school to play as many games as possible. An extra week of practice either playoffs or in bowl games I think helps in the long run. I think that extra practice week(s) really helps teams have extended success compared to teams playing just a 10 game season.

[RowanPhan]

Well, well, well... not many here would remember JT 1.0. Welcome back JT. It's been a while. The old NJAC just ain't what it used to be... I miss the days of Jersey City State games; Ramapo breaking every NCAA rule in the book; and the biggest game of the year either being Trenton State v. Glassboro, Trenton State v. Montclair, or Glassboro v. Montclair. But time marches on... as does my retreating hairline.

Yeah, it's been a while. Hopefully, I can go to a couple of games next year. My three year old son keeps me quite busy. My business allows me to work from home, and my wife has settled into a good gig about 4 miles away. None of this would have been possible 10 years ago when we first started trying to have kids. Thankfully, I have very little grey and can pass for late 30's - early 40's.

The quality of NJAC football is down from the 90's and 00's. There was a time when there were 2-3 playoff caliber quarterbacks in the NJAC. The freshman QB on TCNJ looks like he could be a good one, and one of the freshman wideouts looks good too.

Continuity and QB play has hurt the Profs over the past decade. Players don't seem to make it four years. More than a few promising freshman and sophomores disappear after one or two years.

Agreed, Rowan has battled this issue for a few seasons, but Coach has mentioned several times that his goal is to retain smaller teams and focus on players who are passionate about Rowan football. Based on the current roster, Rowan has key players returning at all the position groups minus LB (the LB's crew was an area of strengh in 2018 with 4 key seniors). Couzzi and Giles are both talented QB's who can lead the Profs for the next few seasons.

Returning Playmakers
QB - Couzzi, Giles
RB - Devine
TE - Madden
WR - Rehm, Grosso, Maldonado... Sturgis
OL - Stillings, Kane, Dunscomb... McGowan, O'Hara, Klein
DL - Tapp, Gajderowicz, Hamilton, Genise... Price, Cockerill
LB - No significant contributors return
DB - Winters, Lanier, Dibari, Kennedy... Wright, Arroyo, Schillinger
K - Boyko, McCarren

Other Thoughts:
- 2019 captains could be Rehm, Madden, Gajderowicz, DiBari
- I could see Tapp (D1 transfer) moved to LB; he was speed DE and made a few sacks in his limited time
- DB will be a position of strength, and LB will be an unproven group

[thewaterboy]

D3Football's All-East team recognized the following Wolverines

Alex Kemp (1st Team)
EJ Lee (2nd Team)
Corterris Simpson (2nd Team)
Cappadonna Miller (3rd Team)

Nice work! IMO, Capp should be higher than 3rd team... but that is without looking at statistics and such.