August 8, 2007

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

THREE-TIME DEFENDING NJAC CHAMP SEEKING THEIR 17TH LEAGUE CROWN

After capturing the past three NJAC Championships while advancing to the national quarterfinals of the 2006 NCAA Tournament, Rowan University was selected as the 2007 preseason football favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Profs, who have won three straight and five-of-the-past-six conference crowns, finished their 2006 campaign with an overall record of 9-3. Rowan has captured 16 NJAC championships since 1972.   
 
Rowan was selected to finish first on five-of-the-eight ballots cast by the league head coaches. Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Jay Accorsi, the Profs have posted an overall record of 47-12. Rowan tallied a 6-1 conference record in 2006 and captured the conference crown via tiebreaker with a head-to-head victory over SUNY Cortland. The Profs return eight all-conference players from 2006, including five on the defensive side of the ball in junior linebacker Chris Pinto, senior defensive backs Kelvin Bellamy and Eric Bailey, senior defensive lineman Randy Tosh, and senior linebacker Robert Niszczak. Offensively, the Profs return a trio of all-league players in junior running back Davon Edwards, sophomore offensive lineman Joe D'Amato, and senior offensive lineman Dan Lee.
 
SUNY Cortland was selected to finish second in the poll and received three first place votes. Under the direction of 11th-year head coach Dan MacNeill, the Red Dragons have posted an overall record of 61-41, including a mark of 9-2 in 2006. Cortland, which earned postseason berths in both 2006 (NCAA Tournament) and 2007 (ECAC Northeast Bowl) returns five all-conference players from its 2006 squad including senior tight end Paul Caughell, senior fullback Mike Sveda, senior cornerback Jeff Beck, senior kicker Matthew Mintz, and senior defensive lineman Brad Robison.

Kean University, led by 2006 NJAC Coach of the Year Dan Garrett, was selected to finish third. Garrett led a Kean squad which was predicted to finish last in 2006 to a fourth place finish with a 7-4 overall record including a victory in the ECAC Southeast Bowl. The coaches' dark horse selection in 2007, the Cougars return five all-conference players, four on the offensive side of the ball including the 2006 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year in senior quarterback A.J. Roque. Kean also returns all-conference performers in junior wide receiver Durrell Dukes, senior wide receiver Brian Williams, sophomore running back Jared Chunn, and senior safety Ryan Staton.

Montclair State University, led by 25th-year head coach Rick Giancola, was selected to place fourth. Giancola has guided the Red Hawks to an overall mark of 164-80-2 during his tenure, including a record of 7-3 in 2006. The Red Hawks return a league-high 10 all-conference players from their 2006 squad including six on offense in senior running back Ryan McCoach, senior offensive lineman Kevin Michel, junior tight end Jeremy Mercer, senior quarterback Michael Jump, senior offensive lineman Michael Farrington, and senior fullback Vin Varcadipane.  In addition, MSU returns all-league performers in senior defensive lineman Derrell Sapp, junior linebacker Cornell Hunt, senior defensive lineman Gary Andrewshetsko, and sophomore punter Troy Cyburt.

Western Connecticut State University, which returns the reigning NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year in sophomore quarterback James Williams, was selected to place fifth. Under the leadership of sixth-year head coach John Burrell, the Colonials have posted an overall mark of 29-21, including a 5-5 record in 2006. In addition to Williams, the Colonials return two other all-conference performers in senior offensive lineman Thomas McDonald and junior linebacker Chad Milling.

After completing their initial season of participation in the NJAC in 2006, Buffalo State College was selected to place sixth. Led by fourth-year head coach Paul Shaffner, the Bengals return five all-conference performers from their 2006 squad including senior fullback Bob Vesona, senior running back Dan Lopez, junior wide receiver Greg Meyer, senior defensive end Tom Lapann, and sophomore linebacker Jermaine Rose.

Under the direction of 31st-year head coach Eric Hamilton, The College of New Jersey was selected to place seventh. The longest tenured of all current NJAC football coaches, Hamilton has accumulated an overall record of 179-115-6 since taking over the reins of the Lions program back in 1977. TCNJ returns a trio of all-conference performers in senior defensive lineman Joseph King, senior tight end Chris Opdyke, and senior safety Andrew Larkin.

William Paterson University, under the leadership of third-year head coach Mike Miello, was selected to place eighth. The Pioneers return four all-conference players from their 2006 squad including senior wide receiver Kareen Moon, junior safety Harold Green, senior kicker/punter Ricky Krautman, and junior running back Mike Vicci.

The 39th season of NJAC football will kickoff on Friday, August 31 when Kean, TCNJ and Western Connecticut host respective non-conference opponents USMMA-Kings Point, Muhlenberg and Wagner. With the exception of the Buffalo State-SUNY Cortland match-up on September 22, all league play will be conducted in the final seven weekends of the season from September 29 through the final regular season weekend of November 10. The winner of the NJAC championship receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.