Just after midnight

Fifteen days until season-opening night.

Delaware Valley scrimmaged Pope John of Sparta this afternoon. Delaware Valley head coach Mike Columbo told me that one of our area's leading scorers -- halfback Richie Gebert -- has decided not to come out, so he can focus on wrestling. Gebert, a senior, rushed for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns last year, scoring 105 points.

It's a tough loss for Del Val, but Columbo said the team is moving on. He was pleased with how his team performed. Senior John Beriont will move from quarterback to running back. Senior Brian Comerford will start at quarterback.

Columbo believes his team's strength is its line.

New Providence's Frank Bottone and Scotch Plains-Fanwood's Steve Ciccotelli share somewhat of the same opinion about the change in how their peers handle pre-season practice. Columbo also has similar thoughts.

"There's really no practice start date right now," said Ciccotelli, in his 17th year at SP-F. "What's the purpose. If some of those guys had their way, the start of practice would be the day after graduation. It's really become out of control.

"When do you give the kids a break?,'' he said. "You have to let them step away and trust what you believe in."

Scotch Plains-Fanwood didn't participate in any summer activities, including 7-on-7 games. Bottone's New Providence club did one against Orange.

"I think I was down to the school this summer more than I've ever been," said Bottone, in his 43rd year. "Everybody is pushing it now. It's really a full time job. For years we've started on September 1. The kids worked out on their own."

Columbo said the New Jersey State Athletic Association should just say, "you can't have anything to do with the kids until practice begins in August.

"I've been doing this for 20 years and it doesn't matter what you do in the summer. It's really out of control now," Columbo said. "You never have all your kids in the summer and you never really have the kids where you think they'll play anyway."

New Providence's field is being resurfaced down. The Pioneers will have FieldTurf by sometime in early October. Their season-opener against Newark Central, scheduled for home, may be moved to Newark, Bottone said. The Pioneers then have road games at Rahway and Brearley before their next scheduled home game Oct. 6 with Roselle Park.