By Matt Cosentino For just the second time in his 17-year tenure as the head football coach at Rowan University, Jay Accorsi is looking to bounce back from a losing season. Needless to say, he can't wait for the season opener at Widener on Aug. 30 to get here so the healing process can begin. "It's going to be a challenge any year in our conference," he said. "But certainly, coming off the season we had -- where a lot of us were very disappointed, players and coaches -- there's no question we have a lot to prove." The Profs started 3-0 last year before going on a six-game losing streak and eventually finishing 4-6 overall and 3-6 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). Rutgers-Monmouth could start trend The last time they finished with a losing record was 2007, but they came back strong the following year and went 8-2. As Accorsi points out, however, the NJAC has only gotten better with the recent additions of programs like Wesley, Frostburg State, Salisbury and … [Read more...] about After rare losing season, Rowan football ready to rebound
Rowan football
TCNJ football tabbed as NJAC’s dark horse
Thanks to a grueling early schedule, The College of New Jersey football team is expecting to be tested early and often. The Lions, despite youth at some skilled positions, caught the eye of the New Jersey Athletic Conference coaches as they were selected as the “Dark Horse” in the race for top spot in the league in what is the 50th season of NJAC football. Coming off a 4-6 season in which they won the final three games, the Lions have been selected seventh in the preseason poll with that dark horse tag. “We’ll see how the season shapes up,” said second year coach Casey Goff in the TCNJ press release. “We’re young, but we feel like we have some talent that will be running around out there. Only time will tell where we fit into things.” Advertisement Wesley took the top spot in the poll followed by Frostburg State, Salisbury, Kean, Christopher Newport, Rowan, TCNJ, Montclair State, Southern Virginia and William Paterson. Wesley … [Read more...] about TCNJ football tabbed as NJAC’s dark horse
Preseason Q&A with South Alabama head football coach Steve Campbell
South Alabama begins its first fall football camp of the Steve Campbell era on Friday. Campbell is just the second head coach in program history, having replaced Joey Jones last December. The 52-year-old Campbell is 159-53 in 19 seasons as a head coach at the junior college, Division II and FCS levels, including a 33-15 mark the last four years at Central Arkansas. South Alabama went 4-8 in 2017, its lowest win total since a 2-11 mark in 2012. The Jaguars open the 2018 season at home Sept. 1 against Louisiana Tech. As the Jaguars get set to begin fall practice, Campbell sat down with AL.com for this Q&A: Q: What kind of anticipation is there, with you being in the first year in a new job? A: From a coaching staff standpoint and a player standpoint, every year there is a lot of excitement about Day 1, and getting going all that. This year, that's especially so, with it being Year 1. There are a lot of questions that we still have to answer. That makes it that much more exciting and … [Read more...] about Preseason Q&A with South Alabama head football coach Steve Campbell
TCNJ football preparing for busy road slate early in season
The College of New Jersey football team shook off a tough start last season to win four of the last five games. Well, in 2018 the beginning of the season can be just as grueling. “Two years in a row we go through a nice little gauntlet to start the season,” said TCNJ second-year coach Casey Goff. “But hey, you have to play them so why not early and right in a row and let’s be honest, the schedule doesn’t get much easier after those first five weeks. That’s the beauty of the NJAC. You better be ready to roll every week.” A lot of wheels will be rolling, too, as TCNJ is on the road for four of its first five games. Advertisement The Lions open at FDU-Florham, then host No. 8 Frostburg State and then it’s off to No. 9 Wesley, receiving votes Salisbury and then a trip to old New Jersey Athletic Conference rival Montclair State. The rankings are D3football.com preseason rankings. “We will be spending a lot of time away from … [Read more...] about TCNJ football preparing for busy road slate early in season
TALIAFERRO CLASSIC: Shawnee’s Jake Schillinger returns to Rowan after collarbone injury
Josh Friedman Cherry Hill Courier-Post Published 3:21 p.m. UTC Jun 27, 2018 Jake Schillinger had every reason to stick to his superstitions on Dec. 3. The Shawnee High School senior had already set the football program’s single-season interception record entering the Renegades’ South Jersey Group 4 final against Hammonton, and that included two against the Blue Devils in the teams’ first meeting a month earlier. He had four catches for 90 yards and a score in that win as well. More: Lenape's Jake Topolski is the Male Athlete of the Year More: South Jersey baseball: Eastern's Jack Herman is the Player of the Year So as Schillinger got ready for title game, he hyped himself with his standard play list – featuring a heavy mix of Kanye West, J. Cole and Post Malone. He threw on the same sleeveless, navy t-shirt that read “Team (above) me” he wore under his uniform every game. He had the same white gloves with a pink Nike swoosh in support of … [Read more...] about TALIAFERRO CLASSIC: Shawnee’s Jake Schillinger returns to Rowan after collarbone injury