FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[jknezek]

Weather reports look for Oct 30 on the east coast. 

A few years back Rowan had to deal with heavy winds at Montclair.  I likely will not make the trip up to MSU, I'll have to watch the live video.

On a side note, my son was born on October 9th, both baby & mom are doing well and very healthy. I couldn't ask for more. That day, I watched the Rowan/Kean game from the hospital.

Congratulations. My oldest turned 12 a few days ago, my twins turn 10 in early December. The days may be long, but the years go fast. I'll admit I'm not a baby guy, but once they turned 2... man it seems like there was never enough time to spend with them. You'll hear 1000 variations on this theme, and every couple years you'll realize that no matter what you did, how much time you spent, how much you love them, it's always going to be true.

[MRMIKESMITH]

Weather reports look for Oct 30 on the east coast. 

A few years back Rowan had to deal with heavy winds at Montclair.  I likely will not make the trip up to MSU, I'll have to watch the live video.

On a side note, my son was born on October 9th, both baby & mom are doing well and very healthy. I couldn't ask for more. That day, I watched the Rowan/Kean game from the hospital.

Congratulations on your new blessing! Good to hear that both baby and mom are doing well and very healthy. As a parent myself, please take care of yourself as well.

[CNU85]

Super mega quadruple monkey stomp.

[CNU85]

The SU kicker has almost as many extra points as CNU has points. There's still time.

[jmcozenlaw]

The SU kicker has almost as many extra points as CNU has points. There's still time.

What the heck has happened to Rowan??

[MRMIKESMITH]

What can I say, what a game by Salisbury today, scoring on offense, defense, and special teams. There were also questionable flags that called back other touchdowns. Salisbury was hitting on all cylinders on offense, defense, and special teams. Salisbury dominated CNU defense, CNU didn't really have anything to stop the Triple-Option today. I knew it was going to be a long day for them defensively when I saw their alignment, it appeared as if they had a game plan and thought that it should work, but was totally mistaken, maybe they were over confident with their earlier win against W&L. Just a note, Salisbury and W&L are two different teams, theyare not the same. There Special teams didn't help them at all throughout the day. Offensively for CNU, there were some big plays that I think Salisbury can and should learn from. Overall, I was impressed with Salisbury play from start to finish, even with the backup QB in the game. Salisbury was able to get their 3rd and 4th string QB in the game, you'd think it was our homecoming instead of CNU's. CNU really came out punching, but I think when you come out throwing haymakers and you don't land them or knock your opponent out, you open yourself up to get hit and tire yourself out and that's exactly what Salisbury did, hit them right back in the mouth. CNU had some good plays drawn up, but untimely fumbles on their end led to multiple touchdowns early for Salisbury. I think the nail in the coffin, was CNU trying to throw to the flats thinking we were in one defense and Salisbury disguised the coverage and bam Pick 6. This was the best I've seen the offense execute all year. Honestly, I expected this result last week had Salisbury not turned the ball over 4 times.

So here is the Good, Bad, and Ugly.

Good: Salisbury, scored on offense, defense, and special teams. Salisbury offense was 100% on 3rd down, QB 100% completion pct with 2tds, the whole offensive backfield got multiple touches. 2nd and 3rd string came in around 10 minute mark of 3rd quarter and kept it going without missing a pulse. Defense got a big pick six. Kickoff unit was phenomenal. Kudos to the coaching staff and players for just playing lights out. I was very impressed with the offensive execution (No Turnovers).

Bad: Goal-Line Defense. Salisbury has to do a better job with personnel. I don't think a odd front is good against 23 personnel.

Ugly: None

Overall, this was a great game. CNU did some good things offensively that I think the Defense will learn from, better teams won't fumble the ball on big chunk plays. Defense has to sure that up and Goaline defense. The 2nd string QB for Salisbury is maturing and has the offense rolling and looks very poise in the pocket (maybe better than QB1). Also, didn't realize how young Salisbury is on both Offense and Defense, they have multiple Freshmen, Soph, and Juniors playing a lot of snaps, the future is bright.

[CNU85]

Basketball starts next Friday 

[RowanPhan]

The SU kicker has almost as many extra points as CNU has points. There's still time.

What the heck has happened to Rowan??

I don't know.  It was a tough loss for the Brown & Gold.  Not sure what happened.  MSU took control of the ball, ran the ball well, stuffed Rowan's offense, and did enough to win the game.

It was a bit of a heated game, several scuffles broke out.

Rowan has CNU and TCNJ to finish the season, hoping for better outcomes in those games

[jmcozenlaw]

The SU kicker has almost as many extra points as CNU has points. There's still time.

What the heck has happened to Rowan??

I don't know.  It was a tough loss for the Brown & Gold.  Not sure what happened.  MSU took control of the ball, ran the ball well, stuffed Rowan's offense, and did enough to win the game.

It was a bit of a heated game, several scuffles broke out.

Rowan has CNU and TCNJ to finish the season, hoping for better outcomes in those games

Having watched DelVal outscore Kean and Montclair by a combined 83-8...................while giving up 46 total yards to Kean and 29 total yards to Montclair, I can't believe that Rowan got beat by both of these teams. I wouldn't have believed it in 1,000 years!

[RowanPhan]

The SU kicker has almost as many extra points as CNU has points. There's still time.

What the heck has happened to Rowan??

I don't know.  It was a tough loss for the Brown & Gold.  Not sure what happened.  MSU took control of the ball, ran the ball well, stuffed Rowan's offense, and did enough to win the game.

It was a bit of a heated game, several scuffles broke out.

Rowan has CNU and TCNJ to finish the season, hoping for better outcomes in those games

Having watched DelVal outscore Kean and Montclair by a combined 83-8...................while giving up 46 total yards to Kean and 29 total yards to Montclair, I can't believe that Rowan got beat by both of these teams. I wouldn't have believed it in 1,000 years!

We'll hear more on the Thursday Rowan Coaches show (this is actually a really good segment that Coach Accorsi does with Rowan Radio - I've learned alot from these weekly segments). Rowan has a young team - 50 first year players, more than half the roster. These guys are working hard day after day. I hope things start to click. They have my 100% support. Rowan has a lot of talent, no question about that. Not sure what is the missing link to get Rowan back on the winning track. Would be good to end the season on a good note with wins over CNU and TCNJ.

[RowanPhan]

@CNU85

Any thoughts regarding the upcoming CNU/Rowan matchup? 

I guess we'll have to wait and see how things shake out on Saturday. Rowan is at home which might be a key factor.  Based on schedules it hard to tell where both teams stand.

I find it interesting that Saturday is CNU's season finale while Rowan plays the following week against TCNJ.  The season is almost over

[CNU85]

@CNU85

Any thoughts regarding the upcoming CNU/Rowan matchup? 

I guess we'll have to wait and see how things shake out on Saturday. Rowan is at home which might be a key factor.  Based on schedules it hard to tell where both teams stand.

I find it interesting that Saturday is CNU's season finale while Rowan plays the following week against TCNJ.  The season is almost over

I have no clue. None. CNU is unpredictable. The talent is absolutely there, yet the play on the field is sporadic. We beat a W&L team that has gone undefeated since then, including last week against D2 E&H. We dominated Catholic. We lose close games. We get blown out by WP and then last week happened, which I cannot explain.

CNU is similar to my NFL team, the Vikings -- any given week can be super exciting or a train wreck! 

Perhaps this game will come down to which set of seniors wants to end their careers on a high note  - who wants it more?

Basketball starts Friday!! 

[RowanPhan]

@CNU85

Any thoughts regarding the upcoming CNU/Rowan matchup? 

I guess we'll have to wait and see how things shake out on Saturday. Rowan is at home which might be a key factor.  Based on schedules it hard to tell where both teams stand.

I find it interesting that Saturday is CNU's season finale while Rowan plays the following week against TCNJ.  The season is almost over

I have no clue. None. CNU is unpredictable. The talent is absolutely there, yet the play on the field is sporadic. We beat a W&L team that has gone undefeated since then, including last week against D2 E&H. We dominated Catholic. We lose close games. We get blown out by WP and then last week happened, which I cannot explain.

CNU is similar to my NFL team, the Vikings -- any given week can be super exciting or a train wreck! 

Perhaps this game will come down to which set of seniors wants to end their careers on a high note  - who wants it more?

Basketball starts Friday!! 

This may be the year that I start following Rowan basketball.  I'm not much of a basketball fan.  I did watch some of the Rowan vs Montclair State  soccer game last night.  Rowan won and will advance within the NJAC tourney.

[CNU85]

@CNU85

Any thoughts regarding the upcoming CNU/Rowan matchup? 

I guess we'll have to wait and see how things shake out on Saturday. Rowan is at home which might be a key factor.  Based on schedules it hard to tell where both teams stand.

I find it interesting that Saturday is CNU's season finale while Rowan plays the following week against TCNJ.  The season is almost over

I have no clue. None. CNU is unpredictable. The talent is absolutely there, yet the play on the field is sporadic. We beat a W&L team that has gone undefeated since then, including last week against D2 E&H. We dominated Catholic. We lose close games. We get blown out by WP and then last week happened, which I cannot explain.

CNU is similar to my NFL team, the Vikings -- any given week can be super exciting or a train wreck! 

Perhaps this game will come down to which set of seniors wants to end their careers on a high note  - who wants it more?

Basketball starts Friday!! 

This may be the year that I start following Rowan basketball.  I'm not much of a basketball fan.  I did watch some of the Rowan vs Montclair State  soccer game last night.  Rowan won and will advance within the NJAC tourney.

Congrats on that victory. I admit I don't understand much about soccer. I never played it. But I love good basketball!!

I try to watch as much as I can since I live and work so close to campus. Plus I'm involved in the Athletic Dept - which is my last ongoing connection with CNU at the moment.  In recent years I was also on the Education Foundation as trustee overseeing the endowment, Chair of the Board of Advisors for the Luter School of Business, an Adjunct Finance Professor (does that make me a Prof??HAHA!), co-faculty advisor for the student chapter of SHRM, and also for a few years I was Executive-in Residence of the Luter School. But now I have rotated off all of those boards and positions, stopped teaching, and am now just on the Athletic Advisory Council. I have a lot of free time now. But that's ok. I also have my first grandchild and so now I make trips to see him in Florida. Also, the other night at a soccer game I volunteered my time as a mentor to student-athletes in a discussion I was having with one of the Academic Success Coaches. Will see where that goes, if anywhere. Also, the one and only Luxury suite at the football stadium has my wife's and my name on it.  That's kinda cool and weird at the same time. But it's a good view of the game and the food is good when not packaged for COVID. It's always good to give back when you are able!

Anyway - back to sports --

CNU women's soccer is playing in a few - ranked #4 in nation. I think they have only given up 5 goals all season. I will watch on line while working
Mens' soccer - ranked #24 is also playing this morning. I will also bounce to that game during my lunch break
Field Hockey - ranked #18  -plays tomorrow
Women's basketball- preseason ranked #20 with an All-American. I may go to that one. They have made 5 straight sweet 16 appearances.
Men's basketball - receiving votes but they will be ranked this year. I'm excited about this year's team. Some good transfers and excellent returners from a team that was hosting a Sweet 16 pod when COVD shut things down. They open up tonight at home. I will be there. Then Sunday they face #14 Johns Hopkins. I will be there for that game as well.
Football -  has a chance to hit the .500 mark and avoid consecutive losing seasons for the first time in program history (Not counting the spring nonsense of 2 games).

It will be interesting to see how Football regroups this off season and figures out how to right the ship.

[MRMIKESMITH]

Potential Clinching Game tomorrow for Salisbury against TCNJ. This is a game that I'm not to worried about. However, will always respect any opponent. The weather should be in the upper 50s to lower 60s by gametime, which is at 2. Game was changed from 6 to 2. Not sure why. Nevertheless, I expect Salisbury to come out fast and to dominate on all aspects. This game has many ramifications, as such as clinching the NJAC, then this matchup is a common opponent with the likes of both Cortland and Muhlenberg. Those two teams outscored TCNJ by an average margin of 45-3. The regional ranking committee will be looking at that hard when it comes down to seeding. Salisbury at times tend to be very conservative in these games and defensively allows teams to score one too many times when the other opposing defense is outmatched. With that, here are my keys to success:

1. Protect the ball! No turnovers, especially fumbles (lost or not) that puts offense behind downs, eliminating those types of fumbles/turnovers will allow the offense to be both efficient and effective on drives and get points on board.
2. Defense has to want to get a shutout, right. A lot of close calls this year. Have to stop those one or two momentum drives opponents often get. Maybe use a timeout.
3. Special Teams has to continue to be good. If offense stalls in Redzone, I'd like for the kicker to get some practice as I think it will be key come playoffs to get points on board.
4. Be Smart, no stupid penalties and be safe.