Historic first day

Accorsi puts 10 enthusiastic players through their paces on first day of Salem CC’s first-ever spring football practice

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – It was another historic day in the Salem CC football program and the best part about it was the players who went through it didn’t want it to end.

Jay Accorsi and his assistants put 10 players through their paces Monday on the first day of the first spring practice in the history of the Mighty Oaks’ fledgling program. They went through an hour and a half of introductions, indoctrinations and drills with the four coaches on the recently acquired Twins Field practice facility and when it was over the players stayed another 20 minutes to do more work on their own.

“It was awesome,” Accorsi said. “There’s a need for this junior college football program in the area. They’re all local players. I think it (the staying after) shows how much they miss football, how much this opportunity is going to provide them to do football again and go to school, and I think it just reaffirms all the things I believe in why to do this program and start it. They were just ecstatic to be out there. It was a great day.”

The group, decked out in shorts and brand-new green practice jerseys, includes defensive backs, wide receivers, two running backs, a lineman and a quarterback – players already enrolled when the program officially launched Jan. 28. Accorsi anticipates more than 80 players when the team reconvenes for its first preseason camp in the summer.

“The newness of the program certainly revealed itself with all the new stuff,” Accorsi said. “I think they were really excited and jazzed up. I think if you were to ask them they had a great time. It’s exactly what they were looking for. We’re really excited to be there.”

Spring practices will continue through the month of April.

The Mighty Oaks open their inaugural season Aug. 29 against Hudson Valley CC at Pennsville High School. They will play a preseason scrimmage at Montclair State Aug. 21.