Football at CBA rumor is emerging once again

BY DOUG McKENZIE
Staff Writer

Arguably the strongest high school football conference in the state may be getting a shot of adrenaline within the next few years.

Yes, we’ve heard these rumors before, only to have them dismissed as pure speculation, and in some cases, a pipe dream, but now there is a possibility that one of the state’s elite athletic programs may be preparing to take on a new challenge.

That’s right, football fans, Christian Brothers Academy in Middletown, actually is thinking about starting a football program.

Granted, it’s very early in the process — in fact, it hasn’t even been officially considered by the school’s board of trustees.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not too early to start firing up the rumor mill and picking the brains of some of those in the local high school football community, who incidentally admit they have been hearing the rumors, and who would be most affected by the creation of a CBA football program.

The school’s athletic director, John Przygocki, while continually pointing out just how premature all of this talk is, has confirmed that the creation of such a program is being looked into.

“Internally, there is a feasibility study being done,” he said. “There’s a group that will come up with some kind of report for the school’s board of trustees. But right now, it’s really in the early stages.

“The group consists of about seven or eight people,” he added. “It’s a subcommittee of the board, with some board members and some administrators.”

As for a timetable, Przygocki said, “I believe they’ll be reporting to the board in a month or so, although I’m not positive about that. It will be some time after the new year. But just because the board will be getting the report doesn’t mean there is going to be any kind of decision right away.

“Right now there’s just a lot of speculation. The subcommittee is looking at the positives, negatives, the cost and any number of other factors that will affect the board’s decision.”

People have been anticipating the creation of a football program at CBA for years, only to have the notion dismissed by the school.

And for as many rumors as there have been regarding the creation of the program over the years, there have been just as many stories explaining the lack of a football team at CBA.

According to Przygocki, there’s a fairly simple explanation for it.

“My understanding, and keep in mind I was not here (in September 1959) when they opened the school, is that the people running the school at that time felt there wasn’t the need for football. They felt it would dominate the athletic department because of the number of people and the expenditures it would involve.

“When they opened the school they did somewhat of a gradual opening, and there was a thought that the other programs wouldn’t be able to flourish like they have with a football team in place. Now I’ve heard a lot of different stories regarding the subject in the past, most of them untrue, but I think it goes along with what I just said.

“With football, you’re talking about a minimum seven or eight coaches who are paid, as well as a number of other people,” Przygocki added. “Then you need people who are available to help in different capacities for the games, and in the past I think they just shied away from all that.”

So why has it suddenly become an issue again?

“I believe it came about based on the interest of one or two of the board members,” Przygocki said. “This has come up in the past.

“I can’t really recall, but I believe this issue starting coming up in the late spring, early summer. A few people have mentioned it to me. It’s not that there’s anything hidden or secretive about it; there’s just a lot of other things going on that people are asking me about.”

If the school’s board of trustees, upon reviewing the subcommittee’s findings, decides to move forward on this, it will send shock waves throughout the Shore Conference, and beyond.

The Shore, which has earned a reputation as a hotbed for high school football over the years, as well as the neighboring Greater Middlesex Concerence, which is likely to feel the effects of CBA’s drawing power as well, certainly has enough talent to go around.

Still, the emergence of CBA, and its ability to lure some of the top players from various communities throughout Central Jersey away from their hometown teams, will not be welcomed by everyone.

“I think that’s what probably scares the heck out of a lot of us, especially me, being only five miles away from them,” said Steve Antonucci, head coach of the four-time state champion Middletown South Eagles football team.

However, most coaches questioned agreed that there is indeed plenty of local talent throughout the area to compensate for CBA’s ability to recruit top players.

“It would have an impact on everyone to some degree, but I think it’s a little premature to speculate on just how much of an impact that would be,” said Red Bank Catholic head coach Frank Edgerly. “I don’t think it would impact us as much. Plus, I’ve been hearing this rumor from as far back as I can remember.”

One thing just about everybody agrees on is the notion that CBA would have the resources available to emerge as a state power in a relatively short period of time.

“When you have an all-boys population as large as theirs is, you would assume that it would equate to a high talent level,” Edgerly said. “When you look at the other all-boys schools, like Don Bosco Prep, St. Peter’s, Seton Hall Prep, they’re in the top 15 every year.

“Certainly when you look at the success of (CBA’s) other programs, you’d expect a certain level of success in football as well.”

“I think it depends on how they want to go about it really,” Antonucci added. “If they’re going to try to compete with the likes of Don Bosco, Bergen Catholic and St. Joe’s (of Montvale), they’re going to have to be a top-notch program. I would think that’s what they’re going to try to do.”

Again, it’s a little early to truly dive into the possibilities here. Even if the school’s board of trustees moves forward, Przygocki said the formation of a team is not likely to happen anytime soon.

“I would say that there would be nothing for next year, although nothing’s impossible these days. My guess is that we’d be a few years away,” he said.

However, just the thought of adding a potential power to the already loaded Shore Conference serves as an appetizer for the imagination.

Not everyone would applaud the move, but it would certainly have its supporters as well.

“This is already the largest and strongest conference in the state, and anything that makes us stronger bodes well for all of us in the long run,” Edgerly said.

Stay tuned ...