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Date Posted: 11:01:06 08/08/06 Tue
Author: J.J.
Subject: CCSU opens with a purpose
In reply to: J.J. 's message, "Football" on 12:10:18 08/03/06 Thu

By: Matt Straub, Assistant Sports Editor
08/08/2006

NEW BRITAIN - When the Central Connecticut football team took the field last night for the first time for training camp, it did so with a purpose. For some, the purpose is to prove they belong on the field. For the coach, camp is the first chance to prove he's more than a career assistant, and that he can match his predecessor's success.

For everyone, it's a chance to do something special and new. While shares of the Nort-heast Conference have come at the end of each of the last two season, the Blue Devils want more this time.

"From the first day of practice to the last game, we have two simple team goals," CCSU coach Jeff McInerney said. "One is to win the NEC outright. I don't say that to be boastful, but I have to say it because (previous coach Tom Masella, now the head man at Fordham), was co-champion twice. He did a great job."

That fact will, deservedly or not, hang over McInerney all season. Anything less than sole possession of the Northeast Conference championship trophy after the Blue Devils host Stony Brook on November 11th will be seen by some as a failure.

From a strictly tangible standpoint, anything less than a share of a third straight conference crown would mean McInerney's first year wasn't as successful as Masella's two seasons in New Britain.

The pressure, however, has clearly not bothered McInerney. While he plans on making good use of what is a fairly short time to get ready for Marist on September 2nd, McInerney does not plan on losing touch with the happy-go-lucky leader who has brought energy and at times a party atmosphere to the job.

"If I can't have fun, I need to quit coaching," he said. "I'm not going to be uptight. The time for worry is before you prepare, and we're preparing."

With that preparation, the Blue Devils hope, would come an NEC championship. With that first goal met, CCSU would gain a berth in the inaugural Gridiron Classic. The event will pit the winner of the Northeast Conference against the regular season champion of the Pioneer League.
Neither team has been able to crack the rather closed structure of the NCAA's 1-AA playoff format, so, until they can get the playoffs expanded or more respect from outsiders, the leagues have agreed to meet in a postseason game of their own.

This year's game will be hosted by the NEC champion. While it won't quite be the Orange Bowl, the Gridiron Classic gives the Blue Devils something extra to play for, and is the team's second goal.

"I think anybody would agree that instead of just winning the league ending the season on November 11th then calling it quits, we get to play in something for the 18th," McInerney said. "They're looking to expand (the playoffs), but that's for the powers that be. We can't worry about that. We just have to play the 11 dates we have and if we get the 12th, great."

Another thing the Blue Devils are preparing for is a big season from sophomore quarterback Aubrey Norris. After dazzling Blue Devils fans and opponents with his athletic ability last season, McInerney hopes to have him utilize his big arm this year instead of his legs.

"We think he's going to be an outstanding quarterback," McInerney said. "He's not just an athlete. He's only scratched the surface of what he can do. They say a player needs 700 game plays to completely be ready. He doesn't have nearly that many. He's only going to get better."
In fact, Norris hasn't had half that many snaps yet. His development will be pivotal to the team's success and could be one of the more interesting things to watch throughout training camp.

If nothing else, it will provide yet another purpose to the next three-plus weeks.

***
CCSU ranked again

CCSU was sixth in the preseason Sports Network Mid-Major I-AA Poll released on Monday. The honor is nothing new to Central, which has been a consistent member of the top-10 over the last two seasons. The Blue Devils finished seventh in last year's final poll.

Matt Straub can be reached via email at mstraub@newbritainherald.com.

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