First-Team Offense
NAME, SCHOOL, POSITION, YR., HOMETOWN, GPA, MAJOR

GARY JONES NAMED FOOTBALL GAZETTE DIVISION I-AA MID-MAJOR NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

     Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Gary Jones has been named the Football Gazette Division I-AA Mid-Major Offensive Player of the Week, as announced on Tuesday, Nov. 4 by the national publication. He also earned the ECAC Division I-AA weekly award and was voted as a I-AA.org national all-star.  Jones was chosen as the Northeast Conference offensive player of the week for the fourth time this season on Monday.

     Jones, a senior tailback, became the first player in NEC and UAlbany history to post back-to-back 200-yard rushing games with 211 yards on 16 carries against Wagner. Head coach Bob Ford reached the 200-career win mark in the 28-7 victory.

     Jones, who gained 176 on the ground in the first half, tied a league record with four rushing touchdowns (41, 8, 28 and 7 yards) and totaled 264 all-purpose yards. He set the school’s career scoring record with 228 points and moved to third on the NEC’s all-time rushing chart with 2,698 yards.

     Jones, who is the first UAlbany runner to account for 1,000 or more rushing yards in consecutive seasons, is eighth among the Division I-AA leaders in rushing (132.1 ypg) and fifth in scoring (10.0 ppg).

UALBANY STANDS FIRM IN MID-MAJOR DIVISION I-AA NATIONAL FOOTBALL POLLS

     Albany, N.Y. – Following last Saturday’s 28-7 victory over Wagner, the University at Albany remained in the same position in both The Sports Network and Football Gazette mid-major national football rankings. UAlbany is fifth in the Football Gazette poll, and ranked seventh by The Sports Network.

     Albany (6-3, NEC 5-1) can clinch a share of the Northeast Conference championship with a victory in their final home game of the season against Robert Morris (6-2, NEC 4-2) on Nov. 8. Kickoff is 1:00 p.m.

     The Great Danes, who set a conference rushing record with 468 yards on the ground against Wagner, are ranked fourth nationally in rushing at 289.7 yards per game. Albany’s defense is ranked 13th in scoring (15.9 ppg) and 15th in rushing (101.6 ypg).

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FOOTBALL GAZETTE: 1. Morehead State, 2. Valparaiso, 3. Dayton, 4. Monmouth, 5. Albany, 6. Duquesne, 7. San Diego, 8. Robert Morris, 9. Stony Brook, 10. Central Connecticut State.

THE SPORTS NETWORK: 1. Dayton, 2. Morehead State, 3. Monmouth, 4. Valparaiso, 5. San Diego, 6. Duquesne, 7. Albany, 8. Robert Morris, 9. Sacred Heart, 10. Stony Brook.

UALBANY COACH BOB FORD RECORDS 200TH CAREER VICTORY IN 28-7 WIN OVER WAGNER
     Staten Island, N.Y. – Senior tailback Gary Jones rushed for 211 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in leading Albany to a 28-7 Northeast Conference victory over Wagner on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Wagner College Stadium.
     Albany’s Bob Ford became the fourth active NCAA Division I-AA coach to record his 200th win with the victory. The Great Danes, who improved to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the NEC, moved into a tie for first place in the conference standings with Monmouth.  The Hawks lost for the first time this season, a 14-10 decision against Central Connecticut State.
     "This is special for all of us," said Jones about Ford’s milestone victory. "Everyone will remember this win because it goes down in history and he started the program. The look on his face at the end of the game was meaningful for the whole team."
     The Great Danes, who have won five of their last six games, shook off a fumble and two punts on their opening three possessions.  Jones then took a last-second option pitch from quarterback Anthony Sciarra and raced 41 yards for a touchdown with 49 seconds left in the first quarter.
     Wagner (4-5, NEC 1-4) tied the contest in the second period. Following a Sciarra fumble, the Seahawks marched 70 yards in seven plays to the end zone. Junior quarterback David Bateman, who completed 23 of 43 passes for 193 yards, hit freshman Chris Turner on a 15-yard fade pattern for a touchdown with 9:34 remaining.
     The Great Danes came back with scores on their next two offensive series. Sciarra, who connected on 7-of-15 through the air, fired a 60-yard pass to Jason Miller on a post pattern to set up the go-ahead touchdown. Jones powered his way through the middle on an 8-yard TD with 8:47 left.
     Albany went ahead 21-7 six minutes later on an eight-play, 82-yard sequence. Jones, who became the first Great Dane to rush for 200 or more yards in back-to-back games, sprinted 28-yards up the right sideline to paydirt.
     The Great Danes, who broke the NECs’ single-game rushing record for the third time this season with 468 on the ground, put the game away In the third stanza. Sciarra, who directed a 75-yard march, ran two consecutive option plays to the Wagner 7. Jones then rumbled around the left end into the end zone for a 21-point lead with 1:47 left in the period.
     Meanwhile, Albany’s defense dominated second-half action by holding the Seahawks to 101 of their 275 total yards. The Great Danes, who can clinch a share of the NEC championship against Robert Morris next Saturday, came up with a season-high five sacks and limited the home team to 82 net rushing yards overall.
    "It’s kind of hard to summarize a career," said Ford, who has a 200-140-1 record in his 35th season at the collegiate level. "We’ve had great kids and great coaches. I’ve been fortunate that people have been patient over the years."

GARY JONES NAMED ECAC DIVISION I-AA & NORTHEAST CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
     Centerville, Mass. – University at Albany’s Gary Jones has been chosen as the ECAC Division I-AA Co- Offensive Player of the Week in football, as announced on Tuesday, Oct. 28 by the conference office. Jones was also named the Northeast Conference player of the week for the third time this season on Monday.
     Jones established a new NEC single-game rushing mark with a spectacular performance in Albany’s 40-7 win over Stony Brook on Oct. 25. The senior tailback carried the ball 27 times for 242 yards and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving), eclipsing the previous mark of 222 yards set by Central Connecticut State’s Stan House on November 2, 1996.
     Jones became the first UAlbany runner to reach the 200-yard mark since 1984, plus raced to the second highest single-game rushing total in school history. He sped into the end zone with a 48-yard run on Albany’s second play from scrimmage and gave the Great Danes a 20-0 lead on the first possession of the second half with a 38-yard touchdown scamper. Jones also reached paydirt on a 37-yard screen pass in the fourth quarter.
     With his performance, Jones established school career records for rushing touchdowns (33) and touchdowns scored (34) in a career, and tied Greg Garrett's all-time scoring standard with 204 points. He is 14th among the Division I-AA rushing leaders at 122.3 yards per game.

     Albany, N.Y. – Following last Saturday’s 40-7 victory over Stony Brook before a homecoming crowd of 5,340, the University at Albany moved up one spot in both the Football Gazette and The Sports Network mid-major national football rankings. UAlbany is No. 5 in the Football Gazette poll, and listed No. 7 by The Sports Network.

     The Great Danes, who established a conference record with 453 rushing yards last week, and piled up a season-high 538 total yards, are sixth nationally in rushing at 267.4 yards per game. Albany is also ranked 16th in both scoring defense and rushing defense, plus is 20th in total defense.

     Albany, N.Y. – Time Warner Cable will present a live broadcast of the University at Albany’s football game with Stony Brook at University Field on Saturday, Oct. 25 as part of Homecoming and Family Weekend on campus. UAlbany kicks off against its Northeast Conference-rival at 1:00 p.m.

     Time Warner Cable, which serves more than 320,000 customers in the Capital Region, will air the NEC football matchup on Channel 2 in Albany, Troy and Clifton Park, Channel 11 in Pittsfield, Mass., and Channel 14 in all other markets, including Schenectady, Bethlehem, Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, Amsterdam, Gloversville and Rensselaer.

     UAlbany’s radio broadcast team of Rodger Wyland and Doug Mortman will provide the play-by-play coverage, while Capital News 9 Sports Director Damian Andrew will be the sideline reporter. Greg Bobbitt will produce the broadcast for Time Warner Cable.

     Time Warner Cable’s Albany Division operates one of the most sophisticated cable systmes in the nation and is home to New York’s first two-way digital network. The system provides high-speed online access for residential customers, schools and businesses; digital cable with 240 cable channels, including on-demand services, interactive programming guides and popular, award-winning, locally-produced programming.

     UAlbany’s homecoming festivities include an appearance by the Mohonasen High School Marching Band.

     Somerset, N.J. – University at Albany’s Gary Jones has been named the Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week in football, as announced on Monday, Oct. 13 by the conference office. He earned the award for the second time this season.

     Jones, a senior tailback, rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns in last Saturday’s 44-21 Northeast Conference victory over St. Francis, Pa. He scored three TDs in a game for the fifth time in his career. Jones gave his team a 7-0 lead with a 2-yard blast in the first quarter, and added scoring runs of 20 and 17 yards in the second half.

     Jones, who has rushed for 100 or more yards in 11 of the last 13 games, tied Pat Ryder’s school record of 30 career rushing touchdowns, and moved into ninth place on the NEC’s all-time rushing list with 2,178 yards. He ranks 19th nationally among the NCAA Division I-AA leaders in rushing at 111.5 yards per game and is 20th in scoring (8.0 ppg).

    Albany, N.Y. – Following last Saturday’s 44-21 victory over St. Francis, Pa., the University at Albany moved into the top spot in the Football Gazette I-AA Mid-Major National Football Poll. The Great Danes remain No. 5 in The Sports Network rankings.

    Albany (4-2, NEC 3-0) travels to unbeaten Monmouth (6-0, NEC 3-0) in a battle for first place in the conference standings on Saturday, Oct. 18. The showdown will be televised by MSG-Metro, with Paul Dottino and Wayne Morris calling the action. Kickoff is 1:07 p.m.

     The Hawks, who climbed to No. 1 in The Sports Network Poll this week, have Division I-AA’s best defensive unit and the conference’s top defensive player in senior linebacker Joe Sentipal (69 tackles). Monmouth is first nationally in scoring (6.8 ppg), rushing defense (62.3 yards/game) and total defense at 224.7 yards per game.

     The Great Danes, who have won three straight, are eighth among the nation’s leaders in rushing at 269.7 yards per game, plus are rated 31st in scoring with a 30.2 average.

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FOOTBALL GAZETTE: 1. Albany, 2. Morehead State, 3. Duquesne, 4. San Diego, 5. Dayton, 6. Sacred Heart, 7. Monmouth, 8. Robert Morris, 9. Valparaiso, 10. Drake.

THE SPORTS NETWORK: 1. Monmouth, 2. San Diego, 3. Duquesne, 4. Dayton, 5. Albany, 6. Morehead State, 7. Sacred Heart, 8. Robert Morris, 9. Valparaiso, 10. Wagner.

FOOTBALL EXTENDS WINNING STREAK TO THREE WITH 44-21 VICTORY OVER ST. FRANCIS, PA.     

     Loretto, Pa. - Senior tailback Gary Jones rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns, as Albany won its third straight with a 44-21 Northeast Conference victory over St. Francis, Pa. on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Pine Bowl.

     Albany (4-2, NEC 3-0) raced to a 23-0 lead early in the second quarter, as both the offense and defense had a hand in the outburst. The Great Danes scored on their first possession as quarterback Uli Delgado hooked up with fullback Jon George on a 50-yard pass to begin the game. Jones scored three plays later on a 2-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

     Following an Albany punt that bottled up St. Francis, Pa. (1-5, NEC 0-3) at the one-yard line, the Great Danes’ Matt Kryzak and Victor Camacho tackled running back Michael Hall in the end zone for a safety.

     The Great Danes, who have won nine of their last 10 conference games, then marched 76 yards behind the play of quarterback Anthony Sciarra.  Rohann Vidal scored on an 8-yard dash through the middle for a 16-0 cushion. Outside linebacker Jon Carvin then picked off freshman Anthony Doria’s pass on the right sideline and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown to finish off the scoring run.

     The Red Flash got on the scoreboard with 6:22 left in the second quarter after a fumbled punt return. Freshman receiver Luke Palko threw a 31-yard touchdown, off a reverse, to wideout Michael Caputo.

     The Great Danes, who rushed for 302 of their 415 total yards, used the ground attack in the third quarter to build a 37-7 margin. Defensive end John Bolt recovered a fumble, which set up Jones’ 20-yard scoring run around right end. Albany later beat a blitzing defense, when George rumbled over the left side on a 30-yard touchdown scamper.

     Doria, who set three school records by completing 38 of 63 through the air for 398 yards, helped slice his team’s deficit in half with a pair of touchdown passes. He fired a 28-yard strike to Maurice Sales, before connecting with Caputo on a 34-yard post pattern to close the gap to 37-21 with 13:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.

     Jones, who rushed for 150-plus for the seventh time as a collegian, ended the comeback attempt, when he ran a toss sweep around the left end 17 yards to pay dirt with 3:49 to play.

     "We are a veteran team, and they are a bunch of young kids who play with a lot of heart," said Albany coach Bob Ford, whose team will meet an undefeated Monmouth squad next Saturday. "We never take a win for granted; it’s hard to beat anyone. However, we are still making enough mistakes, in all phases of the game, that are going to get us beat."

     Albany’s quarterback tandem finished a combined 6-of-16 passing for 113 yards, plus ran 11 times for 50 more. George had eight carries for 71 yards, his second-best effort of the season. St. Francis’ Caputo had 13 receptions for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

     "Our offensive line took over in the second half, " said Jones, who tied a school mark with his 30th career rushing touchdown in the final period. "(Jon) George and (Eddie) Unverzagt made some key blocks, especially since they were stacking so many guys in the box."

FOOTBALL LOSES HOME OPENER IN FIRST-EVER MEETING WITH AN IVY LEAGUE OPPONENT

     Albany, N.Y. – Sophomore running back Nick Hartigan rushed for 126 yards and one touchdown in leading Brown to a 21-3 non-conference victory over Albany in the Great Danes’ home opener on Saturday, Sept. 20 before 3,680 fans at University Field.

     The Bears, who won a season-opening game for the first time since 2000, scored on their first offensive possession following a turnover. Albany quarterback Anthony Sciarra fumbled in an attempted pitch to punter Stan Zylinski on a fourth-down quick kick, and linebacker Dan Doublin fell the botched center exchange. Hartigan then ran for 14 yards to start the drive, before quarterback Kyle Slager threw a 13-yard completion. Sophomore Tristan Murray ran through the middle for a 3-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead.

     Albany (1-2) came back with a seven-play, 72-yard march that ended in Zylinski’s 25-yard field goal. Senior tailback Gary Jones, who carried 13 times for a team-high 78 yards, keyed the scoring sequence with a 32-yard dash into Brown territory.

     In the second quarter, the Bears upped their advantage to 14-3 with a 13-play drive that lasted more than six minutes. A third-down pass interference penalty near midfield kept the possession alive. Hartigan bulled over the left side from three yards out for the score on a fourth-and-one play.

     The Great Danes, who were playing their first-ever Ivy League opponent, looked out of sync on offense throughout the game. Sciarra, who completed 15 of 27 passes for 102 yards, was sacked four times, including one that ended a possession near the Brown 30. In the final period, Sciarra’s second-and-seven pass was picked off by outside linebacker Anjel Gutierrez on the left sideline and returned 20 yards to the end zone for a 21-3 lead with 6:22 remaining.

    "We didn’t play as well as we needed in order to beat a team of that caliber," Albany coach Bob Ford said. "Our defense played a pretty good game, but they were on the field an awful lot. We had too many foolish penalties on offense, and then there were the turnovers and other mistakes."

     Slager, the nation’s fifth-leading passer in Division I-AA last season, connected on 16 of 23 attempts for 188 yards, while split end Jarrett Schreck had six receptions. Meanwhile, the Bears defense held Albany to 268 yards, including 169 on the ground, and forced four turnovers. The Great Danes failed to score a touchdown on their home field for the first time since Oct. 8, 1994.

     "It is always bad to lose on your home field, but especially in the first game at home," Jones commented. "We didn’t play well offensively and it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Brown played a heckuva game, but we did not play to our capabilities."

UALBANY RANKED IN BOTH MID-MAJOR DIVISION I-AA FOOTBALL POLLS
     Albany, N.Y. -- Following last Saturday's 28-10 victory over Central Connecticut State, the University at Albany remains ranked in both The Sports Network and Football Gazette Division I-AA Mid-Major national football polls. UAlbany is fourth in the Football Gazette poll, and is ranked sixth by The Sports Network.
     The Great Danes, who won their Northeast Conference opener for the fourth time in the last five years, used strong defensive play to defeat Central Connecticut State. Albany's defense established the program's Division I-AA standards by allowing 74 total yards, including one net rushing yard, and six first downs. Fullback Jon George (Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) rushed for a career-high 113 yards, while tailback Gary Jones (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) added 112 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
     Albany meets an Ivy League opponent for the first time in football, when Brown comes to University Field for the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 1:00 p.m. The first 500 fans receive a commerative football championship t-shirt, courtesy of UAlbany's Student Association.
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FOOTBALL GAZETTE: 1. Dayton, 2. Duquesne, 3. Stony Brook, 4. Albany, 5. Morehead State, 6. Sacred Heart, 7. San Diego, 8. Wagner, 9. Monmouth, 10. Drake.
THE SPORTS NETWORK: 1. Dayton, 2. Duquesne, 3. Sacred Heart, 4. Stony Brook, 5. Morehead State, 6. Albany, 7. Wagner, 8. Monmouth, 9. San Diego, 10. Drake.

ALBANY WINS CONFERENCE OPENER, 28-10, BEHIND THE RUNNING OF JON GEORGE AND GARY JONES
     New Britain, Conn. – Jon George and Gary Jones each rushed for more than 100 yards, and the Albany defense held Central Connecticut State in check in leading the Great Danes to a 28-10 victory in the Northeast Conference opener for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Arute Field.

     Albany (1-1, NEC 1-0) survived four first-half turnovers and a missed field goal to take a 7-0 halftime lead. Central Connecticut State (0-3, NEC 0-1) was stuffed on a fourth-and-five play near midfield, when defensive linemen David Parks and Jermaine Lee sacked quarterback Scott Dolch.

     The Great Danes, who have won four of five conference openers, then went on a seven-play, 50-yard scoring drive. Quarterback Anthony Sciarra hit flanker Matt Crudo with a key 19-yard, third-down pass on the right sideline. Sciarra faked into the line on the next play, rolled right, and found tight end John Hillman wide open with a 4-yard touchdown pass.

     Albany took a 14-0 lead early in the third quarter. CCSU’s Cory Harge fumbled the opening kickoff, when Jon Carvin stripped the ball and Pat Shairs made the recovery at the Blue Devils’ 17. Jones, who rushed for 112 yards on 20 carries, later scored on a 4-yard run over left guard.

     The Blue Devils got back into the contest midway through the period, as Ryan Nichols returned a fumble 35 yards to paydirt. However, Albany regained control, when Rohann Vidal partially blocked a punt. The Great Danes marched 41 yards to the end zone in six plays, all on the ground, for a 21-7 lead. Vidal, a junior tailback, blasted over the left side on a 4-yard touchdown run.

     The Great Danes, who rolled up 302 net rushing yards, put the game away on a nine-play drive. George ran for 24 of his career-high 113 during the march, before Jones tallied his second touchdown on a 5-yard smash through the middle of the line.

     "The defense played out of its mind and special teams did some good things too," said Albany coach Bob Ford, whose team limited Central Connecticut State to 74 total yards, six first downs and caused three turnovers. "It got frustrating because we were moving the ball. We would have a gain and then make a mistake."

     Parks, a senior defensive tackle, led his team’s defensive effort with a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery to set up Albany’s final touchdown. His unit held CCSU to the seventh lowest total yards figure in NEC history and forced seven three-and-out possessions.

     "We had a terrible week of practice prior to the Northeastern game," Parks offered. "This week we practiced better and tonight we seemed to have more energy. There’s going to be nights when the offense struggles and we’ve got to get it done if we want to defend last year’s title."

QUARTERBACK SHAWN BRADY THROWS FOUR TD PASSES AS NO. 6 NORTHEASTERN BEATS FOOTBALL IN OPENER
     Brookline, Mass. – Quarterback Shawn Brady passed for 246 yards and four touchdowns in leading Northeastern to a 51-0 non-conference victory over Albany in the Great Danes’ season opener on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Parsons Field.
     The Huskies, ranked sixth nationally in this week’s ESPN/USA Today Division I-AA poll, converted three turnovers into 21 first-quarter points to take control.
     Brady, who completed 10-of-14 attempts, directed his team on a 59-yard scoring march following a fumble by Albany quarterback Uli Delgado. Brady hit Quintin Mitchell with a 5-yard pass in the left corner of the end zone to finish off the eight-play sequence.

     Safety Anthony Nolen picked off a Delgado pass in the left flat on Albany’s next possession and returned the errant throw to the 10-yard line. Brady then connected with Cory Parks on the very next play for a touchdown.
     The Great Danes, who moved the ball well in the opening quarter, drove to the Northeastern 32, but on a third-and-two play backup quarterback Anthony Sciarra fumbled and linebacker Robbiel Moore recovered. The Huskies, who won last year’s Atlantic 10 conference title and reached the NCAA playoffs, then went nine plays to paydirt, with running back Tim Gale scoring on a two-yard run for a 21-0 lead.
     Northeastern (2-0) tacked on 13 points in the second quarter to build a 34-0 halftime cushion. Brady rolled to his right and fired a 69-yard strike to Parks for one score. Placekicker Miro Kesic added field goals of 35 and 30 yards.
     "The three turnovers really cost us," Albany coach Bob Ford said. "It took field position and momentum away from us, and gave them a short field to work with. They have a great defense; I swear they blitz 12 people every play. They took advantage of our two green quarterbacks."
     Parks, a sophomore wide receiver, hauled in his third touchdown of the day in the third quarter, when Brady beat the blitz with a 62-yard scoring throw. Parks, who set the school’s single game receiving yards record, caught seven passes for 246 yards.
     "We had too many turnovers," said Albany captain Jon George, who rushed six times for a team-high 41 yards from his fullback spot. "We shut down mentally and physically in the second quarter and didn’t give our defense a chance."
     Delgado connected on 3-of-12 passes for 30 yards, while Sciarra, who left the game with a hip contusion, hit on 3-of-7 for 41 yards. The Great Danes were shut out for the first time since Oct. 8, 1994, a streak of 90 straight games.

UALBANY NAMES FOOTBALL CAPTAINS FOR 2003 SEASON

     Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Thursday, Aug. 21 that Jon George, Gary Jones and David Parks have been voted team captains for the 2003 season. The defending Northeast Conference and ECAC champions open their schedule on Saturday, September 6 at Northeastern. Kickoff is 12:30 p.m. ET.

     George, a senior fullback from Scotia, N.Y., will serve in a captain’s role for the second straight season. He rushed for the most yards by an Albany fullback since 1995 with 642 yards and four touchdowns last year. George, who earned second-team All-NEC honors as a junior, also caught 12 passes for 108 yards.

     Jones, a senior tailback from Ravena, N.Y., established nine school single-season records last fall, as he ran for 1,509 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. A Walter Payton Award candidate, Jones has been chosen to the Street & Smith’s, Football Gazette and The Sports Network preseason Division I-AA All-America teams.

     Parks, a senior defensive tackle from West Henrietta, N.Y., was a second-team All-NEC selection last year, plus was voted the team’s top defensive lineman for second consecutive season. He made 31 tackles, including 5.5 sacks for minus-45 yards, and led a unit that was ranked fifth nationally in rushing defense at 92.3 yards per game.

UALBANY FOOTBALL PLACES THREE ON SPORTS NETWORK PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM

     Philadelphia, Pa. – University at Albany tailback Gary Jones and offensive tackles Geir Gudmundsen and Mike Laroche have been named to The Sports Network Division I-AA Mid-Major Preseason All-America Football Team.

     Jones, a 5-foot-10, 215-pound running back, rushed for a school-record 1,509 yards, scored 23 touchdowns and accounted for 1,949 all-purpose yards as a junior. Jones, who established nine school single-season marks and two conference records as the Northeast Conference offensive player of the year, was chosen to the Associated Press, Sports Network and Football Gazette All-America teams. He is expected to begin this season on the Walter Payton Award "Watch List." The Payton Award recognizes the most outstanding college football player on the Division I-AA level.

     Gudmundsen, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound left tackle, and Laroche, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound right tackle, blocked for an offensive unit that ranked seventh nationally in rushing at 252.3 yards per game. The Great Danes led the NEC in total offense (371.4 yards/game) and scoring (29.8 points/game). Gudmundsen and Laroche were both selected to the 2002 Football Gazette All-America squad and All-NEC first team.

     Albany, the defending NEC and ECAC champion, opens its schedule on Saturday, September 6 against Northeastern in Boston, Mass.

UALBANY FOOTBALL RECEIVES COMMITMENTS FROM 21 STUDENT-ATHLETES

     Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Wednesday, May 28 that 21 student-athletes have committed to play for the Great Danes in the fall of 2003. UAlbany, the defending Northeast Conference champion, begins its schedule against Atlantic 10 Conference opponent and NCAA Division I-AA playoff team Northeastern on Sept. 6.

     "It's a good recruiting class," said Ford, who has 194 career victories as a college head coach and was the 2002 NEC coach of the year. "On defense we addressed our needs at both inside and outside linebacker. We found running backs with size and speed, picked up a quarterback who can run and throw, and are excited about the three incoming wide receivers."

     The 2003 class features 20 high school standouts and one prep school athlete, The group is comprised of 17 players from the state of New York, plus three from New Jersey and one from Massachusetts. The breakdown by position includes three wide receivers, four running backs, one quarterback, two tight ends, one offensive lineman, one placekicker, five linebackers, two defensive linemen and two defensive backs.

     The Great Danes landed seven all-state players, including Chenango Forks' Kelsey Jenks, a two-time first-team Class B selection by the New York State Sportswriters Association. Jenks, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound athlete who will play linebacker in college, was named the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin Player of the Year. He rushed for 1,502 yards, played nose guard on defense and will particpate in the Governor's Bowl on July 12. Defensive end Andrew Berg (6-2, 240) and outside linebacker Trevor DuPont (6-1, 210) each earned first-team all-state honors in Class AA and Class A, respectively. Berg, who totaled 77 tackles as a senior at Baldwin H.S., received the Martone Award as Nassau County's top lineman. DuPont (Victor Central) was a member of the All-Greater Rochester first team.

     UAlbany also picked up running back Vince Marzano (Mechanicville) and quarterback Casey Balog (Brockport), a pair of second-team all-state performers. Marzano ran for 1,375 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Class C program. Balog, who competed in Class AA, earned All-Greater Rocheter and All-Monroe County recognition. Zach Tarnowski (Chenango Forks), a third-team Class B tight end, and Mike Wall (Solvay), a second-team Class B kicker/receiver, also were voted to the all-state squads.

2003 University at Albany Football Newcomers

Name, Pos., Ht., Wt., High School, Hometown

Casey Balog, QB, 6-3, 195, Brockport, Brockport, N.Y.

Dan Barnes, OLB, 5-10, 200, Rondout Valley, Kingston, N.Y.

Dan Beigel, FB, 6-1, 225, Clinton Central, Clinton, N.Y.

Andrew Berg, DE, 6-2, 240, Baldwin, Freeport, N.Y.

Joseph Bernard, DB, 5-8, 170, Curtis, Staten Island, N.Y.

Wayne Carrabus, FB, 6-2, 235, Bellport, Bellport, N.Y.

Irani Dearaujo, WR, 6-2, 180, Choate-Rosemary (Conn.), Queens, N.Y.

Colin Disch, OLB, 6-2, 190, North Plainfield, North Plainfield, N.J.

Trevor DuPont, OLB, 6-1, 210, Victor Central, Victor, N.Y.

Josh Furnas, WR, 6-1, 195, Elmira Free Academy, Elmira, N.Y.

Gabe Gallucci, WR, 6-2, 170, Ithaca, Ithaca, N.Y.

Ross Jatkola, TE, 6-4, 220, Dennis-Yarmouth, South Yarmouth, Mass.

Kelsey Jenks, LB, 6-1, 220, Chenango Forks, Chenango Forks, N.Y.

Omar Johnson, TB, 6-0, 200, Burlington City, Edgewater Park, N.J.

Bobby Lane, DE, 6-3, 230, North Bergen, North Bergen, N.J.

Kevin Lanning, DB, 6-1, 180, Lindenhurst, Lindenhurst, N.Y.

Vince Marzano, RB, 6-0, 205, Mechanicville, Mechanicville, N.Y.

Mitch Pawluk, LB, 5-11, 210, Webster Schroeder, Webster, N.Y.

Zach Tarnowski, TE, 6-2, 230, Chenango Forks, Binghamton, N.Y.

Mike Wall, PK/SE, 5-7, 150 Solvay, Syracuse, N.Y.

Jeff Wentzell, OT, 6-3, 285, Pine Bush, Pine Bush, N.Y.

UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY ANNOUNCES 2003 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

     Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany Director of Athletics and Recreation Lee McElroy announced on Thursday, May 15 the school's football schedule for 2003. The Great Danes, the defending Northeast Conference champions, will play a seven-game conference slate, and meet non-conference opponents Northeastern, an NCAA Division I-AA playoff team, Brown from the Ivy League, Towson and St. Peter's.

     UAlbany begins its fifth Division I-AA campaign on Saturday, September 6 with Northeastern. The Huskies made their first NCAA appearance by sharing the Atlantic 10 Conference championship. Don Brown, the Atlantic 10 coach of the year, led his squad to a 10-3 overall record. Albany will end its 11-game schedule on Nov. 15 at Towson, a member of the Patriot League.

     The Great Danes will open their home schedule with Brown on Sept. 20. Albany will be playing an Ivy League school for the first time. Stony Brook will be the opponent for Homecoming and Family Weekend on Oct. 25. Hall of Fame Day is set for Oct. 4 against St. Peter's in the first meeting between the two programs. The Peacocks tied for second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings last year.

     In addition, Sacred Heart and Robert Morris, a pair of past NEC champions, will visit University Field. Sacred Heart, who captured the title in 2001, and Stony Brook tied for second place in the conference standings last season. Robert Morris has won or shared five league championships under former New York Jets' coach Joe Walton.

     The Great Danes, who also won the 2002 ECAC Division I-AA Classic with a 24-0 victory over previously unbeaten Duquesne, finished with an 8-4 record last year. Head coach Bob Ford will return 15 starters, including eight on offense and seven on defense. Gary Jones, a second-team Associated Press All-America tailback, leads the returnees after rushing for 1,509 yards and scoring 23 touchdowns as a junior.

2003 Albany Football Schedule

SEPTEMBER -- 6 (Sat.), at Northeastern, 12:30; 13 (Sat.), at Central Connecticut State*, 6:00; 20 (Sat.), Brown, 1:00; 27 (Sat.), Sacred Heart*, 1:00.

OCTOBER -- 4 (Sat.), St. Peter's (HOF), 1:00; 11 (Sat.), at St. Francis, Pa.*, 1:00;

18 (Sat.), at Monmouth*, 1:00; 25 (Sat.), Stony Brook* (HC), 1:00.

NOVEMBER -- 1 (Sat.), at Wagner*, 1:00; 8 (Sat.), Robert Morris*, 1:00; 15 (Sat.), at Towson, 12:30.

*Northeast Conference Opponent     

(HC) - Homecoming/Family Weekend      

(HOF) - Hall of Fame Day

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