Salem CC takes early lead, but falls in its first-ever football scrimmage, Accorsi ‘pleasantly surprised’ at what he observed

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

MONTCLAIR – For the first time sending his team against somebody in a different colored uniform, Salem CC football coach Jay Accorsi was impressed. And so was the opposing coach.

The Mighty Oaks didn’t win the first scrimmage in program history, falling at NCAA Division III Montclair State 24-8 Friday night, but they did “much better” than the coach’s expectation and even scored their first touchdown to take an early lead in the game.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Accorsi said. “At the end of the first quarter it’s 8-0 so I’m like ‘wow, we’re competing.’ We had our first Mighty Oaks touchdown, went for the two-point play and got it, and we’re up 8-0.

“You take it for what it’s worth, but I was pleasantly surprised. We competed all the way through, three quarters. The fourth quarter was a running clock. We were able to get everybody in. We had our first Mighty Oaks turnover, first Mighty Oaks tackle, first Mighty Oaks everything. It was fun and I was pleasantly surprised, I really was. We did much better than my expectation.”

Of course, all the official “firsts” take place next Saturday in their inaugural game against Hudson Valley CC at Pennsville High School, but, still, everything that took place Sprague Field was memorable.

Montclair coach Mike Palazzo spoke to the Mighty Oaks at the end of the exercise to pitch what his four-year program had to offer and even he was very impressed how well the first-year program competed.

The Mighty Oaks hit the Red Hawks early. Malakhai McKenzie connected with Darion Joyner on a long pass play that got knocked out near the goal line. Brian Pritchett scored the program’s first touchdown on a short run and Robert Daly caught the two-point conversion pass to make it 8-0. Later in the game, Stephen Little got their first takeaway with an interception.

“It was good to see the first Mighty Oaks touchdown,” Accorsi said.

All three quarterbacks played and did “pretty well” while the coaches mixed and matched a lot of linemen, running backs and receivers.

“I wanted to make sure we got lot of players on film so we could evaluate them and see where we’re at and then start to make some depth chart decisions,” Accorsi said. “It’s still going to be a work-in-progress for us. I think it’s going to be more which players play in which situation and how many reps.

“With a new program and an eight-game season and for everyone doing it for the first time I think we need to really play a lot of players and look at the long run and long haul of the program. I just think that’s going to be the nature of who we are. We’re going to have rely on a lot of players in a lot of different spots.”

Top photo: Screenshot of Brian Pritchett bursting into the end zone for Salem CC’s first ever touchdown and the early lead in its scrimmage at Montclair State.

Salem CC football heads to Montclair for first live scrimmage since birth of the program


By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – In more established programs, a scrimmage at the end of training camp might be part of the routine, but for the startup Salem Community College football team it’s the most important exercise in the history of the program.

For the first time since the school agreed to launch the program the Mighty Oaks will face a team in a different colored uniform as they scrimmage at Montclair State Friday at 5 p.m. You bet head coach Jay Accorsi thinks it‘s a pretty important.

“It’s the first outside competition ever, so it is a big deal,” he said. “I mentioned that (Sunday) to the team and I’ll mention it leading up. They’re gonna get an opportunity to show what they can do, but it’s got to be in the framework of what we’re trying to do as a team offensively and defensively, too. That’s going to be the challenge: Letting them get an opportunity to show what they can do, but it just can’t be about them, too; it’s gotta be what we need to do as a team.”

That’s the reason he chose Montclair. He’s familiar with the program and its traditions, having faced the Red Hawks many times during his days as Rowan’s head coach, so he knows what he’s going to get. And it’s on the road, so they can teach the players the mechanics of game operations.

Above all, Accorsi wants it to see the Mighty Oaks organized, cohesive and competitive on both sides of the ball.

“We need to find out what players can do in live situations,” he said. “You can simulate it in practice, you can do mini sessions with more hitting, but you don’t know until you put a full 11 out there. So I want it to be organized, I want it to be competitive and I want the players to really compete. I think that’s what we’re really looking for.”

Jobs may not be won, but the coaches will get the strongest indication yet of who’s on track to start in the inaugural game against Hudson Valley CC Aug. 29 at Pennsville High School.

Both coordinators have an idea of who’s rising to the fore, but it’s a lot difference between the big bumps in practice and what happens when the lights come on.

“We’ve thrown a lot at the kids, but they’ve adapted pretty well; we’re pleasantly surprised with where we’re at at this point,” offensive coordinator Chris Crowley said. “I kind of have an idea of what we have but you really don’t know until you get in a game situation. When you get on the field you’ve got to do something with it. Some guys have taken advantage of that and have created a situation where they’re going to get some opportunities. It’s going to be a good test to see where we’re at.”

All three quarterbacks – Malakhai McKenzie, Cam Wright and Aidan Hill – are expected to play as well as multiple running backs and receivers. Receivers Jahfarri Payne and Darion Joyner have been impressive in practice as has big running back Brian Pritchett.

“We have guys who can do different things; there could be a world where we play multiple guys,” Crowley said of the quarterbacks. “It’s great to have one take it, give him the keys and let ‘im go, but we’re probably not in that situation right now, but guys are gonna get chances in situations.”

Likewise, defensive coordinator Joe Dougherty has an idea of the 25 to 30 who ultimately will play in his defense; now, it’s just a matter of determining a rotation. Charlie Shute, Mark Moore, Ben Secouler, Jamar Jones and Hayden Alexander have all shown well in camp.

“I think we have in what we need, what we need to be successful, and then well put in specifics,” Dougherty said. “Our base stuff should be ready to roll and we’ll see what they can do. I just want to see kind of their reactions. It’s different when you’ve got to go make a tackle.”

Salem CC players get their football jerseys, numbers Monday

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The line into the storage room in the fieldhouse stretched all the way back to the lobby. One by one, the players on the Salem Community College football team emerged with a crisp white jersey with their number for the Mighty Oaks’ inaugural season ahead.

And then the games began.

The basketball court looked like the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as players who didn’t get a desired number sought to make a deal. There was more wheeling and dealing going on than at an NFL general managers meeting.

“I think we’re up to four and I think there’s still negotiating going on,” defensive coordinator Joe Dougherty said. “I don’t think we’re in a situation where a star tailback comes over and gives somebody a Mercedes for his number.”

There were at least two trades confirmed by Riverview Sports News. A couple three-way deals were said to be proposed, but were likely to be shot down by management.

Sam Rowley swapped the 54 he was assigned for the 99 defensive linemate Kaden Hood of Kingsway got. And Winslow cornerback Erik Worley traded his 4 for the 3 that went to Woodstown receiver M.J. Hall. Both were amicable trades, made without incentives.

“I wanted something different,” said Rowley, who played at Salem and Haddon Heights. “I wore 54 in high school, but I wanted 99 because I saw that jersey in my high school but I couldn’t wear it because my coach wouldn’t allow it, so I just wanted to wear it now because it was available.”

“I originally wanted 59, but I couldn’t get that,” Hood said. “I had 99 in Little League, but the jersey (here) was a little too big for me, so we agreed to a trade. This one fits me better; that one was a 3X. It’s a good number for me right now.”

That’s not to say there wasn’t another trade coming. He still hoped to lock down the 59.

Worley had a more permanent reason for seeking the 3. It was his number in high school and he wanted it to match the number he’s had tattooed on his wrist the last two years.

“That’s my lucky number,” he said.

The jersey swapping was part of the football program’s first media day, an occasion to take the official inaugural team photo and individual shots more than anything. The players submitted their three preferences for numbers. The original six players that went through the spring were locks to get their choice and given green jerseys for the photo to distinguish their position as trailblazers and the rest were accommodated as much as possible.

“With a full roster of guys the numbers are limited,” offensive coordinator Chris Crowley said. “Everybody wants to wear single digits, it’s just not reality when you come to a big program. We have no single digit numbers of like 5-star guys coming in promised No. 9. We don’t have that right now.”

Numbers 0 and 1 are most coveted by players but a lot of programs won’t give them out. The Mighty Oaks assigned both numbers.

The 1 went to running back Brian Pritchett of Bridgeton. He looked too big to fit into a jersey that typically goes to a small player, but he maintained it would be no problem pulling it over his broad shoulders. A couple players approached him about a straight-up trade, but he wasn’t budging.

“I wore No. 1 in high school my senior year,” the 5-10, 230-pound Pritchett said. “I thought it was going to be 5 (his practice jersey) or 7 or something. I can fit in it. I know I can fit in it.”

Vinnie Ringo, a transfer from Lamar University, sought out the 0 because of what it represents.

“I feel like zero comes with a huge responsibility and I feel like I’m the man for it,” he said. “I believe everybody understands I’m in here for the responsibility.”

Regardless what number the players sought or eventually received, head coach Jay Accorsi said they wore them well.

“I like how they look in them,” he said. “It’s hard because you don’t have pads on and stuff, so all the guys are like, ‘Coach, too big; it’s too big.’ Well, wait ‘til you put it on and then see how it is. I thought they looked nice.”

The Salem CC football team just completed its first week of on-field practice, coaches still learning players’ capabilities, but seeing signs of Mighty Oaks becoming a team; coach Jay Accorsi gives a quick assessment after Thursday’s practice

RIVERVIEW SPORTS NEWS: Today marks one week outside with the team. What have you learned?

COACH JAY ACCORSI: I think they’ve been very resilient; it’s been very hot. We didn’t really train them. We didn’t really give a big summer program. We only had six or seven of these players in the spring. So, where we are now, I’m pleasantly surprised.

I think we’re in decent shape. I think we’ve got some really good players. And I think we’re starting to form a little bit of a team.

RSN: The early schedule had today listed as the first day in full pads, but that was pushed back a day. For a program just getting started, what does missing a day and getting behind schedule do to you?

JA: Training camp, it is what it is in football. It’s hard. There are a lot of days. We missed the Saturday because of the storms, but what are you going to do? We don’t have an indoor facility. It is what it is. I thought the players handled it really well.

Does it put you behind in any way? Just a day, really, that’s why today we were in uppers and tomorrow we’ll be in full, because you have to follow the acclimization period, which we are. I think we’re doing enough work that we’re doing all right and we’re on track and schedule for the first week.

RSN: What will you be looking for from Friday’s first day in full pads. Are you looking to see how guys take contact or is there something specific in mind?

JA: It’ll just be practicing hard again, making sure everybody’s doing what they need to do. You don’t really do a lot of full tackle any more, really, from the pros all the way down to college. We’ll be a little bit more physical, but we’re not going to go crazy and do a lot. We’re not going live periods, we’re not going all out, like we’ve got to transition to get there.

With a young program and a young, inexperienced team, we’ve got to go slow; push it, but we’ve got to go slow and be smart.

RSN: Is there anything shaping up in terms of position battles, depth charts?

JA: I think we’re starting to identify players and what they can do. I think the offensive line, that’s the group that needs a lot of timing, footwork, work together, and I think it’s coming along. Same thing with the offense, too. It’s about timing, plays. We’re putting a lot of different players in there, we’re putting a lot of different people, a lot of pieces, just to try to learn to see what these players can do. I think that’s a hard thing, but I think we’re getting there.

RSN: Are you looking forward to Friday’s first day in full pads?

OL JACOB HAND (PENNSVILLE): The way I look at it, as an offensive lineman, once we’re in shoulder pads we’re in full go because the legs don’t really much to us. It means more in the sense of protecting others. As being a lineman, being able to protect people all my life, it’s more serious in the fact I have to worry about other people and seriously hone in on what I’m doing and what the ppeople next to me are doing just to make sure people aren’t getting hurt and to make sure everybody is ready for Hudson Valley.

TE ROBERT DALY (SCHALICK): It’s going to be awesome. That full-pad feeling, there’s nothing like it. This is just a lead up to it. It really gets that game experience once you get to hit.

As told to Al Muskewitz

Top photo: Salem CC quarterbacks (from left) Aidan Hill, Cameron Wright and Malakhai McKenzie work out under the watchful eye of offensive coordinator Chris Crowley Thursday

About 90 players take the field for the first full squad on-field practice of Salem CC’s inaugural football season; Accorsi: first day “exceeded my expectations”

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The last time we saw the Salem CC football team on this practice field there were eight players running drills and four coaches making sure they were doing them right. That’s a nice ratio for some individual workouts, but it’s not what you really want to conduct a traditional full-blown football practice.

Fast forward to a sweltering Thursday afternoon four months later and there were players and coaches in every corner of the facility where not even the bell of a passing ice cream truck making the rounds could challenge their focus. The Mighty Oaks were going through their first on-the-field practice in program history with a full complement of coaches and players and it was all a football practice was supposed to be.

“It was awesome,” head coach Jay Accorsi said. “It was kind of what I envisioned when I reached out to Dr. (Mike) Gorman about this. It’s what I thought it would be. It’s pretty cool.”

More than 90 players took part in the 2-hour, 15-minute practice conducted in 90-degree heat. 

Practice was schedule for 3:00, but the players started arriving well before that. The early arrivals gathered under the shade on the perimeter of the Twins Field. And then, much of Accorsi’s delight, even before the last busload of players arrived those already on site moved out onto the field and began drills before the practice was even supposed to start.

“We’ve just got to be careful; we can’t burn them out too fast,” Accorsi said. “We’ve got to slow it down a little bit because they were so excited. But I think that’s the fun part. Players who are really excited to be here, who want to be here, are cherishing this opportunity. That’s why I really wanted to do something like this, to provide an opportunity for those who don’t have it. I think all the players here, in their each special story, fit that mold.”

Defensive back Ben Secouler (Cherry Hill West) and running back Brian Pritchett (Bridgeton) were among those intrepid eight who went through spring practice. It was definitely different.

“Multiplied by more than 10 this time,” Secouler said. “It’s like surreal, honestly. When we were here in the spring, it kind of felt hard to believe or even like trust (it was going to happen). I was trying to get them to buy in then for this opportunity then and, look, it’s here, and that was how many months ago and there was nothing. Honestly, it’s crazy, but it’s all coming together.”

“It felt fun, it felt good, it felt intense,” Pritchett said. “It’s felt good to be around some good vibes, to be around football again. It felt good.”

Charlie Shute, a decorated freshman linebacker from Delaware, was taking it in for the first time. The heat, the drills, none of it fazed him. Heading back to his position group from one of the water breaks, he told teammates he had been waiting for this opportunity a long time.

“I really didn’t get a lot of recruiting opportunities in high school (despite being a two-time first-team all-stater) so this is a perfect opportunity, a perfect chance, for me to really show my ability, show my leadership,” he said. “Obviously we’re here and then we’re going to try to go somewhere else after this. That was the memo when we first got here, so I just wanted to come here, fresh start, become a leader. Really, I’ve been waiting for this my whole life. This is exactly where I wanted to be, around the people I want to be around.”

Nobody won a position on this day, but Accorsi said the Mighty Oaks may have come closer to identifying their punter and kicker. There’s still a lot of work to be done – and a lot of players to evaluate – before the Aug. 21 scrimmage at Montclair and definitely the Aug. 29 inaugural game against Hudson Valley at Pennsville High School, but he found a lot to like on the first day of practice.

Just from watching film and seeing the players during three days of meetings Accorsi had a sense his first team would have the right stuff to be competitive right out of the gate, but seeing them move around on the field for the first time convinced him even more.

“I think we’re going to be a very quick team, I think we’re going to be a very athletic team,” the former Rowan head coach said. “I think up front on the offensive line we’ve got  some good size; there’s some inexperience there. On the back end defensively in the secondary and at the wide receiver spot we’re going to have some really good skill players. That’s kind of different for me. At the Division III level that’s kind of the areas that maybe you don’t. I knew here It was; I think we’re very athletic. In the team period, I was really impressed how the running backs ran, how the linebackers ran.

“It’s a long way to go. It’s only Day One. You’ve got to be cautiously optimistic and careful. It exceeded my expectations for the first day, it did; overall, the whole thing did exceed my expectations. The excitement for them to be here and how quickly they want to do things was great, but we had to temper down because we had to make sure they could through a whole practice.”

Of course, it’s only the beginning. The Mighty Oaks will continue to work out in guardian helmets and shorts the next two days. They’ll go in uppers for three days starting Sunday, then go in full pads for the first time Aug. 13. Then it’ll get interesting.

“I think it’s going to be even better,” Shute said. “I think the intensity is going to rise, the competitive level is going to rise. Everybody is going to be loud, everybody’s going to be aggressive, everybody’s going to be competitive, but at the end of the day we’re a team, so we’re going to do what’s best for the team. But it’s going to be absolutely awesome out here, so explosive. It’s going to be double the energy we had today.”

Accorsi ‘super excited’ with the coaching staff that’s come together for his first Salem CC’s football season

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Jay Accorsi is “super excited and pleased” with the group of assistants he’s been able to put together for his first coaching staff as Salem CC’s head football coach.

The Mighty Oaks took the field for the first time Thursday with their full complement of coaches in the fold.

They had three assistants to get them through the spring, but the confirmation Thursday of offensive assistants Nick Santosuosso (offensive line), Ojay Harris (tackles/tight ends), Sharif Glaud (receivers) and Lonnie Rice (running backs), and defensive coaches Earl Simmons (corners) and Dimir Leftwich (defensive line) gives them nine to man all position groups going through their inaugural season.

Defensive coordinator Joe Dougherty (linebackers), offensive coordinator Chris Crowley (quarterbacks) and Damon Troy (secondary) helped Accorsi take the Mighty Oaks through the spring.

“I think we really lucked out,” Accorsi said. “Chris Crowley was able to get two really good coaches, especially (on the) offensive line, because we had some at one point – it was going to be me. That was OK, but I think we lucked out with him getting Nick and Sharif, and then once Dimir gets here Sunday … I’m super excited and pleased. I’m really kind of surprised how quickly and late we put this together.”

South Jersey football observers might be familiar with some of the newer assistants. Harris and Simmons played for Accorsi at Rowan. Glaud was a high school standout at Winslow.

Accorsi said he knew he was attracting the right type coaches for his startup program after one of their first conversations.

“Just seeing them in meetings, I’m super excited,” he said. “Because it’s just not about football.

“All of those I don’t know, before we even had a conversation they were like, coach, why are you doing this? I said, what do you mean? They were like, I looked you up, you had a great career at Rowan, why are you doing this? And as soon as I said I want to help young men, they were like, sign me up, I want to do this. I don’t care how much you pay me, I don’t care what I do, I want to be involved in that.

“That’s the part I’m most excited about it. Not the greatness on the field for them, but it’s all the life lessons and everything off the field. I’m super excited about that.”

Top photo: Offensive line coach Nick Santosuosso (R) and tight ends coach Ojay Harris direct their charges through a drill during Salem CC’s first day of on-field practice Thursday.

Salem CC coach Accorsi welcomes nearly 100 players – with more expected – to the first day of the Mighty Oaks’ first preseason camp

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Jay Accorsi stood in front of the room eagerly awaiting his chance to address his players for the first time and as he watched them file in and take their seats he couldn’t help but crack a smile.

He had spoken to them individually over the last 10 months as he put together Salem CC’s first football team in school history, but this was the first time he had them together as a group. The head coach and his staff checked in 95 players Monday on the first day of the Mighty Oaks’ first preseason camp.

“It was an athletic looking group,” Accorsi said. “You meet them and you talk to them and you watch film and you do an open house and all that, but when they were in the room walking around in between meetings just my impression is we’re going to be pretty athletic. I was looking around, like, man, we’ve got some players.

“We’ve got a lot of impressive young men, I’m very excited. We had some people in and they came over and said the guys are nice, they’re polite, they’re very well spoken. Those things matter to me. Those were kind of the foundation of what we want to build with this team, not just football players, but good young men who want to work hard in a lot of different things. I’m looking around like I think we’ll be competitive.”

The Mighty Oaks had anticipated an initial group of 118 players. Experience has taught Accorsi not everybody was going to make it that first day for various reasons. Some who didn’t show Monday are expected to arrive Tuesday. And there were even some surprises among those who did.

“Pretty much what I thought it would be,” Accorsi said. “But the nice part is a couple guys showed up that I didn’t know, and there were a couple other guys we were in contact with today that we’re working on that will be pleasant additions. I told you it’s going to be a very fluid situation, but we had like 94 or 95, which I’m ecstatic about.

“I know when (president) Mike Gorman talked to the team this morning he was really excited to see that many in there ready to go. It was a great day, it really was.”

Monday was the first of three administration days to open camp and Accorsi said they accomplished everything they planned to do on Day One. In addition to checking in, the players went through an orientation that included presentations from Gorman, athletics director Bob Hughes and other administrators, a nutritionist and the coaches. They broke out in meetings with their position coaches and got in a little more football than the head coach anticipated.

“It was good to start to do football things for a change instead of all the necessary things that have to be done,” Accorsi said.

The Mighty Oaks are expected to hit the field for the first time Thursday and go in full pads for the first time the following Thursday. They have a scrimmage scheduled for Aug. 21 at Montclair and open their inaugural season Aug. 29 against Hudson Valley at Pennsville High School. The ticketing process went live through Pennsville’s electronic ticketing app earlier today.

“You want to try to do all the team building things, which are really important, and it was really cool to see them meet other players and sit and have lunch and laugh, all the socialization things you just don’t think about that you plan for,” Accorsi said of the first day. “That was just really cool today.

“That’s probably the thing I missed the most when I decided to retire and wanted to come back and do this, just being around young men and having them talk about football but then laugh and joke and have a good time. It was a lot of fun and it was great to see. I’m going to imagine if you asked any of them they had a great day. That’s all I really want out of today. They had a great experience and that they want to come back and be here tomorrow, which I think will be the case.”

Accorsi, staff prepare to welcome nearly 120 players to Salem CC’s first football training camp; players report Monday, hit the field Thursday; ‘it’s pretty incredible what we’ve done’

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – After 30 years in coaching Jay Accorsi knows what the first day of football practice feels like. He remembers what it felt like his first day as a head coach. This one feels a lot like that, but with a different level of anticipation.

Every first day has a special feeling, but this is the first time the Salem Community College head coach is going into a season with a team, a program, that’s starting – he started — from scratch.

After a little more than a year of researching, planning and putting it all together, the former Rowan head coach will open the doors for the first time to the full complement of players for the Mighty Oaks’ first football team.

Accorsi and his staff will welcome nearly 120 players when they report Monday for the school’s first ever training camp. They’ll have 18 days before their first live scrimmage at Montclair and 26 days before the first game in program history Aug. 29 against Hudson Valley CC at Pennsville High School.

“Even all my years at Rowan when I was an assistant and a head coach and even my years at Nichols when I was an assistant, it always feels like the first day of school,” the 62-year-old Accorsi said. “There’s just a newness about it. It’s a beginning. It’s a start of another season. New players. It always felt like it was the first day of school. This one’s different though.

“I’m probably more nervous than I’ve ever been because this is something started from scratch. Really, last August, I was just a consultant sitting in a room figuring out could we do this and now, a year later, we’re actually doing this and I’m nervous. It feels different. I’m really nervous. It kind of feels like my first year at Rowan. I think K.C. (Keeler) prepared me really well to take over, but, again, when you’re the person in charge … I was really nervous at the beginning at Rowan and I feel the same way, but even more so. Everything was kind of created and done, so it’s a similar feeling, but much more different.”

Accorsi brought the idea of playing football at Salem to college president Mike Gorman last May. He was armed with extensive research on why it would flourish in a region known for good high school football and loaded with players who either had to go out of state to play or simply abandoned the idea of going to college and playing because there were no other options available to them.

Gorman brought it to the board in October, it passed in November with consultant Accorsi installed as acting head coach and the program officially launched in January, making it only the second junior college in New Jersey to offer the sport. There have been some growing pains, of course, and there will continue to be as the Mighty Oaks move forward, but they’ve made steady progress and, ready or not, the season is upon them.

“Sometimes when I get frustrated or whatever I have to kind of step back and think, listen, this was an idea you proposed to President Gorman last June and all of a sudden now you’re doing it,” Accorsi said. “I need to step back sometimes and understand the challenges and understand the start of it, but you know as a competitor you want it to all be perfect.

“I need to make sure I step back at times, and I did that yesterday when we had most of the coaching staff there and they were in meetings and they were talking and I was just sitting there looking around thinking, ‘wow this is pretty awesome; all this collection of individuals last year at this time were doing something completely different.’ I need to make sure I check myself at the door and maybe not get too frustrated or too quick to judge because it’s pretty incredible what we’ve done.”

The Mighty Oaks’ first three days together will be administrative days. The players report Monday at 9 a.m. and then meet with administrators and coaches. Tuesday is a day for academics and getting fitted for their gear and Wednesday it’s physicals and more meetings.

It’s the hope to hit the practice field adjacent to the Carney Point Rec Complex Thursday, but there’s still a lot to do there to have it ready. As much as coaches don’t like disruptions, if it doesn’t happen that day, it won’t necessarily set them back

“I wanted three admin days because I knew these things were going to happen and I wanted to take our time before we rushed into practice to have everything cleared,” Accorsi said. “I think we’ve put a lot of things in place to do it the right way; take our time, go really slow, but make sure everybody is safe and sound, is protected. That’s the part I’ve been very, very excited about, it’s all been done the right way and the safe way, too.

“Those first three days it’s 9-to-5 and it’s just a lot of stuff, but it’s probably, and I don’t want to take away from the football part, but it’s probably the most important things we will do in the program for the whole year. I’m hoping Thursday is the first day. I think we’ll be all right to start that day, but I built it into the schedule that Thursday ends up being a catch-up day or a walk-through with some other things. The coaches are going to hate me for saying this, but it’s not the end of the world if we don’t have a full practice that day. I’m hoping we will, but I’ve got to go slow to make sure everybody’s cleared to go.”

The Mighty Oaks do have their full complement of coaches on board, but won’t announce them until top administrators return to campus at the start of the week and officially sign off on them. The program has been going through its beginnings and a limited spring practice with assistants Joe Dougherty, Chris Crowley and Damon Troy.

Once they get on the field, the first three days will be in helmets and shorts. The next three days they’ll be in shells. Aug. 12 is a scheduled off day with the 13th being their first day in full pads.

With all the things they had to worry about to get the program off the ground, one element Accorsi never doubted was the program’s ability to attract players. They are expecting 118 players from at least seven states to report Monday. Some ultimately will be grey-shirted, some will be redshirted and some, Accorsi said, are “really dynamic players” who have the potential to play at the highest levels of the college game.

When the program announced their signees on social media, most were listed as “ATH” to avoid being pigeonholed into specific positions before they are seen, but the coaching staff does have a preliminary depth chart. There are 29 defensive backs, 21 wide receivers, 12 running backs and “four and maybe five” quarterbacks.

“I knew junior college football would be different, I just didn’t realize how different it would be,” Accorsi said. “Coming from Division III, we had some players, don’t get me wrong, but not like the players we’re going to have here.

“The defense was talking about all the DBs and the defensive coordinator (Dougherty) was talking about we may be able to play man a lot. You usually can’t say that at a lot of places, but I think the athleticism and the talent is even higher than what I thought it would be and I thought it would be pretty high. We’ve got some guys.”

ANNOUNCED SALEM CC FOOTBALL SIGNEES

PLAYER	HOMETOWN/SCHOOL
Aiden Alexander	Kingsway/Kutztown
Rabiou Alidou	Philadelphia/Audenried
Jayden Ali-Ward	Lawnside/Sterling
Maxwell Batten	Wilmington, Del./St. Marks HS
DJ Binck	National Park/Gateway
Jerrell Burks	Bridgeton
Quyan Cade	Pleasantville
Zahir Cobbins	Jersey City/Delran
Jadon Cowan	Baltimore/North County
Travon Crapps	Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas
Robert Daly	Pittsbrove/Schalick
Sam DaSilva	Delran
Jayir Davis	Camden/Eastside
Jeremiah Days	Mount Laurel/Lenape
Jordan Dozier-Pinkett	Wildwood
Josiah Evans	Collingswood
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
Kaden Hood	Swedesboro/Kingsway
Xavier Lee	Newark/William Penn HS
Jermar Jones	West Deptford/Chestnut Hill
Eric Jordan	Wildwood
Darion Joyner	Blackwood/Washington Twp.
Kahmaj Kearney	Smyrna, Del.
Stephen Little	Bridgeton
Ke-Marley Mason	Marlton/Cherokee
Lamar McCoy	Millsboro, Del./Cape Henlopen
Zaahir McNair	Wilmington, Del./Brandywine
Jamere Metts	Philadelphia/Clearview HS
Hayden Miller	Glendora/Triton
Andrew Mosley	Bridgeton/Cumberland
Jahfarri Payne	Wilmington, Del./John Dickinson
John Pettigrew	Bellmawr/Triton
Brian Pritchett	Bridgeton/Sussex CC
Jovanni Rios	Salem
Jack Robinson	Maple Shade
Kaleb Ross	Elkton, Md./St. Elizabeth HS
Sam Rowley	Penns Grove/Haddon Heights
Jeremiah Russell	Bridgeton
Jayden Sanchez	Sewell/Washington Twp.
Ben Secouler	Cherry Hill
Brody Selfridge	Sewell/Clearview
Noah Shields	Blackwood/Highland
Charlie Shute	Newark, Del./Conrad HS
Jamar Smith	Glasgow
Moses Tassy	Cherry Hill West
Raheem Tomoney	Philadelphia/Hudson Valley CC
Deven Tompkins	Bridgeton/Cumberland Reg.
William Torres	Willingboro
Tyler Walker	Manalapan/New Haven
Quaddi Walls	Clayton
Jamaad Washington	Pleasantville
Demere White	Millville
Demetris Williams	Clayton
Kielle Woodard	Bridgeton/Cumberland Reg.
Erik Worley	Sicklerville/Winslow HS