Still much to do, but things moving along towards Salem CC football’s first camp, Rodriguez promoted to assistant AD, and more from the notebook
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT — The summer is supposed to be a time to unwind, relax and recharge, but when you’ve got a football program to get off the ground and opening day fast approaching there never seems to be enough time.
It’s 44 days before the opening of Salem Community College’s first fall football camp and 47 days before the first practice, and things are moving along.
Boxes of uniforms are all over athletics director Bob Hughes’ office, cartons of gear have been piling up in the field house, major practice equipment and storage containers have arrived, “mysteries” are being solved on the practice field, coaches still need to be hired and players are coming on board in droves.
“It’s still a work in progress,” head coach Jay Accorsi said. “There’s so much to do.”
During a conversation earlier in the week Accorsi said the Mighty Oaks have more than 70 players in the fold with the anticipation of hitting their minimum target of 80 during the weekend. He could have more than twice that many if he wanted with all the interest the program has received since it was announced in the fall and launched in January, but he’s trying to be “intentional” in the vetting process to “make sure it’s a quality operation.”
A stable of 110 players would have everyone feeling more comfortable going into camp, 80 gives them sufficient numbers to get underway.
“I was hoping we’d be done (on the player front), just selfishly, so I could get to football and everything else, but we’re going to go all the way into training camp in August; that’s just how it’s going to be,” Accorsi said. “I didn’t want it to be that way, the program’s just not there yet … We’re close, but we’re going to be doing it all the way through camp. It is what it is, but it just shows the numbers … We’re getting four or five emails, I’m getting three or four texts, every day.”
The program has announced more than 40 signees on its social media channels and that traffic is expected to increase as high school seniors are walking across the graduation stage still uncertain of their football plans and others are learning two potential JUCO landing spots in the region are moving up to the NCAA Division II ranks. The reach has gone into Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, where there is currently no NJCAA football.
The players who have committed/signed fill every position on the team except specifically kicker and punter, and Accorsi said they have players who can handle those specialties if the Mighty Oaks don’t land one in the signing class. Camp opens Aug. 3, with practices to start Aug. 6.
“When we hit the 80 mark it’ll be pretty big,” Accorsi said. “We’re close. We might hit it this week, and then that’ll be pretty big for me.
“That’s the one that’s kept me up. Not that I don’t think we could get to it – we will – it’s just getting there. We went from 60 to 70 just over the (previous) weekend. That’s the next hurdle. I think when we get to 80-85 I’ll feel good and when we get everything situated down on the practice facility then I’ll feel really good. And then when I get the coaches, for me, that’s probably the last piece.”
He hopes to add two to five more assistants over the next two weeks. Athletic department officials are expected to announced ticket prices and other game-day details around the Fourth of July. They took to social media this weekend to show New Jersey football’s newest jersey.
SUMMERTIME NOTES: Mighty Oaks softball coach Angel Rodriguez has been promoted to assistant athletic director where he’ll be responsible for, among other things in addition to his coaching duties, game management and sports information. Athletics director Bob Hughes said Rodriguez’ previous experiences in the athletic department “have made a tremendous impact on our programs” … The volleyball court has been installed in the field house in the run-up to that program’s maiden season in the fall … Men’s basketball has added depth to its roster in the offseason. The Mighty Oaks’ schedule is expected to have three JUCO Division II regular-season games, including Delaware Tech, no in-season tournament and scrimmages with Goldey-Beacom and Cheyney
| ANNOUNCED SALEM CC FOOTBALL PLAYERS |
| PLAYER | HOMETOWN/SCHOOL |
| Aiden Alexander | Kingsway/Kutztown |
| Rabiou Alidou | Philadelphia/Audenried |
| Jayden Ali-Ward | Lawnside/Sterling |
| Maxwell Batten | Wilmington, Del./St. Marks HS |
| x-DJ Binck | National Park/Gateway |
| Jerrell Burks | Bridgeton |
| Quyan Cade | Pleasantville |
| Zahir Cobbins | Jersey City/Delran |
| Robert Daly | Pittsbrove/Schalick |
| Sam DaSilva | Delran |
| Jayir Davis | Camden/Eastside |
| Jeremiah Days | Mount Laurel/Lenape |
| Jordan Dozier-Pinkett | Wildwood |
| Sean Ferebee | West Deptford/Williamstown |
| Sean Gresham | Fairfax, Va/Falls Church |
| Ryan Goodmond | Newark, Del./Newark |
| M.J. Hall | Woodstown |
| Jacob Hand | Pennsville |
| Aidan Hill | Wilmington, Del./Brandywine |
| Xavier Lee | Newark/William Penn HS |
| Jermar Jones | West Deptford/Chestnut Hill |
| Eric Jordan | Wildwood |
| Darion Joyner | Blackwood/Washington Twp. |
| Kahmaj Kearney | Smyrna, Del. |
| Ke-Marley Mason | Marlton/Cherokee |
| Lamar McCoy | Millsboro, Del./Cape Henlopen |
| Jamere Metts | Philadelphia/Clearview HS |
| Hayden Miller | Glendora/Triton |
| John Pettigrew | Bellmawr/Triton |
| Brian Pritchett | Bridgeton/Sussex CC |
| Jovanni Rios | Salem |
| Jack Robinson | Maple Shade |
| Kaleb Ross | Elkton, Md./St. Elizabeth HS |
| Jeremiah Russell | Bridgeton |
| Jayden Sanchez | Sewell/Washington Twp. |
| Ben Secouler | Cherry Hill |
| x-Brody Selfridge | Sewell/Clearview |
| Noah Shields | Blackwood/Highland |
| Charlie Shute | Newark, Del./Conrad HS |
| Jamar Smith | Glasgow |
| Raheem Tomoney | Philadelphia/Hudson Valley CC |
| Deven Tompkins | Bridgeton/Cumberland Reg. |
| William Torres | Willingboro |
| Tyler Walker | Manalapan/New Haven |
| Quaddi Walls | Clayton |
| Demere White | Millville |
| Demetris Williams | Clayton |
| Kielle Woodard | Bridgeton/Cumberland Reg. |
| Erik Worley | Sicklerville/Winslow HS |
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