August 10, 2006

ROWAN SELECTED AS FOOTBALL FAVORITE
IN POLL OF LEAGUE'S HEAD COACHES

DEFENDING NJAC CHAMPIONS SEEKING THEIR 16TH CONFERENCE CROWN

After capturing the past two NJAC Championships while advancing to the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and 2005, Rowan University was selected as the 2006 preseason football favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Profs, who finished their 2005 campaign with an overall record of 11-2, are seeking their 16th NJAC championship since 1971.
 
Rowan was selected to finish first on seven-of-the-eight ballots cast by the league’s head coaches. Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Jay Accorsi, the Profs have posted an overall record of 38-9. Rowan tallied a 5-1 conference record in 2005 and captured the conference crown via tiebreaker with a head-to-head victory over SUNY Cortland. The Profs return eight all-conference selections including the 2004 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year in senior quarterback Mike Orihel. Other all-conference returnees include senior running back Ullysses Encarnacion, junior linebacker Randy Tosh, senior cornerback Dawaine Whetstone, senior defensive lineman Keith Heimerl, junior safety Eric Bailey, junior kicker Matias Spahn, and senior cornerback Jabril Joseph.

SUNY Cortland was selected to finish second in the poll and received one first place vote. Under the direction of 10th-year head coach Dan MacNeill, the Red Dragons have posted an overall record of 52-39, including a mark of 7-3 overall in 2005 while earning an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament. Cortland returns a conference-high 13 all-conference players from its 2005 squad, including the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year in senior defensive lineman Adam Haas. Other all-conference returnees include senior linebacker Matt Montpetit, senior safety Stef Sair, senior running back Matt Rickert, junior fullback Mike Sveda, junior tight end Paul Caughell, junior linebacker Bill Hauser, junior running back Dustin Bowser, senior offensive lineman Matt Ciquera, senior defensive lineman Rich Coyne, senior linebacker Josh Jablonski, senior punter Jimmy Cunneen, and junior kicker Derek Ziders.

After participating in the ECAC South Atlantic Championship Game en route to finishing with a 5-5 overall record in 2005, Montclair State University was selected to place third. Entering his 24th season as the leader of the Red Hawk program, Rick Giancola has accumulated an overall record of 157-77-2. Montclair returns eight all-conference players from its 2005 squad including first-team offensive selections in junior running back Ryan McCoach, and junior fullback Vin Varcadipane. In addition, the Red Hawks return senior defensive lineman Derrell Sapp, senior kicker Vin Doffont, senior offensive lineman Karim Faris, junior linebacker Sal Fama, senior cornerback Derrick Simmons, and junior offensive lineman Kevin Michel.

Western Connecticut State University placed fourth in the poll and was also selected as the dark horse in the vote of the league coaches. Fifth-year head coach John Burrell has led the Colonials to an overall record of 24-16, including a record of 6-4 in 2005. The Colonials return five all-conference players including sophomore punter Vinny Cosentino, senior wide receiver Adamis Gonzalez, junior defensive back Rick Jackson, senior cornerback Tyrell Williams, and junior safety John Hoke.

Under the direction of 30th-year head coach Eric Hamilton, The College of New Jersey was selected to place fifth. Hamilton has accumulated an overall record of 175-109-6 since he took over the reins of the Lion program back in 1977. TCNJ returns four all-conference players including junior defensive lineman Joseph King, senior wide receiver Ryan Ross, senior offensive lineman Kevin Pfluge, and junior cornerback Jeff Bower.
 
A newcomer to the conference and the league’s eighth football-playing member, Buffalo State College was selected to place sixth. Led by third-year head coach Paul Shaffner, the Bengals recorded a 3-6 overall record in 2005 while competing in the Atlantic Central Football Conference. In their only contest against an NJAC opponent in 2005, Buffalo State posted a 27-20 road victory over SUNY Cortland on September 24.
 
Under the leadership of second-year head coach Mike Miello, William Paterson University was tapped to place seventh. In his initial campaign, Miello guided the Pioneers to a 5-5 overall record including a victory over league champion Rowan. Paterson returns three all-conference selections including senior linebacker Shadee Davis, junior wide receiver Kareen Moon, and sophomore wide receiver Patrick Cobourne.
 
Named the 12th head coach in Cougar football history on July 13, Kean University will be led by first-year man Dan Garrett in 2006. The Cougars return four all-conference players from a 2005 squad which finished 4-6 overall including senior offensive lineman Malcolm Manning, senior cornerback Aahron Kiett, junior quarterback/punter A.J. Roque, and senior wide receiver Jarred Crowley.

In conjunction with the addition of Buffalo State as the league’s eighth football-playing member, the NJAC will also feature a composite block conference schedule for the first time in league history this season. With the exception of the Buffalo State-SUNY Cortland match-up on September 23, all league play will be conducted in the final seven weekends of the season from September 30 through the final regular season weekend of November 10-11. The winner of the NJAC championship receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.