Quote from: unionpalooza on June 02, 2026, 07:54:00 PM

Quote from: UfanBill on May 30, 2026, 01:16:11 PMIn case you missed this Salisbury, Kean and William Paterson fans should plan their fall trip to Vermont now because this may be their last chance to experience the splendor of fall with football in New England. In the ever changing world of college sports often one thing can have a profound effect on another. When Anna Maria announced it was closing back in April it meant the 10 team MASCAC would be losing a Football member. No big deal right, and how would that effect the NJAC? Turn to today's revelation that NJAC associate football member Vermont St. Castleton will be leaving the NJAC and rejoining the MASCAC for 2027. The loss of Anna Maria opened a spot in the MASCAC that had been controversially stripped from Castleton two years ago and led to them finding a temporary home in the NJAC. Soon they'll be going back to a league that better suits their footprint both competitively and geographically. Good for them but what will the NJAC do? Starting in 2027 the NJAC will be down to 7 teams and the status of a couple of other current members is teetering. What will the NJAC look like in 2027?     

What NJAC schools are teetering?

I would like to know as well...don't be shy! However, regarding Castleton, that is an awesome move, that allows them to save on funding and return to a conference that aligns to their talent level at the current moment. 

Quote from: RowanPhan on May 02, 2026, 02:29:44 PM

Quote from: MRMIKESMITH on April 28, 2026, 11:22:08 AMSalisbury schedule is finally complete with times and places. Non-Con remains the same, not sure this prepares us for a surging Rowan program that appears to be getting better and better. We finish the season against our new Route 13 Rival in CNU. The time of the CNU game is TBA, could be de facto championship game. This year is somewhat an unknown, but as always Salisbury will compete, but will we have the changing playmakers that allows us to get to the Elite 8, only time will tell. Salisbury typically does better when they are somewhat of a dark horse. As I mentioned, I think CNU and Rowan are my preseason favorites. Although Salisbury may have the better QB returning, I think CNU and Salisbury may have to replace some key positions due to graduation and transfer portal.

I am a Rowan grad, but didn't start following the FB team closely until 2016, and I didn't think it would take this long to see the day that Rowan would be a "surging program."  I suspect Rowan will be a better team across the board next season, so it should be a fun season to watch - should be the best group of the past 10 years.

My apologies on the "surging" program. My point is that over the past 4 seasons (including minor setback in 2023), Rowan has been steadily getting back to IMHO a Top 15 team. I have Rowan along with CNU as my preseason #1 & #2 in the NJAC. However, Rowan will have to win on the field, especially the close games against top conference and regional opponents. I think Rowan having an opportunity to participate in ECACs last year against Utica and face some adversity and pull out a good win, sets them up for success. I think the NJAC should have 3 teams in the preseason Top 25, however we need TCNJ and Montclair who were both .500 and above last year to win an extra non-con game or two (both appears to play round robin non-con), I think that will raise the floor of the NJAC, which in essence raises the ceiling for conference as a whole.

Salisbury schedule is finally complete with times and places. Non-Con remains the same, not sure this prepares us for a surging Rowan program that appears to be getting better and better. We finish the season against our new Route 13 Rival in CNU. The time of the CNU game is TBA, could be de facto championship game. This year is somewhat an unknown, but as always Salisbury will compete, but will we have the changing playmakers that allows us to get to the Elite 8, only time will tell. Salisbury typically does better when they are somewhat of a dark horse. As I mentioned, I think CNU and Rowan are my preseason favorites. Although Salisbury may have the better QB returning, I think CNU and Salisbury may have to replace some key positions due to graduation and transfer portal.

Quote from: RowanPhan on February 14, 2026, 12:49:52 PM

Quote from: CNU85 on February 06, 2026, 04:10:58 PM2026 CNU Schedule

CNU vs Rowan on Halloween

BIG Game right there...will be watching.

Quote from: CNU85 on March 09, 2026, 04:38:42 PMMario Byrd Returns to CNU as DC

Good pick up right there.

Need to have some West Coast Games in Denver, Colorado. Some Week Zero games.

Quote from: Ron Boerger on December 22, 2025, 08:19:58 PMThe other thing some of these kids need to consider is that taking a "higher level" offer doesn't mean you're going to see a lot of playing time at the new school.  Christian Green, a basketball player for Trinity who went to D1 SFA along with his coach this year (and was the D3Hoops.com Rookie of the Year in 2024), has seen a grand total of 36 minutes in the 11 games SFA has played this year, and six of his eight total points (and 10 of those 36 minutes) came in a blowout over D3 UDallas yesterday.   

We had a couple of players from our 2024 entertain the thought of transferring, only to realize that they were being lied to about the financial commitment and role they would have within the team. I will never stop a young man/woman from pursuing less financial burden or wanting to play at higher level. I just hope that they do their research on what the transfer portal entails. We were open to the idea and the young man circled back in the summer and played well again this year.  We also had a young man transfer in from D1-FBS and play well only to transfer the next year. I'm actually fine with 1 hit wonders/mercenaries coming down and "getting tape/film", you just have to coach them as a player that hit his stride his Senior year.

Quote from: RowanPhan on December 18, 2025, 05:54:33 PM

Quote from: MRMIKESMITH on December 08, 2025, 10:24:52 AMSalisbury still had two timeouts remaining, and that timeout was used simply to ensure players didn't do or say anything foolish. Moving the conversation forward, the NJAC will look very different next year. I think the conference is getting stronger—especially if the New Jersey programs can keep more in-state talent home and if CNU continues to dominate recruiting throughout Virginia.

For Salisbury, the recruiting approach will need to evolve. The program must do a better job tapping into "urban" areas and conferences to bring in tougher, more dynamic athletes. After rewatching the last two playoff games, Salisbury looked too finesse-oriented and, frankly, soft. To close the gap, the team will likely need to lean more heavily on the transfer portal—whether that's players who didn't qualify initially, FCS transfers, or borderline Division II talent—to fill key positional needs, keep the offense explosive, and bring in guys who have that true "dawg" mentality.

Defensively, the secondary needs a full overhaul. They need more athletic (can cover 1 on 1), sound tacklers, and confident players. The scheme itself could use some fine-tuning as well; watching Saturday's game again, there were plays available to be made, and many of the breakdowns were simply skill-related. Even the GR MLB said in the post-game that the defense came out slow and didn't settle in until the third quarter. That can't continue. The DC has to make adjustments earlier—mid-first quarter, not after halftime.

Rowan football will be a contender next year,  majority of the team returns. 

I'm moreso curious to see if the NJAC will add another Football team to the mix.   

Is there a rumor that I missed? I'm all for adding teams, but looking at NPI, want to make sure we can ensure we get a team that will be at .500 or over in OOC games. Aside from that, the teams that made the Quarterfinals were tested at least twice during the season with Top 40 teams. We may be fortunate now that we have a resurging Rowan and a TCNJ team that has settled on offensive scheme to maximize its talent pool. However, our OOC games have to be with other Top 30-50 teams to boost our NPI. I think the NJAC should have two teams going to the playoff year in and year out going forward over the next few years. 

My team lost to JHU, and I'm somewhat torn about who I want to win this week. From a standings perspective, a win by JHU should (I know one poll that won't pull the R2 teams up  )elevate certain teams, depending on the scoring margin. That said, as a competitor and a stalwart of Salisbury Football, part of me hopes a certain coach learns a lesson. However the players and staff are phenomenal in what they do —great Jimmys and Joes, and exceptionally smart and intellectual in their approach to football/life (beyond just X's and O's).

Brian Smith out as Ohio University football Coach. Former Coach at Cal Lutheran and Occidental.

Salisbury still had two timeouts remaining, and that timeout was used simply to ensure players didn't do or say anything foolish. Moving the conversation forward, the NJAC will look very different next year. I think the conference is getting stronger—especially if the New Jersey programs can keep more in-state talent home and if CNU continues to dominate recruiting throughout Virginia.

For Salisbury, the recruiting approach will need to evolve. The program must do a better job tapping into "urban" areas and conferences to bring in tougher, more dynamic athletes. After rewatching the last two playoff games, Salisbury looked too finesse-oriented and, frankly, soft. To close the gap, the team will likely need to lean more heavily on the transfer portal—whether that's players who didn't qualify initially, FCS transfers, or borderline Division II talent—to fill key positional needs, keep the offense explosive, and bring in guys who have that true "dawg" mentality.

Defensively, the secondary needs a full overhaul. They need more athletic (can cover 1 on 1), sound tacklers, and confident players. The scheme itself could use some fine-tuning as well; watching Saturday's game again, there were plays available to be made, and many of the breakdowns were simply skill-related. Even the GR MLB said in the post-game that the defense came out slow and didn't settle in until the third quarter. That can't continue. The DC has to make adjustments earlier—mid-first quarter, not after halftime.

Quote from: IC798891 on December 07, 2025, 03:00:31 PMHopkins runs the ball 9 straight times, and then goes to kneel it out. Absolutely textbook end of blowout game plan.

Salisbury calls a timeout, so they clearly want to play to the final whistle, and now Hopkins, what, is obligated to continue to call nothing but runs?

It's admirable that the Gulls wanted to keep playing to the last whistle, but acting as though Hopkins is only allowed to do so exactly how Salisbury deems fit is weak.

Speaking as a fan of a team that got waxed by Hopkins and had Hopkins kneel it out on them, grow up.

Everyone wants to come to rescue for Hopkins, go on ahead. Like I said, it was still classless. Don't care if team called timeout, many of your teams did the same thing and we ran it out and or kneeled. Spare ME!

No, FWIFW is that it was bush league and that's it. I know certain folk from certain schools will have their thoughts about Salisbury. So I take certain folks opinion with a grain a salt.  "Looking back at thread" and "non issue". Yea okay!

Congratulations to the seniors and grad students who played their hearts out yesterday. Congrats as well to the staff and administration on an overall awesome season. Although the outcome wasn't what Salisbury supporters hoped for, it was still a great year.

Now, regarding the game: I usually congratulate the opposing team, but what Hopkins pulled at the end was not something I expected from an institution like that. It's fine—karma has a funny way of showing itself. I lost a lot of respect for their staff and head coach. Congratulations to the players, though; they executed well and made the plays that were there.

As for Salisbury, this game was lost on the defensive side of the ball and in the red zone. Giving up over 600 yards was a death by a thousand cuts. I can't say that was purely a talent issue. As many have noted, Salisbury's schedule over the past two seasons has featured mostly sub-par offenses that rely heavily on the run, which played to our advantage. But when teams competently schemed to pass, they were highly effective, putting pressure on our offense to win shootouts. As with many high-powered offenses without a complementary defense, once they face a good defensive unit and have to battle for four full quarters, they typically falter—just like yesterday.

Defensively, players do need to make plays, recognize threats, and respond to formations and routes. But at some point that can't be the only excuse. Salisbury's conservative defensive approach has been the same for many years, going back to 2004. Offensively the program has evolved, adding more passing concepts to the flex, but defensively the structure may have changed while the play-calling has stayed the same. That has repeatedly become a problem whenever we face passing teams that can also run.

Offensively, the players did not make the necessary plays in the red zone—credit to Hopkins' defense. Many slot/RB players were too finesse-oriented and didn't make the needed cutbacks, lower their shoulders, or fight for extra yards. That edge wasn't there this week, or for much of the season. That's a big difference from last year's RBs and slot receivers. QB1 missed some throws before being injured early in the third, but that comes with experience and offseason work. Hopkins' interior defensive line caused havoc in the A and B gaps all day, which contributed to the red-zone struggles. And if you don't convert in the red zone—especially when your defense hasn't been reliable all year—you're in trouble. Salisbury didn't convert a single 3rd or 4th down, even when many early ones were short-yardage situations they usually thrive in.

Special teams were okay, but the kicker had his usual once-per-game missed chip shot, and the punt returner misplayed a key punt that rolled inside the five.

Next year is a real unknown. The past two seasons had a lot of experience, and it's unclear what the roster will look like. I'm sure Salisbury will plug and play, but from a fan perspective, the defensive play-calling must improve. In the big games, you can't be afraid to take risks and instead die a slow death. The defense needs to be more aggressive and trust that players can develop over the season in man-to-man and zone blitz schemes. Sitting in base coverage, reading and reacting, and trying to bend-but-not-break is not championship football. The best pass defense is a pass rush.

Offensively, I want to see continued growth from QB1. Have him work on his throwing, but also expand the offense for late-game situations—move personnel around, swap slots and receivers, and provide different looks. With two more years of QB1, there's no reason to stay stagnant.

Quote from: MRMIKESMITH on November 12, 2025, 04:18:56 PMLooking at current brackets and projected brackets, here are teams that Salisbury and CNU could potentially play in the first 2 rounds.

Salisbury (#3/#4/#5/#6) - Cortland, Endicott, Eastern, Union, F&M, Muhlenberg, Springfield, John Carroll, Susquehanna, W&J, Grove City, and Curry
CNU (#1/#2) - R-MC, Muhlenberg, F&M, Eastern, W&J, Susquehanna, Grove City, Chapman (travel bracket), Willamette (travel bracket).

CNUs 3rd Quarterfinal game will probably require a flight from or to many of the potential 1 to 2 seeds, unless its a team aforementioned or potential game with Mount, Johns Hopkins. Many of the other #1/#2 seeds can not get to CNU by bus.

Salisbury will most likely face a Hopkins or Mount Union in the S16 if they were to win their 2nd round matchup.

As I predicted, Salisbury will face a Top 10 Johns Hopkins team. To succeed, Salisbury must be at its best in all three phases of the game.

Hopkins has had two weeks to prepare for the triple option, having just faced Springfield's iteration. While Salisbury's specific execution of the offense has evolved drastically over the years from the traditional Springfield approach, Hopkins' defense will still require high discipline against Salisbury Spread-Option.

While two weeks of preparation is often seen as a significant benefit against the option, option OCs must sometimes adjust on the fly when defenses change their approach from their defenses. Salisbury's offensive coordinators (OCs) now have film of how Hopkins defends the option, which will aid their preparation—every coin has two sides.

Defensively, this is a great opportunity for Salisbury's defense to prove critics and statisticians wrong. All season, Salisbury has struggled against the pass, particularly when opponents abandoned their run game. They will face a high-powered, dual-faceted, but patient offensive attack from Hopkins, widely considered one of the best-balanced attacks in DIII. Salisbury can learn from its prior game against Endicott, which successfully used a tempo-based scheme to achieve over 200 passing yards. Salisbury has talented players; it is up to the staff to put them in the best position to succeed. The players must execute the calls, recognize formations quickly and plays, and MAKE THE PLAYS. Salisbury will still need to stop the run first, as Hopkins will maintain its rushing attack to keep the defense honest and create opportunities for downfield passes.

Special teams and turnovers have been Salisbury's Achilles' heel in big games. The special teams unit must be disciplined, sound, and execute the little things correctly (make the chip shots). This will either maintain field position or put Salisbury in a strong position to succeed.

Salisbury also has to protect the ball (no fumbles or BAD interceptions). Self-inflicted, untimely penalties and turnovers have given opponents sparks to stay in games (e.g., Endicott) or win outright (e.g., CNU). If Salisbury plays a clean game, avoids 15-yard defensive penalties that help the opposing offenses move chains, and the offense avoids penalties that put them behind the chains, Salisbury will be very successful (I know cliche).

Remember folks, Salisbury has playoff experience, and opponents have to prepare to play against them, too.