Ernie Accorsi was unprepared.
Here he was, in Mobile, Ala., on one of those mid-December nights when the dampness and the cold infiltrates deep into the bones. Despite his extensive experience on the road, Accorsi, somehow, was underdressed.
“I’m sitting in the stands, I’m thinking, ‘How many scouts are at this dopey bowl game and they wouldn’t put me in the press box,’ ” Accorsi recalled in an interview with The Post.
At halftime, Accorsi defrosted his fingers long enough to call John Mara, the Giants’ co-owner. This was near the end of a desultory 2003 season for the Giants, who would soon own a high pick in the upcoming NFL draft and intended to find their next franchise quarterback.