Sentiment growing

Response to Salem CC’s proposal to start football has been favorable, but it all rests on Thursday’s board vote; without sharing her vote, current board chair would be surprised if it didn’t pass

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The out-going chairman of the Salem Community College board of trustees said earlier this week she would be surprised if the proposal to bring football to the two-year college for the first time this fall was not approved when it comes to an expected vote at next week’s board meeting.

While sentiment within the athletics department, college community and community at large remains positive, it will be up to the board to decide whether the plan goes forward and that decision hinges largely on the amount of risk policymakers are willing to accept.

Ida M. Bowen, in an interview following the banner-raising ceremony for last year’s Salem CC basketball success, declined to disclose the way she’ll vote on the measure, but she recognizes all the positives adding football would bring to the campus – as well as the risks.

“It would surprise me if it did not pass,” she said. “I can see the cons behind it and I can see the pros behind it. It’s all determined by whether we want to take that risk or not. We’ve done that before. We’ve taken the risk.”

The college has been formally exploring the possibility of bringing football on line since August, when it approved the contract of former Rowan University head coach Jay Accorsi as consultant to the project. Accorsi, the presumptive head coach if the Mighty Oaks add the sport, has been intrigued with the possibility of junior college football in New Jersey for some time and brought his ideas to SCC president Mike Gorman in May.

If the initiative is approved, the Mighty Oaks would begin play in the fall of 2026. They would be one of only two junior colleges in the state to offer NJCAA-sanctioned football, and the only one between Newton, N.J. (Sussex CC) and Louisburg, N.C.

A vote was anticipated at the October board meeting, but members wanted more time to digest the volume of information presented by athletics director Bob Hughes so it was delayed for another month and Accorsi’s consultant contract extended. Vice-chair Jason Supernavage said after the October meeting he wanted time to review the details before casting his vote.

The board held a work session last week and there was a sentiment when it was over of “everybody feeling comfortable” their concerns had been addressed.

“I think we’ve answered some of their questions that put them in doubt whether to do it or not,” Gorman said. “I don’t think there’s anybody who looks at this as a bad idea. What they’re doing is a risk analysis in their own mind … We don’t want to put the college in any jeopardy and honestly if we thought we were doing that, this proposal never would have seen the light of day.”

Bowen said she has not discussed the football issue with other board members individually and to her knowledge they have not discussed it outside the confines of board meeting discussions.

“We left the last meeting knowing next Thursday we’re going to vote,” she said. “We will find out on Thursday.”

Gorman would not presume to speak for the board or speculate on the outcome of the vote. There is history that suggests, however, major initiatives Gorman has brought before the board get approved.

“I’ve been in this business a long time, so I try not to have surprises,” the president said. “If we didn’t think we had support we wouldn’t force this onto the table for a review. It would have stopped by now.”

“It’s a lot for us to undertake,” Bowen said. “It’s a lot of commitment up front. It’s a risk. There’s hesitation of taking that risk, but there have been explanations to try to clear up any of that hesitation, and the comparison of other things we have taken risks on that have succeeded. Because we have that direction with president Gorman, he’s been successful in everything he’s done and we have full confidence in him, and I don’t think he would even offer this if he (was unsure of its success).”

Among the larger issues is securing a permanent practice site for the team. College officials have had informal discussions with potential stakeholders, but have been told no formal talks would occur until the board green lights the project.

Potential sites include the preferred Carneys Point Recreation Complex that currently serves as the Mighty Oaks’ baseball home, the Carneys Point YMCA fields, the Walnut Street Field in Salem and a piece of property currently held by the Penns Grove/Carneys Point School District. A key piece to the site for Salem is whether the property could be built upon.

Even if the board approves the proposal, the plan could be scrapped in January if the Mighty Oaks don’t secure a practice facility, have at least 20 prospective players in the fold and a schedule. Athletic department officials don’t believe the latter two issues are a problem at all.

Top photo: Salem CC athletics director Bob Hughes explains the finer points of the proposal to bring football to the college at the October board of trustees meeting.