FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[rams1102]

Trying to generate a little conversation, so here goes : Waz-Up with Kean.
They hire Coach C. from MSU (congrats and he deserved it), but it appears that it was a liberal ploy to really get Garrett, another MSU coach. Some MSU players (graduates) also went. Why hire Caoch C. when you really wanted Garrett. The program looks weak.

I realize that I have really have nothing to say, since the MSU Administration can not cast the first stone. Where is Sam Mills Field?

Tomorrow I have to pay a $28.00 ticket because I wanted to take a look at the new turf at Sam Mills Field. Well, things could be worse, but some information on the MSU up-coming season would be appreciated.

LET'S  GO  MIGHTY  RED  HAWKS  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RU Fan]

rams1102 (and fballking19, too)

It will indeed be interesting to see if Cortland is a contender or, once again, a pretender for the NJAC title.   

They have to come to Glassboro this year and there's a boat load of bad blood between these two teams.  The Profs are eagerly looking forward to their visit.

Two kids from Florida and an all-state O lineman do not a title make.  You can say the same thing about a lot of college teams.   

I think the RU defense is going to cause a lot of problems for opponents and one benefit of that will be that the offense (and Orihel) will be getting the ball back more often .... and that certainly can't be good news for opposing coaches.  This team, with Orihel at QB and Encarnacion at SB, is a completely different team than what you saw in Alliance . 

[rams1102]

RU Fan,

Nice to see a little give and take. Still go with my beliefs, Rowan is at the top of the NJAC, but watch out for #2 & #3.

[4merprof]

RU Fan,

Good to see you back on the boards.  I have to agree that this year with Orihel should be interesting.  He has improved unbelievably over each of the past three seasons, and this year he should be absolutely unstoppable.  Our defense should also hold most teams in check.  I can't imagine that this year the Prof's are going to have to put up 40 points a game to win, as I believe the "D" is going to have numerous shut-outs.

Rams,

Like my father once told me... Second place is the first loser!

JT,

Any word on how Silva is doing up in NY?

[rams1102]

4merprof,

What about 1999, Rowan finished 2nd in the NJAC and wound up losing to PL in the finals again 2nd. Yea, Yea, at least you made it to the final.

You guys are the clear favorites, but the games are played on the field. The NJAC is a tough conference, and don't over look anyone, it could bite you you know where.

Remember Vince Lombardi " Individual Commitment is a group effort - that is what makes a team work."

Good luck to all our teams.

LET'S  GO  MIGHTY  RED  HAWKS  !!!!!!!!

[RU Fan]

rams1102

I agree with 4mer's father .... 2nd is the 1st loser!  I'm one of those RU fans who absolutely admires the effort of the team to get to the finals .... but .... 2nd is the 1st loser. 

The Profs have been snakebitten when it comes to the Stagg Bowl.  I won't go over it again ... we all know the history .

Last year, with Orihel, Bond and Encarnacion healthy, I think that anyone who knows anything at all about DIII football would agree that things would have been a whole lot different. 

However, this year could be the year.  As 4merprof said a few posts ago, Orihel could be the best QB in DIII this year.  The defense showed up really big at the end of last year and is still in tact with a few exceptions.  If the receivers who are left step up (add in a transfer or 2 and/or a couple of freshmen), it could be an interesting December.  I heard at a cookout on the 4th from a friend of a friend of a friend, (you know how that goes) that this years recruiting class is one of the best in years.

Regarding overlooking anyone in the NJAC, that is pure stupidity for any team.  Parity is creeping into the NJAC and as you said, a bite on the A** is possible any Saturday regardless of who you are.   (WOW - I'm starting to agree with an MSU fan)

[4merprof]

RU Fan and Rams,

I definitely have to agree with both of you that the NJAC is getting more difficult as the years pass.  I don't feel as if the Profs will overlook anyone this year.  I think that they probably feel as if they have something to prove.  The Profs have not really overlooked any team since the Jersey City game with Ornstein back in the late 90's.  He did however, throw like 4 or 5 ints.  I further feel that if one of your key players has a terrible game, it doesn't necessarily mean that your entire team overlooked the opponent.  I agree that your team may come out flat, and the other team can gain momentum, but Championship teams, find a way to regroup and overcome adversity when their backs are against the wall.  It is called fortitude... and that is what makes CHAMPIONS!  Any team can look and play like the Superbowl champs when they are up by 40 points..

I think that the Profs this year are tired of sleeping with the Prom Queen runner up.  The cliche of "games are played on the field" is another one to add to the list.  It don't mean a thing, without a ring!

Profs 2007 National Champs???  The journey starts September 2nd in G'boro.  Success is a journey... Not a destination!  *add that one to the list as well.

JT,

Still no word on Silva?

[JT]

I'll send him an email or give him a ring.  I set him up with a blog when he first got signed, so he could make a little diary of his experiences.  That way he post when he had as free moment and people could keep up with him.  He hasn't posted or let me know when he would post.  He may be too busy.

I will certainly do an article if Phil gets invited to camp in July, but I wanted to wait until he made through mini-camp.

[Knightstalker]

The Army Navy 172lb Pride Bowl will be played at Kean this year on September 24.  This is usually a good game and great atmosphere.  Check it out if you are free that afternoon.

It is not D-III but these kids are playing for the same reason, and it is being played at a D-III facility.

Pride Bowl

[Knightstalker]

This is from todays Jersey Journal, NJCU asking to raise tuition 8% due to further funding cuts.

Tuition

Has anybody seen anything from the other NJAC schools regarding this issue?

[JT]

The Army Navy 172lb Pride Bowl will be played at Kean this year on September 24.  This is usually a good game and great atmosphere.  Check it out if you are free that afternoon.

It is not D-III but these kids are playing for the same reason, and it is being played at a D-III facility.

Pride Bowl

The Jets are in Buffalo so maybe me, Pops (82nd Airborne), bro, and nephew might go.  Are you going KS?

[Knightstalker]

I might, depends on whether I go to Maine this year or not with my buddy Sam the Butcher.

[phil]

Knightstalker,
To your earlier point, the state budget cut so much aid to state schools that double-digit tuition increases were going to be the norm until the state capped them at 8% – threatening any college with sanctions should they raise tuition higher (nice to know the state thinks of our colleges in a North Korea kinda way). I would be very surprised if every NJAC school didn't raise tuition to the state-capped max of 8%. TCNJ has lost $8,000,000 in aid which has resulted in maintenance projects, IT projects, building projects and travel budgets either being cut, deferred or cancelled. They've had $100,000 cut from the athletics budget, non-faculty personnel cuts, no salary increases for management and all full-time tenure track hires deferred for the year.

What really bites is that the state refused to fund (and therefore TCNJ had to cut) the "Outstanding Scholar Recruitment Program"– leaving TCNJ to fund the current students out of their own pocket at a cost of more than $1.5 million. Obviously the state wasn't too big on honoring their obligations. How many of these kids who would have enrolled in this program do you suppose ended up staying in-state to attend college?

In my eyes this is a case of the state screwing the colleges (and the students), and then leaving the colleges to look like the bad guys at the end of they day.

[JT]

Knightstalker,
To your earlier point, the state budget cut so much aid to state schools that double-digit tuition increases were going to be the norm until the state capped them at 8% – threatening any college with sanctions should they raise tuition higher (nice to know the state thinks of our colleges in a North Korea kinda way). I would be very surprised if every NJAC school didn't raise tuition to the state-capped max of 8%. TCNJ has lost $8,000,000 in aid which has resulted in maintenance projects, IT projects, building projects and travel budgets either being cut, deferred or cancelled. They've had $100,000 cut from the athletics budget, non-faculty personnel cuts, no salary increases for management and all full-time tenure track hires deferred for the year.

What really bites is that the state refused to fund (and therefore TCNJ had to cut) the "Outstanding Scholar Recruitment Program"– leaving TCNJ to fund the current students out of their own pocket at a cost of more than $1.5 million. Obviously the state wasn't too big on honoring their obligations. How many of these kids who would have enrolled in this program do you suppose ended up staying in-state to attend college?

In my eyes this is a case of the state screwing the colleges (and the students), and then leaving the colleges to look like the bad guys at the end of they day.

They should call the NJ State budgets, pensions, etc., three card monte.  They've been playing a shell game for years.

[Knightstalker]

JT, That is why my mom retired when she did.  She saw all the games being played by the state and when they offered a great retirement package she took it and ran.  Then she went to work as a nurse for them part-time at almost thirty bucks an hour.