The 2016 high school football season begins in August, yet there are still a lot of details that have to be worked out until then.
The decision, some would say foolish (Um, I would say foolish) decision by the NJ Commissioner of Education to overturn the vote by the NJSIAA to separate has thrown everything in a tizzy. Usually, by now, schedules are done and everything is a go.
But where do we stand?
Let’s try to do some truth and fiction.
So what league is happening?
Almost every school in North Jersey, except for the NJIC schools, will be part of the new North Jersey Super Football Conference (NJSFC) or what I call the Super North. This is a 113-team league made up of 4 previous leagues, the Big North, Super Essex, Northwest Jersey and HCIAA. There was a Super North meeting in November and schedules approved along with the divisional alignments.
But, no one knew whether or not (at that point) that the non-public schools would be in the Super North. Even after the Commissioner’s overturn, no one was sure. But we know now, the Super North is happening – and by the way, had the Super North not happened, I shudder to even think about it. We’d be in a situation where we’d be back to the Big North Conference, with the Big 5 scheduled to play public schools in North Jersey.
What about the schedules?
So the schedules passed out to the Super North teams stand, for now. That includes all the ones given to the non-public schools. Most of the non-public schools were given 8 or 9 games, against fellow non-public schools. The ones who got 8 (Bosco, Bergen, Joes, PC and Peters – Im not honestly sure if DePaul did or not, oh wait, just checked, DePaul got 9) were given 8 with the knowledge that they’d pick up an out-of-state game here or there.
Have they picked any out-of-state games?
I am told Joes will look for two out-of-state games. There was some talk of them opening up the season out in California, but I’m not sure that’s really going to happen now. Paramus Catholic, as of now, is scheduled to open up with Gilman, then play their 8 game Super North schedule. Bosco was hoping Moeller was coming out to NJ in 2016, but they may only have 1 other out-of-state opponent.
What happens if a team ‘opts out’?
Sure, let’s look at Paramus Catholic for example. They were given 8 games. DePaul, Seton Hall Prep, Bergen, St. Peters, Pope John, “OPEN”, Bosco, St. Joes and Delbarton.
If Pope John wants to opt out of that game with PC, they can….but not unless PC lets them out. It has to be “mutual agreement.” Right now, it doesn’t look like PC is willing to let them out of the game, but we will have to see.
When I talked to Tony Karcich at St. Joes he mentioned Pope John as a team that may be looking to get out of their game with the Green Knights. He said that there had been talk of Middletown South playing Joes in 2016 (in fact they were on the Joes schedule handed out by the Super North) but Karcich said that wasn’t going to happen, and that it might be Red Bank Catholic now, and Red Bank Catholic in 2017 too.
What if a team opts out of a divisional game?
Let’s say, for arguments sake that Seton Hall Prep wants to ‘opt out’ of their game against DePaul. Both teams are currently in the Super North United Division B. By mutual agreement, that can be allowed. However, one school has to agree to take a “Paper L” to maintain the integrity of the divisional standings. You would think, this would be the team that asked to opt out originally.
Have teams decided to opt out?
This is what has been going on behind the scenes. Remember, first, we had to find out just whether or not we were going to split or not. Then the Super North had to get the support of the NJSIAA. We didnt split. The NJSIAA supported the Super North. Now, there may be some schools who are upset at being in the Super North, but they don’t have anywhere back to go. It’s true, Seton Hall Prep, right now, probably can’t compete at the same level as the Big Five, but no one else in the Super Essex Conference was going to agree to go back to the old way.
Or a better example….North Bergen is much happier in Super North Liberty White Division than the HCIAA playing against St. Peter’s Prep. They weren’t going to go back to the HCIAA.
But another issue about teams thinking about opting out…..well, it’s just that there’s not that much time. The NJSIAA vote, and the Commissioner’s decision…we are well into January. If I’m Bosco or Bergen, shoot, there aren’t 1. that many schools willing to play, and 2. those schools may already have their schedules put together.
What’s this talk about increasing the power points for teams who play PC, Peters, Bosco, Bergen and Joes?
At the last NJSIAA meeting, there was talk of a proposal where public schools that agree to play against a team in the Super North United A Division would get an incentive of more power points, even if they lost. Also, all 5 of those schools would be granted a playoff berth, regardless of final record/power points. How/where they would be seeded is beyond me though.
This is being done to help give those 5 schools more options when it comes to their schedules.
What the exact incentives are? Not clear. There is an NJSIAA football committee meeting this week, where I think the final arrangement will be set up.
Would any public school really do this? I doubt it. So, if I’m the NJSIAA, I would open it up to “any” school that agrees to play those 5 schools gets the incentive. By just saying public schools, well, then you’re leaving out schools like St. John Vianney, and St. Joe’s of Hammonton. Getting a power point boost may entice them a little bit more.
Also though, this is kind of a slippery slope. The NJSIAA doesn’t want to make the incentive too high, because what if a team just decides to show up, play their JV all game and makes a mockery of the whole thing. Don’t think someone hasn’t already thought of that.
Why would the NJSIAA do that?
Again, it’s to give those 5 schools more options in filling out those schedules. But, behind the scenes, I think this is also their way of showing the Commissioner of Education that they are making every effort to create full and fair schedules. It’s not up to them if no other school wants to step up and play.
Won’t the lack of out-of-state games hurt New Jersey’s reputation nationally?
Maybe, but I really don’t think that has always been the goal. The people at Bergen, Bosco, PC etc want to win the state championship. Here in New Jersey. And remember, no team ever went undefeated in the 4 years of Big North United divisional play. Do we think any of these 5 schools can go undefeated in their division now? Geez. It won’t be easy.
Also, realize these games cost money. A lot of money. That well may be drying up sooner or later.
So who’s No. 1 in New Jersey next year?
It’s January 23rd, I’m about 7 months away from having a vote in the pre-season poll. If I had to pick a pre-season No. 1 right now…
I would pick St. Joes. They have the experienced quarterback in Nick Patti (played real well in the playoffs), they have some pieces back on defense – I’m a big Marc Doran fan. Louis Acceus can play both ways……If they get a speedy WR, that may be the last piece they need to stretch the field.
Bosco would be my very close No. 2 (lost a lot of defense, and Bakker was just so good for them, I dont know how they replace that production, especially early) then Bergen. Who knows what we will get out of PC? but boy is that intriguing, and DePaul will now become Shelton Applewhite’s team, and that’s going to be fun.