College Football Preview: Rowan Looks to Shine in NJAC Yet Again
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - 2010 was a very successful season in Glassboro, NJ for the Division III Rowan Profs football team. Rowan went 9-1 a season ago and that earned them a piece of the New Jersey Athletic Conference crown with Montclair State University and SUNY Cortland.
Some talented players have moved on however, and head coach Jay Accorsi says they had some questions heading into training camp.
"Obviously, one was the quarterback position, losing Timmy (Hagerty), who led us to such a great season last year," Accorsi says. "But the young quarterbacks we have have done a great job. Louie Bianchini, Frank Giardina and Andy Martin have been the three main with Sean Mangold. So it's been a good competition. Louie has kind of emerged, and that's why he was the back-up last year. He fought his way through to be the back-up for Tim."
You can hear Matt Leon's interview with Rowan Profs Head Coach Jay Accorsi in this CBS Philly 'Sports Pod' podcast…
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Accorsi believes the experienced players elsewhere on offense, along with a good scheme, should help a new starting quarterback grow into the role.
"We have two All-Conference running backs coming back in Steve Hevalow and Keith Corcoran, three really good offensive lineman back in Dave Green, Brian Cary and the rest of the guys that are there as well. We feel pretty comfortable that we are going to be able to run the ball very well and ease a quarterback in and not have to rely on him right away."
On the other side of the ball, Accorsi is confident they will be able to keep other teams off the scoreboard.
"We have a lot of great defensive players back which has always been our staple, so we are going to ride our defense and play great ball control offense and we will have some time to develop a quarterback as we go through."
While Accorsi likes the hand he gets to play, he says life in the NJAC is truly a grind.
"It's tough every year. Obviously Montclair and Cortland will be preseason picked high, nationally. They both have senior quarterbacks back that are outstanding players. Great programs. But top to bottom, College of New Jersey, William Patterson, Buffalo State, Morrisville, Brockport, Western Connecticut - all the teams in the conference, there is not a weak game at all. That's what makes our conference so strong."
Rowan opens the season tomorrow afternoon as they take to the road to visit Lycoming.
Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio
