Profs football ranked 3rd nationally
Profs football ranked 3rd nationally
August 24, 2005
The Rowan University football team returns an excellent group of veteran players to build upon for the upcoming season. The Profs return the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Offensive Player of the Year at quarterback. Rowan also has back three of its four starting wide receivers and eight of 11 defensive starters.
In Street and Smith?s 2005 Preseason Division III Football Poll, the Profs are ranked third, while Lindy?s Preseason Football Poll has the team at number five. Sports Illustrated has Rowan fourth in its preseason rankings. Last year, Rowan finished the season with a 10-3 overall record and a 6-0 mark in the NJAC. The Profs advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
?Our goals this year are to first win the conference championship and advance to the NCAA Championship Tournament, then reach the Stagg Bowl,? stated Rowan head coach Jay Accorsi. ?The biggest factor in whether this team succeeds will be what it learned from the NCAA playoff games and specifically the loss to Linfield in the national semifinals last year. We must be more consistent and improve defensively. This team has to play up to its ability, not only in every game, but every quarter of football.?
Last season, the conference returned to a seven team format, which allowed for the winner to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Rowan was crowned the conference champion for the 14th time in school history. The Profs were also named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Team of the Year and received the Lambert Trophy.
This year, Rowan has a nine game schedule that includes newcomer Robert Morris University. The Profs also face non-conference opponents in Christopher Newport and SUNY Brockport. Buffalo State College will join the conference in 2006.
?We face great challenges in our non-conference schedule with Christopher Newport, ranked 22nd in Lindy?s 2005 Preseason Poll and a NCAA Tournament team last season, and Robert Morris, a NCAA Division I-AA team that is usually a contender for its conference championship. SUNY Brockport, a team that we defeated in overtime and reached the NCAA Tournament a year ago, also poses a threat.? Accorsi continued, ?As for our conference schedule, every team in the NJAC is capable of winning the league championship.?
In Street and Smith?s 2005 Preseason Division III Football Poll, the Profs are ranked third, while Lindy?s Preseason Football Poll has the team at number five. Sports Illustrated has Rowan fourth in its preseason rankings. Last year, Rowan finished the season with a 10-3 overall record and a 6-0 mark in the NJAC. The Profs advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
?Our goals this year are to first win the conference championship and advance to the NCAA Championship Tournament, then reach the Stagg Bowl,? stated Rowan head coach Jay Accorsi. ?The biggest factor in whether this team succeeds will be what it learned from the NCAA playoff games and specifically the loss to Linfield in the national semifinals last year. We must be more consistent and improve defensively. This team has to play up to its ability, not only in every game, but every quarter of football.?
Last season, the conference returned to a seven team format, which allowed for the winner to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Rowan was crowned the conference champion for the 14th time in school history. The Profs were also named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Team of the Year and received the Lambert Trophy.
This year, Rowan has a nine game schedule that includes newcomer Robert Morris University. The Profs also face non-conference opponents in Christopher Newport and SUNY Brockport. Buffalo State College will join the conference in 2006.
?We face great challenges in our non-conference schedule with Christopher Newport, ranked 22nd in Lindy?s 2005 Preseason Poll and a NCAA Tournament team last season, and Robert Morris, a NCAA Division I-AA team that is usually a contender for its conference championship. SUNY Brockport, a team that we defeated in overtime and reached the NCAA Tournament a year ago, also poses a threat.? Accorsi continued, ?As for our conference schedule, every team in the NJAC is capable of winning the league championship.?