Cleveland , Ohio – University at Albany ’s Ryan Chrobak has been chosen to the ninth annual Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team, as announced by the FCS ADA.  Chrobak was one of 54 student-athletes selected.

     Chrobak, who started for the fourth year at cornerback on UAlbany’s nationally-ranked defense, graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in criminal justice last May.  He is currently working toward his master’s degree in the same discipline.

     Chrobak totaled 43 tackles, including 27 unassisted, with one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and a team-leading nine pass break ups.  He had four or more tackles against seven opponents this season.  Chrobak, who was voted the team’s top defensive back for the third consecutive year, finished his career ranked 23rd on the school’s all-time tackles list with 188.  He also had 29 pass break-ups and six interceptions.

     A native of Clinton , N.Y. , Chrobak has been involved in several community service projects as a member of the football program, including Reading for Elementary Kids, Campus Clean-Up and Walk for Breast Cancer.  In addition, he was named to this year’s ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I squad.

     Waco, Texas - University at Albany's Colin Disch has been selected to the American Football Coaches Association 2006 Division I-AA Coaches' All-America Team, as announced on Tuesday, Dec. 12 by the national organization. Disch, a junior inside linebacker, is the third UAlbany player to make the AFCA All-America squad since the program upgraded in 1999. J.T. Herfurth (2000) and Geir Gudmundsen (2004), a pair of offensive tackles, were previously chosen.
     A native of North Plainfield, N.J., Disch was named the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. He also made his third consecutive appearance on the All-NEC first team. Disch recorded 100-plus tackles (103) for the third year in a row, plus added 11 hits for a loss, four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and one interception. His top effort came in a 17-10 upset of nationally-ranked Delaware, when he totaled 15 tackles, including 10 unassisted. He also had 14 tackles against NEC champion Monmouth.
     Disch ranks third among the school's all-time tackles leaders with 346, and needs just nine to establish the career mark as a senior. He has posted double-figure hits against 21 opponents as a collegian.
     UAlbany featured one of the top defensive units among NCAA Division I-AA teams this season. The Great Danes, who finished 7-4 overall, ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense (13.0 ppg) and total defense (240.8 ypg) and fifth in rushing yards allowed (90.2 ypg).
     The American Football Coaches Association has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. The AFCA's Division I-AA Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's nine districts. This year's All-America team includes 22 seniors and three juniors.

UAlbany's AFCA Division I-AA All-Americans
2006: LB Colin Disch
2004: OT Geir Gudmundsen
2000: OT J.T. Herfurth

     Albany , N.Y. – University at Albany ’s Colin Disch and Andre Coleman have been chosen to The Sports Network Division I-AA Mid-Major All-America Football Team, as announced by the national wire service on Monday, Dec. 4.  Disch is a member of the first team for the second consecutive year.  He becomes the fifth player in the UAlbany program’s history to be named to the squad on multiple occasions.

     Disch, who was recently named the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight time, recorded 100-plus tackles (103) for the third consecutive season.  He added 11 hits for a loss, four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and one interception.  A junior inside linebacker from North Plainfield , N.J. , Disch ranks third on the school’s all-time tackles list with 346.  His top performance came in an upset of nationally-ranked Delaware when he accounted for 15 tackles, including 10 unassisted.

     Coleman, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound senior, earns mid-major All-America honors for the first time, plus is the first UAlbany defensive lineman to be recognized.  A defensive end from Buffalo , N.Y. , Coleman made 42 tackles and led the Great Danes in tackles for a loss (13.0) and sacks (6.0).  A two-time All-NEC first-team selection, he was invited to and played in the 2006 East Coast Bowl All-Star Game.

     UAlbany featured one of the top defensive units among NCAA Division I-AA teams this season.  The Great Danes, who finished 7-4 overall, ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense (13.0 ppg), and fifth in both rushing yards allowed (90.2 ypg) and total defense (240.8 ypg).

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2006:  LB Colin Disch , DE Andre Coleman

2005:  LB Colin Disch, OG Aaron Kimball

2004:  OT Geir Gudmundsen

2003:  TB Gary Jones, OT Geir Gudmundsen, OT Mike Lacroche

2002:  TB Gary Jones, OG Alex Argulewicz, LB Josh Bazan

2001:  LB Josh Bazan, OG Alex Argulewicz

     Petersburg, Va. – University at Albany’s Jacob Hobbs, Rashad Barksdale and Andre Coleman have been selected to play in the 2006 East Coast Bowl, a college football all-star game that features 75 of the best seniors from Division I-AA, II, III and NAIA programs from across the Mid-Atlantic Region.

     The 6th Annual East Coast Bowl will be played on Saturday, Nov. 25 at historic Cameron Field in Petersburg, Va.  The all-star contest is co-sponsored by the city of Petersburg and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.  All revenue generated is used to award a scholarship for a local high school senior who plans on attending a Division I-AA, II or III college.

     Hobbs, a 6-foot-4, 325-pound offensive tackle, blocked for a unit that averaged 193.7 rushing yards and nearly 300 total yards against conference opponents.  He earned first-team All-Northeast Conference recognition.

     Coleman, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive end, made his second consecutive appearance on the All-NEC first team.  He accounted for 42 tackles and led the team in hits for a loss (13.0) and sacks (6.0).  UAlbany ranked among the NCAA leaders in several categories, including sixth in scoring defense at 13.0 points per game.

     Barksdale, a senior cornerback, made a significant impact in his only season with the UAlbany football program after playing on the school’s baseball team the previous two years.  He totaled 37 tackles, three interceptions and three pass break-ups.

     All three UAlbany players are members of the North roster and will be coached by Jim Barker, General Manager of the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders.

     The East Coast Bowl Committee gathered more than 250 nominations for this year’s game.  Players will have not only have an opportunity to showcase their ability in front of professional scouts, but will spend the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with community members that are less fortunate, including visits to community centers, convalescent homes and children’s hospitals.

     Albany , N.Y. – University at Albany ’s Colin Disch has been named the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, as voted by the league’s head coaches.  The Great Danes placed six players on the all-conference first team and four more were second-team selections.

     Disch, a three-time first-team All-NEC linebacker, becomes the third player in conference history to earn the league’s top defensive player award twice in a career.  He recorded 100-plus tackles for the third straight season (103) and added 11 hits for a loss, four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and one interception.  He ranks third on the school’s all-time tackles list with 346.  A junior from North Plainfield, N.J., Disch led a defensive unit that is fourth nationally in total defense (240.8 ypg), fifth in rushing yards allowed (90.2 ypg) and sixth in scoring (13.0 ppg) among the NCAA Division I-AA leaders.

     Jacob Anderson, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive tackle, made the All-NEC squad for the third consecutive year.  Anderson , a two-time first-team selection, paved the way for an offense that averaged 193.7 rushing yards against league opponents.  Andre Coleman, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive end, was named to the first team for the second year in a row.  Coleman made 42 tackles and led the Great Danes in hits for a loss (13.0) and sacks (6.0).

     Other first-team All-NEC members were offensive tackle Jacob Hobbs, defensive tackle Michael Dungey and punter Chris Lynch.  Hobbs , a 6-foot-4, 325-pound lineman, was a starter for the second straight year.  Dungey (6-2, 275) had 34 tackles, including eight for losses.  Lynch averaged 38.8 yards per attempt, and booted a career-long 70-yarder during the season.

     Place-kicker Jason Fralicker led a group of four players who were chosen to the All-NEC second team.  Fralicker set a single-season record with 13 field goals and connected on 25-of-25 point-after attempts.  He led the team in scoring with 64 points, the ninth-best total in the program’s history.  Offensive guard Sam Pagano and center Pierce Brennan were second-team offensive linemen.  Pagano made his second consecutive appearance on the All-NEC squad.  Mike Wall, a junior flanker, was honored as a kick return specialist.  He averaged 24.9 yards per kickoff return and 13.7 yards on punt returns.  Wall, who caught 15 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver, also blocked three punts.

     UAlbany (7-4, NEC 5-2) tied for the second place in the conference standings in 2006.  The Great Danes have posted seven or more victories in eight of the last 11 seasons.

     Albany, N.Y. – Senior quarterback Brian Boland completed 17 of 18 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns in leading Monmouth to the Northeast Conference championship in a 19-0 victory over UAlbany on Saturday, Nov. 11 at University Field.  The Hawks won the title outright for the first time in the program’s history when Stony Brook, who was locked in a three-way tie for first place to start the day, lost to Central Connecticut State, 35-32.

     Monmouth (10-1, NEC 6-1) took control of the contest early, when the defense stopped UAlbany (7-4, NEC 5-2) on the game’s first possession deep in Hawk territory.  The Great Danes put together a 14-play drive that penetrated the 25-yard line, but stalled when quarterback Daniel Bocanegra threw incomplete passes on third and fourth down.

     The Hawks, who won for the sixth straight time, then reached the end zone on their next two series to build a 13-0 halftime lead.   Boland, a 6-foot-1 signal-caller, directed his team on an 11-play, 76-yard drive that was capped by David Sinisi’s 1-yard touchdown run over left guard.  Boland was a perfect 4-for-4 during the sequence, including a third-down, 15-yard completion to Chris Kiley.  Adam San Miguel then took a reverse 14 yards to the one-yard line.

     Another 13-play scoring march overlapped the first and second quarters.  Sinisi, a redshirt freshman who had 20 carries for 72 yards, rumbled to the UAlbany 10-yard line.  After a Great Danes’ personal foul kept the drive alive, Boland rolled to his left and delivered a 2-yard touchdown strike to Michael McClelland.  The extra point missed to the left.

     Boland, a Rutgers transfer who became the school’s all-time passer with nearly 7,700 yards in his career, fired a 63-yard touchdown pass to San Miguel on the first play of the third quarter.  San Miguel hauled in the throw between the cornerback and free safety on the left hash and went into the end zone untouched.  The two-point conversion run failed.

     The Great Danes, who had their four-game win streak halted, were undone by mistakes throughout the contest.  Bocanegra, who connected on 13 of 28 attempts for 117 yards and ran for 43 more, was picked off twice, including middle linebacker Mike Castellano’s interception at the Monmouth 19 with 1:21 left in the third quarter.  UAlbany also missed a 30-yard field goal and dropped a potential TD pass in the final stanza.

     “Offensively, we did a good job of keeping them off balance,” said Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan, whose team tied a school record for single-season wins.  “We spread them out and moved around.  By throwing early we were able to get the run going.  Boland threw to spots and not to people and the receivers made some catches.”

     San Miguel, a senior wideout, finished with four catches and 93 receiving yards for the Hawks, who had shared their previous four NEC crowns in 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2004.  Defensive end Brian Sweeney had nine tackles and one sack to lead a unit that held the home team to 174 total yards, including 57 on the ground.

     “They are a well-balanced team,” UAlbany coach Bob Ford stated.  “Their quarterback put the ball where he needed and I thought they did a great job of play calling.  We never established the run game.  We needed to generate more offense that we did to be in this thing.”

     Safety Dave Nicomini, who turned in a career performance, and inside linebacker Colin Disch each had 14 tackles for the Great Danes, who were bidding for their first conference title since 2003.

     “We moved the football, but just made mistakes,” said UAbany offensive tackle Jacob Anderson, one of 12 seniors playing in his final game.  “When you make mistakes, you lose games.  My hat is off to Monmouth because they played well both offensively and defensively.”

     Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany plays host to Monmouth and the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), in a game set to honor those men and women of the United States armed forces who have been severely injured during conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations around the world. The game will take place in Albany, New York on November 11, 2006.

     “We are proud to recognize these wounded servicemen and women by providing a forum to honor their sacrifices and enduring spirits,” Lee McElroy.

     This year Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit organization whose motto is “The Greatest Casualty is Being Forgotten,” partnered with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), to raise awareness in the collegiate community. A local wounded warrior, Robert Loria, will be honored prior to the game and all service men and women will receive free admission to the contest as well.

     “NACDA is proud to be associated with the Wounded Warrior Project,” said Lee McElroy, NACDA president and director of athletics at the University at Albany .  “This relationship will allow our member institutions, student-athletes and fans to recognize and honor the men and women who have risked their lives for our well being and assist them on their road to recovery.”

     “While stationed overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, our nation’s military personnel participated in sports during their downtime and even after severe injury, wounded service members continue to use athletic endeavors as a tool in their rehabilitation,” said John Melia, Founder and Executive Director of WWP.

     “I am confident this relationship will be rewarding and lasting for the Wounded Warrior Project.”

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About NACDA: NACDA, now in its 42nd year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,100 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States , Canada and Mexico . More than 2,000 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers 10 professional associations for the separate business units that report directly to the athletics director.  For more information, visit www.nacda.com.

About the Wounded Warrior Project: The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a non-profit organization aimed at assisting those men and women of the United States armed forces who have been severely injured during the war on terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots around the world. Beginning at the bedside of the severely wounded WWP provides programs and services designated to ease the burdens of these heroes and their families, aid in the recovery process and smooth the transition back to civilian life. For more information, please call (540) 342-0032 or visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

     Washington, D.C. – University at Albany’s Ryan Chrobak and Jon Volpe have been voted to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I Football Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  Each student-athlete was a first-team selection and will move on to the national ballot.  The University Division Academic All-America squad will be announced on Nov. 30.

     Chrobak, a senior cornerback, graduated magna cum laude with a 3.56 cumulative grade point average last spring, while majoring in criminal justice with a minor in chemistry.  He is currently enrolled in UAlbany’s graduate school criminal justice program.  Chrobak has 42 tackles, including 26 unassisted, with a team-leading nine pass break-ups this season.  He recently moved into a tie for 23rd place on the school’s all-time tackles list with 187 and has six career interceptions.

     Volpe, a junior defensive end, has a 3.45 GPA in business administration with a finance concentration and a minor in economics.  He has 19 tackles this season.  Volpe, a 10-game starter, has helped the Great Danes rank third in total defense (230.0 ypg), fourth in rushing yards allowed (85.6 ypg) and fifth in scoring defense (12.4 ppg) among NCAA Division I-AA teams.

     Somerset , N.J. – University at Albany ’s Andre Coleman has been selected as the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week in football for his performance in last week’s 16-6 victory against Robert Morris in a battle of first-place teams. Jason Fralicker was named the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time this season.

     Coleman, a senior defensive end, recorded career-highs in tackles (10), sacks (3.5) and tackles for a loss (7.5), plus recorded one quarterback hurry that resulted in safety Dave Nicomini’s 21-yard interception return for a touchdown.  The Great Danes held Robert Morris to 79 total yards, including the program’s I-AA record of minus-51 rushing, and came up with 10 sacks, the highest total by a NCAA Division I-AA team this season.

     Coleman’s 3.5 sacks for minus-27 yards tied the fifth-best total by a Division I-AA player this year.  The 6-foot-4, 290-pound defender also reached the 100-career tackle mark (105) in the contest and has 14.0 career sacks.

     Fralicker, a junior place-kicker, was the NEC’s top special teams performer for the second straight week by tying the school’s single-game record with three field goals of 32, 40 and 43 yards.  Fralicker tied a standard that he equaled in this year’s season opener against Lehigh.  His leg gave UAlbany a 9-0 lead in the second quarter.  In addition, he became just the second UAlbany kicker to boot a pair of 40-plus yard field goals in the same contest.

     Fralicker also eclipsed a 21-year-old single-season record with his 13th field goal this year, breaking a mark set by Scott Reagan in 1985.  He currently ranks third in the NEC in scoring with 64 points (13-18 FGs, 25-25 PATs), the ninth-best total in school annals.

     Moon Township, Pa. - Dave Nicomini returned an interception for a touchdown and the UAlbany defense recorded 10 sacks in leading the Great Danes to a 16-6 Northeast Conference victory over Robert Morris in a battle of first-place teams on Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium. UAlbany (7-3, NEC 5-1) remained in a three-way tie atop the conference standings.
     The league's top two defenses kept each team's offense in check, as both clubs were held to less than 100 total yards. Robert Morris (6-4, NEC 4-2) avoided a shutout when quarterback Erik Cwalinski threw a 19-yard scoring pass to Frankie Probst with 2:19 remaining. But Cwalinski, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, connected on just 12 of 30 passes for 130 yards and was intercepted four times.
     Meanwhile, the Great Danes were nearly perfect on defense. Defensive end Andre Coleman, who had a career-high 10 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, led a unit that set the program's Division I-AA records for rushing yards allowed (minus-51) and quarterbacks sacks. Defensive tackles Tom Pandolf and Michael Dungey added two sacks apiece, while defensive end Mark Sheehan picked off a fourth-quarter pass and also got to the quarterback. In fact, the Colonials crossed the 50-yard line just three times, all in second half, and two were the result of a penalty and a turnover.
     "The defense was superb and the line had moments of brilliance," said UAlbany head coach Bob Ford, whose team reached the seven-win mark for the eighth time in the last 11 years. "We were able to take away their run game and force the quarterback to make decisions under pressure."
     UAlbany's defense and the strong leg of Jason Fralicker built a 16-0 halftime lead. Mike Wall blocked a punt on the first possession of the game to set up a 32-yard field goal. The junior place-kicker added two more, from 40 and 43 yards, as the Colonials' offense was unable to move the ball with poor field position. Fralicker set the school's single-season record with his 13th field goal.
     "It was crunch time and we knew we had to step up to the next level," said Coleman, one of seven defenders to register a sack in the game. "We studied their strengths and weaknesses and thought we had a great chance to be productive. It's fun whenever you can put pressure on both the quarterbacks and running backs, especially on the road."
     The Great Danes, who forced six 4-and-out possessions in the half, also found the scoreboard when Nicomini ran back an interception 21 yards for a touchdown with 3:10 left in the second quarter. Coleman forced Cwalinski to throw under pressure from his own end zone on the play. The Colonials were held to minus-1 yard in total offense during the opening two periods, and finished with just 79 for the entire contest.
     "After the Stony Brook loss, we knew we had to run the table," explained Ford, whose squad will play for at least a share of the conference title at home next Saturday. "There are too many good teams in this conference to go undefeated. Now we have to concentrate on Monmouth and hope things fall into place."

    Somerset, N.J. – University at Albany’s Jason Fralicker has been chosen Northeast Conference Special Teams Player of the Week in football, as announced on Monday, Oct. 30 by the conference office.  He earned the weekly award for the second time this season.

     Fralicker, a junior place-kicker from North Tonawanda, N.Y., booted two field goals of 31 and 39 yards in last Saturday’s 34-0 victory against Wagner.  He made his first kick with 40 seconds left in the first half and added a 39-yarder with 4:49 remaining in the third quarter.  Fralicker connected on all four of his point-after attempts, plus handled kickoffs with one touchback.

     Fralicker established the program’s Division I-AA record with his 10th field goal of the season, breaking a mark set by Bryan Bagstad in 2001.  His current total is second on the all-time list, as Scott Reagan kicked 12 field goals in 1985.  Fralicker leads the team in scoring with 54 points, having made 10-of-15 fields and 24-of-24 PATs.

     Albany, N.Y. – Omar Johnson rushed for two first-half touchdowns and Trevor DuPont returned an interception 22 yards for another score, as UAlbany posted its third straight win in a 34-0 shutout of Wagner in Northeast Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 28 at rain-soaked University Field.

     UAlbany (6-3, NEC 4-1) shook off an early interception to score on four of its next five possessions in building a 24-0 halftime lead.  Johnson, a 6-foot, 215-pound junior, capped a short drive by pounding through the middle on a 3-yard touchdown run.  Quarterback Daniel Bocanegra, who threw for 98 yards and ran for 50 more, kept the sequence alive with a 16-yard completion to Mike Wall on third down.

     After a fumbled punt return by Rashad Barksdale, Wagner (4-5, NEC 0-5) set up at the UAlbany 23.  But the series stalled out when quarterback Matt Abbey’s fourth-down throw was knocked down by defensive tackle Michael Dungey.  The Great Danes, who piled up 382 total yards, including 266 on the ground, went work from that point.

     Senior tailback Marcus Allen, who had 11 carries for a team-leading 72 yards, cut off right guard on a 7-yard scoring run with 8:47 left in the second quarter.  Linebacker Dan Barnes then recovered Jason Butler’s fumble on a screen pass to jump start a drive that led to his team’s third touchdown.  Johnson, who added 65 rushing yards on 14 attempts, reached paydirt on a 4-yard blast over right guard for a 21-0 lead.  Jason Fralicker completed the run of points with a 31-yard field goal with 40 seconds left before the intermission.

     Fralicker added a 39-yarder with 4:49 left in the third period to set the school’s Division I-AA record with his 10th field goal this season.  DuPont’s fourth-quarter interception runback capped the scoring, as the UAlbany defense registered back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1998.  The Seahawks, who committed four turnovers, managed just 140 total yards, including 21 through the air.

     “Our defensive line has been awesome,” said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team held their opponent to less than 165 yards for the second straight week.  “We use seven kids in there, try to rotate and keep them fresh.  We ran the ball well again.  I was impressed with our attitude.”

     The Great Danes, who won for the sixth straight time in this series, moved into a four-way tie for first place in the conference standings.  Freshman Justin Gannon was one of four players with more than 40 rushing yards.   Butler, a junior tailback who converted from defensive back this season, led all runners with 98 yards on 22 carries.  Wagner, after opening with four wins to start the season, suffered its fifth consecutive defeat.

     “This feels good because we are back where we should be (in the standings),” said UAlbany’s Jacob Anderson, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound senior who made his first start at right guard after moving over from tackle due to injuries on the line.  “It was interesting playing at guard.  I had to block more straight ahead, but I knew my assignment.  You feel like you are out an island sometimes at tackle.”

     Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Mike Wall has been selected as the Northeast Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in last Saturday’s 48-0 victory against Saint Francis.  Wall, a junior flanker, received the weekly honor for the second time this season.

     Wall returned the second-half kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown to give his team a 28-0 lead.  He became the first UAlbany player to score on a kickoff return since Nov. 5, 1988 when Steve McNeil went 97 yards.  Wall partially blocked on a punt on the Red Flash’s next possession which led to Jason Fralicker’s 46-yard field goal, the longest in the program’s Division I-AA history.  In addition, Wall hauled in a 14-yard reception on a second-quarter touchdown drive.

     A native of Syracuse , N.Y., Wall is second in the conference in kickoff returns with a 26.1 average.  He has 10 catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver.

     Albany , N.Y. – Quarterback Daniel Bocanegra rushed for two touchdowns and Mike Wall returned the second-half kickoff for another score in leading UAlbany to a 48-0 Northeast Conference victory over St. Francis, Pa. on Saturday, Oct. 21 at University Field before a Homecoming crowd of 5,964.

     UAlbany (5-3, NEC 3-1) reached the end zone on its opening two possessions.  A short punt into a gusty wind set up the first scoring sequence, as the Great Danes had to drive just 40 yards for a 7-0 lead.  Bocanegra, a sophomore, found paydirt on a 6-yard option run around right end.  Rashad Barksdale’s 29-yard punt return keyed the second series.  Omar Johnson, a junior tailback who ran 13 times for 62 yards, capped the nine-play march with a 5-yard blast over right guard.

     The Great Danes, who have won all eight meetings in this series, went to the locker room  with a 21-0 advantage.  Defensive end Mark Sheehan ended a St. Francis drive by sacking Anthony Doria and forcing the quarterback to fumble.  UAlbany then used its rushing attack to grind out a 12-play, 70-yard drive.  Marcus Allen, who had nine carries for 44 yards, was the workhorse at tailback, before Bocanegra scored on 6-yard run in a third-and-goal situation.

     Wall, a junior flanker, helped the Great Danes push out to a 31-0 margin in the third quarter.  He gathered in a squib kick to start the second half, broke through a seam, raced down the right sideline, and dove just inside the pylon on a 77-yard scoring return.  It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown by a UAlbany player since 1988.  Wall later partially blocked punt which led to Jason Fralicker’s 46-yard field goal, the longest in the program’s Division I-AA history. 

     The Great Danes, who accounted for 323 of their 362 total yards on the ground, added fullback Dan Beigel’s 4-yard touchdown run in the third period and a pair of scores in the fourth quarter.  Fralicker booted a 33-yard field goal to finish off a seven-play sequence.  Dieuseul Joseph’s one-yard run over the right side gave his team a 48-0 lead with 6:07 remaining.  Joseph and freshman Justin Gannon added 61 and 60 rushing yards, respectively, in a balanced performance.  UAlbany rushed for 300-plus in back-to-back games for the first time since the 2004 season.

     “I told our squad before the game that we might have the greatest accumulation of talent that we have ever had here, but we need to be more focused and consistent,” said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, who recorded his 215th career victory as at the collegiate level.  “We still had too many penalties but we did a lot more positive things.”

     St. Francis (1-7, NEC 0-4) has dropped seven straight since winning its season opener in convincing fashion.  The Red Flash had just 161 total yards, including 25 rushing.  Doria, who was sacked three times, completed 18 of 34 attempts for 136 yards.  Todd Harris, one of the nation’s top rushers at 112.8 yards entering the contest, was held to 11 yards on seven carries.

     “The shutout was something special,” offered senior cornerback Ryan Chrobak, who had a team-high nine tackles and broke up two passes.  “Our defense really needed it.  The line did a real good job up front and the coverage was good by the linebackers and secondary.”  

     Fairfield, Conn. - Marcus Allen rushed for a career-high 149 yards and two touchdowns and Omar Johnson had a career-best 135 yards in leading UAlbany to a 24-13 Northeast Conference victory over Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon at Campus Field.
     UAlbany (4-2, NEC 2-1) took a 21-7 lead in third quarter, when Allen raced around right end with an option pitch on his way to a 65-yard touchdown scamper. The Great Danes, who ended a two-game skid, stayed on the ground during the 5-play, 93-yard drive.
     Sacred Heart (2-5, NEC 1-2) came right back on its next posession by marching 71 yards, all through the air, to paydirt. Tyler Arciaga, who completed 23 of 38 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, threw a 39-yard scoring strike to Stephen Tedesco with 3:58 left in the third quarter. However, UAlbany's Mark Sheehan blocked the extra-point attempt.
     In the fourth quarter, the Great Danes used a rushing attack that piled up exactly 300 net yards and an opportunistic defense to record its first win since beating back-to-back top-25 teams in September. Johnson, a 6-foot, 215-pound junior, had five of his 27 rushing attempts in a 10-play sequence that led to Jason Fralicker's career-long 39-yard field goal and a 24-13 lead. Safety Dave Nicomini sealed the outcome when he picked off Arciaga at the UAlbany 22-yard line with 2:35 remaining.
     "We dominated the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage and played much smarter overall," said UAlbany head coach Bob Ford, whose team had two 100-yard rushers for the first time since Sept. 13, 2003 against Central Connecticut State. "We did a great job of running the football, especially when you consider two starters were out with injuries."
     UAlbany broke a 7-7 tie in the second quarter by grinding out an 81-yard drive. Johnson did the bulk of the work with seven carries for 61 yards in the series. Allen, who went over 1,000 yards for his career, later burst through left side on an 11-yard touchdown run with 6:04 left in the second quarter. The Great Danes stayed ahead at the break when cornerback Ryan Chrobak wiped out a Pioneers' threat by forcing Arciaga to cough up the ball on a sack.
     The Great Danes grabbed an early 7-0 advantage when quarterback Daniel Bocanegra lofted a 31-yard TD pass to David McCarty following a Pioneer fumble. McCarty came up with a tipped ball off the hands of his teammate Mike Wall. Arciaga directed his team on a 10-play march that tied the contest in the second period. He beat the blitz with a screen pass to Jason Payne, who broke several tackles to complete the 30-yard scoring play.
     "It all starts up front and our line took it to them for four straight quarters," explained Johnson, whose squad rolled up a season-best 445 total yards, including 145 passing. "We played this game like it was our last one. We've got a loss (in the conference), but we are still in it."

     Stony Brook, N.Y. - Josh Dudash threw for 236 yards and one touchdown and Cory Giddings scored on a pair of fumble returns in leading Stony Brook to a 33-21 Northeast Conference victory over UAlbany before 6,688 fans on Saturday afternoon at LaValle Stadium.
     UAlbany (3-3, NEC 1-1) grabbed a 21-17 lead on the first series of the second half, when quarterback Daniel Bocanegra flipped an 11-yard scoring pass to tight end Chris Lore. Bocanegra passed for 145 yards and ran for 24 more, but fumbled twice. Stony Brook (2-4, NEC 2-0) came right back with an 80-yard touchdown march. Dudash, who connected on 16-of-22 through the air, hit Mike Consentino with a 43-yard pass to key the drive. Halfback Steve Austin later took a direct snap and threw a 3-yard TD pass to Saladin Davis for a 24-21 advantage with 9:09 left in the third quarter.
     The Seawolves, who were coached by former UAlbany fullback and assistant Chuck Priore, then put the game away with solid special teams play. Dwayne Eley's 43-yard punt return led to Luke Gaddis' 42-yard field goal, his second on the day. A partially blocked punt set up Dudash's 41-yard touchdown strike to a wide-open Lynell Suggs.
     "We did everything we possibly could wrong. At times it's hard to believe this is the same team that beat Lehigh and Delaware. Stony Brook played very hard. They hurt us with the run game, capitalized on our turnovers and mistakes, and made big plays on special teams," said UAlbany head coach Bob Ford, who was going up against a former player for the first time.
     The Seawolves, who posted an impressive 19-point win against unbeaten Monmouth one week ago, used a big-play defense to take a 17-14 halftime lead. Giddings returned a pair of second-quarter fumbles for touchdowns, including a 7-yard runback with 10:52 remaining in the period.
     UAlbany drew even with a short drive set up by Chris Simpson's 31-yard kickoff return. Omar Johnson capped the sequence with a 5-yard blast through the middle. But Colin Simmons coughed up the ball on his team's next possession, and Giddings picked up the loose ball en route to a 34-yard touchdown return.
     The Great Danes tied the contest at 14 apiece with an 80-yard march on their next offensive series. Mike Wall's diving 39-yard reception keyed the scoring drive. Johnson reached paydirt again on a 6-yard run. However, Stony Brook jumped back in front when Gaddis booted a 41-yard field goal on the last play of the first half.
     "It was a cluster of things that resulted in this loss. It is very frustrating. We turned the ball over for two touchdowns and the defense played on its heels," said senior Colin Disch, who led his team with eight tackles. "We have to be more focused and emphasize all 60 minutes (to turn this around)."

     Ithaca, N.Y. -- Luke Siwula rushed 32 times for 162 yards and Peter Zell made a 33-yard field goal with 6:22 remaining in leading Cornell to a 23-21 victory over UAlbany on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Schoellkopf Field.
     UAlbany (3-2) overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to take a 21-20 lead with 11:08 to play in the fourth quarter. Omar Johnson scored on a fourth-and-goal play from the one-yard line to complete a nine-play drive. Quarterback Daniel Bocanegra beat the blitz with a 38-yard pass to tight end Ross Jatkola to key the movement. The Great Danes, who were ranked No. 23 in both Division I-AA national polls, then went ahead when Andre Coleman tipped a screen pass and defensive end Mark Sheehan caught the ball and rumbled 55 yards to paydirt.
     Cornell (1-2) came back with an 11-play drive that resulted in Zell's winning field goal. A faked punt on fourth-and-five from the Big Red 25 helped the cause. Nathan Ford, who connected on 12 of 28 passes, later fired an 18-yard completion to midfield, before Siwula ran five straight times into UAlbany territory.
     "Cornell played with passion and sometimes you do that when your back is against the wall," UAlbany head coach Bob Ford said. "In the first two games, they moved the ball but then self-destructed inside the 20. Tonight they didn't do that."
     "They took advantage early with the cutback zone play and we struggled to get on track offensively," Ford continued. "The momentum swung our way in the second half, but the faked punt and their ground game helped take it back."
     Cornell had trouble finding the end zone in the opening two games, but that was not the case in this non-league affair. The Big Red, who ranked eighth nationally in total offense coming into the game, scored on their second possession. Siwula ran six yards through in the middle for a touchdown with 4:03 left in the first quarter.
     Cornerback Colin Nash then came up with an interception on the left sideline and raced 24 yards to the Albany 13. Zell booted a 28-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead. UAlbany took advantage of a short punt to get on the board. Bocanegra threw a 22-yard scoring pass to flanker Mike Wall.
     But Cornell regrouped with scores on its next two possessions, including a 12-play, 70-yard drive. Sophomore Nathan Ford capped the march with his first career touchdown pass, a 4-yard slant to Anthony Jackson. Zell would later add a career-long 45-yard field goal for a 20-7 margin.
     "I just ran as fast as I could. The defensive backs beat me down the field and sprung me after a few blocks," said Sheehan about his interception return. "It was one of the worst games we've played this year, but then we were suddenly in the lead. We over ran a lot of plays and their back was able to cut against that flow. We just didn't get a lot of guys to the ball."

     Albany, N.Y. - For the first time in the program’s history, the University at Albany football team is ranked in both The Sports Network and College Sporting News Division I-AA national polls. The Great Danes, who have posted victories over a pair of top-25 teams the last two weeks, make their debut at No. 23 in both national rankings. UAlbany (3-1) defeated 23rd-ranked Central Connecticut State, 19-14, last Saturday and knocked off 11th-ranked Delaware, 17-10, on Sept. 16.

     “It’s thrilling to be on any top 25 list, but of course you would like to be there at the end of the season,” said UAlbany’s Bob Ford, who is second among active Division I-AA head coaches with 213 career victories. “You have to be proud of this group of kids and what they achieved at this point against a high level of competition. But it’s the old cliché, we have to take one play at a time and one game at a time.”

     UAlbany has made its move into the national rankings with a swarming defensive unit. The Great Danes are 10th among I-AA teams in points allowed (12.3 ppg), 14th in total defense (246.0 ypg) and 15th in rushing defense (96.0 ypg). Linebacker Colin Disch is tied for first in the nation in tackles at 13.0 per game.

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     1. New Hampshire, 2. Appalachian State, 3. Furman, 4. Montana, 5. Cal Poly, 6. Illinois State, 7. Richmond, 8. Youngstown State, 9. Massachusetts, 10. Southern Illinois, 11. North Dakota State, 12. Hampton, 13. Northern Iowa, 14. Portland State, 15. James Madison, 16. McNeese State, 17. Delaware, 18. UC-Davis, 19. Towson, 20. Eastern Illinois, 21. Western Illinois, 22. Harvard, 23. Albany, 24. Western Carolina, 25. Northern Arizona.

     1. New Hampshire, 2. Appalachian State, 3. Furman, 4. Montana, 5. Illinois State, 6. Richmond, 7. Cal Poly, 8. Youngstown State, 9. Southern Illinois, 10. Massachusetts, 11. Hampton, 12. North Dakota State, 13. Northern Iowa, 14. Portland State, 15. James Madison, 16. Delaware, 17. Eastern Illinois, 18. McNeese State, 19. Towson, 20. UC-Davis, 21. Harvard, 22. Western Illinois, 23. Albany, 24. Alabama A&M, 25. Georgia Southern.

     Somerset, N.J. – University at Albany’s Eric Neugebauer has been chosen the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in last Saturday’s 19-14 victory over nationally-ranked Central Connecticut State in the conference opener for both teams. In addition, Mike Wall was named the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week.

     Neugebauer, a senior free safety from Sayville, N.Y., returned an interception for a touchdown and recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter in his team’s second consecutive win against a top-25 opponent. Neugebauer, who also made three tackles, scored on a 27-yard interception return with 1:32 remaining in what proved to be the difference in the game. The Great Danes held the nation’s fifth-ranked rushing offense to 139 net yards. He is fourth on the team with 25 tackles this season.

     Wall, a junior flanker from Syracuse, N.Y., blocked a punt that rolled through the end zone for a safety that broke a 7-7 deadlock with 4:49 left in the third quarter. Wall’s play marked the first blocked punt by UAlbany’s special teams since Oct. 9, 2004. He also accounted for a career-high 113 all-purpose yards (51 kickoff return, 31 punt return, 28 receiving, 3 rushing) against CCSU. Wall caught a season-high three passes for 28 yards.

     Albany, N.Y. – Eric Neugebauer’s 27-yard interception return in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference as UAlbany knocked off unbeaten Central Connecticut State, 19-14, in the Northeast Conference opener for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 23 at University Field.

     UAlbany (3-1, NEC 1-0) snapped a 7-7 tie in the third quarter when Mike Wall blocked Chris Rose’s punt and the ball the rolled through the end zone for a safety. The Great Danes would take a 12-7 lead with 9:50 left in the third quarter as Jason Fralicker booted a 25-yard field goal to finish off an 11-play drive. Freshman quarterback Frank Blasinsky threw a 22-yard completion and scrambled 16 yards inside the CCSU 10 to highlight the scoring march.

     Central Connecticut State (3-1, NEC 0-1) was on the move in the fourth quarter behind the play of quarterback Ryan Holmes, who completed 10 of 21 passes for 175 yards and rushed for 48 more. But UAlbany’s defense stuffed a fourth-and-three option play on its own 42, when outside linebacker Trevor DuPont wrapped up tailback Justise Hairston to end the drive.

     In a defensive struggle as advertised, Neugebauer picked off Holmes’ second-down pass over the middle at the CCSU 27 and sprinted up the sideline for a touchdown and a 19-7 advantage with 1:32 remaining. The Blue Devils, who were off to their best start since 1973 and ranked among the top 25 in both Division I-AA national polls, then put together a 10-play, 67-yard march at the end. Jo Jo Freeman’s second touchdown of the game, a 2-yard blast over left guard with nine seconds left, capped the sequence.

     "We bounced back from last week’s win pretty well," offered UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose squad beat its second consecutive top-25 team after defeating No. 11 Delaware last week. "We were focused and had a great mental attitude. Our defense played well for 58 minutes and we will continue to ride that horse."

     In the first half, the Great Danes broke up a scoreless tie with a nine-play drive. Starting quarterback Daniel Bocanegra, who left the game at halftime with an injury, hooked up with split end Jason Smith on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 59 seconds left before intermission. Smith, a redshirt freshman, hauled in three passes for 32 yards during that possession. UAlbany could have done more damage in the opening half, but CCSU defensive tackle Devon Douglass’ sack forced Bocanegra to fumble and end a 13-play, 70-yard march.

     Central Connecticut State drew even following a long scoring drive to begin the second half. Holmes connected with Nick Colagiovanni on a 49-yard pass to the Albany 30. Freeman’s 14-yard burst up the middle placed his team at the 5-yard line before he later bulled his way over the left side on fourth-and-inches near the goal line with 10:20 left in the period.

     "All these NEC games are going to real nail-biters," Central Connecticut State coach Jeff McInerney stated. "The team that can stay consistent will have a chance, but it’s hard to run the table. I thought we worried about losing in the first half, but came out and played in the second half. But you still have to give Albany the credit for winning the game."

     The Great Danes, who have won six of eight conference openers since joining the league in 1999, held the nation’s fifth-best rushing offense to 139 net yards on the ground. Hairston, a Rutgers transfer who was averaging 139.7 rushing yards coming into the contest, managed just 58 yards on 21 carries. UAlbany piled up 180-plus rushing yards for the second straight week, as Marcus Allen led the way with 65 yards on 15 attempts.

     "We keep getting better as a defense," said UAlbany linebacker Colin Disch, who had nine tackles. "We are disappointed that we gave up the long drive to begin the second half and that late touchdown. But everyone knows what they are doing, they run to ball well, and defensive line is solid."

     Albany, N.Y. – UAlbany climbed to third in both NCAA Division I-AA national mid-major football polls on Monday, Sept. 18. The Great Danes, who are coming off a 17-10 upset of No. 11 Delaware, are ranked highly by The Sports Network and Football Gazette.

     UAlbany (2-1) faces unbeaten Central Connecticut State (3-0) in its Northeast Conference opener on Saturday, Sept. 23 at University Field. Kickoff is 4:07 p.m. The contest will be televised locally by Time Warner Cable. The Blue Devils, who are off to their best start since 1973, are No. 1 in the Football Gazette poll and are ranked No. 2 by The Sports Network.

     The Great Danes, who held 2003 national champion Delaware to 270 yards last Saturday before a capacity crowd of 22,016 at Delaware Stadium, have one of the top defensive units in the nation. UAlbany is 10th in the country among I-AA teams in rushing yards allowed (81.7 pg) and 14th in scoring defense (11.7 ppg). Central Connecticut State owns the fifth-best rushing offense nationally at 263.0 yards per game.

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NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major National Football Polls

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

THE SPORTS NETWORK: 1. San Diego, 2. Central Connecticut State, 3. Albany, 4. Dayton, 5. Monmouth, 6. Duquesne, 7. Drake, 8. Wagner, 9. Valparaiso, 10. Marist.

     Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Colin Disch has been selected as the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in last Saturday’s surprising 17-10 victory over nationally-ranked Delaware. In addition, Rashad Barksdale was named the NEC Rookie of the Week.

     Disch, a junior inside linebacker, made a game-high 15 tackles, including 10 unassisted, against the Blue Hens, who had not lost to a non-league opponent since a 2000 NCAA playoff defeat against Georgia Southern. The Great Danes allowed 270 total yards. Disch recorded double-figure tackles for the 20th time in his career and moved to sixth on the school’s all-time tackles list with 286. He currently ranks second among the I-AA national leaders at 14.3 tackles per game.

     Barksdale, a senior cornerback, picked off two passes, including one near the goal line with 29.1 seconds remaining, against Delaware. A member of the UAlbany baseball team the last two years, Barksdale decided to walk-on on the first day of preseason football camp in August. The defensive back added one tackle and returned three punts for 20 yards last Saturday. His first interception led to Jason Fralicker’s 20-yard field goal in the second quarter. Barksdale’s second pick sealed the biggest win in the program’s history on a third-and-four play at the UAlbany 19. An all-state high school football standout, Barksdale batted .277 with 22 stolen bases in the spring of 2006 for the Great Danes.

     Newark, Del. - Sophomore quarterback Daniel Bocanegra threw one touchdown pass and ran for another as UAlbany upset nationally-ranked Delaware, 17-10, on Saturday, Sept. 16 before an overflow crowd at Delaware Stadium.
     The Great Danes, who split their opening two games against Lehigh and Fordham, beat a top-25 team at the Division I-AA level for just the second time in eight tries. The Blue Hens, who won the 2003 national championship, were ranked No. 11 by The Sports Network and College Sporting News.
     "That was a great win against a quality program in their house," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team was going up against a program that has captured six national titles. "I am sure that score will shock the football world tomorrow. We controlled the ball on the ground and played solid defense. We put some pretty good heat on (Joe) Flacco by moving our defensive fronts."
     UAlbany (2-1) had to hang on at the end when Delaware (1-1) drove all the way from their 30-yard line in the last two minutes to the Great Danes' 19. But cornerback Rashad Barksdale picked off Joe Flacco's pass, intended for Mark Duncan, at the goal line with 29.1 seconds remaining to seal the outcome.
     The Blue Hens, who trailed by 14 points at the intermission, got back into the contest with a 17-play, 87-yard drive in the third quarter. All-America running back Omar Cuff, who rushed for 90 yards and caught six passes for 77 more, completed the scoring march with a 1-yard dive over the middle. Flacco, a Pittsburgh transfer, connected on five passes. He finished 18-of-35 through the air for 177 yards.
     UAlbany's defense was up to the task in the fourth quarter. Ryan Chrobak broke up a third-down pass to end one possession. Colin Disch, who had 15 tackles, including 10 solo, pressured Flacco to throw the ball in another third-down situation with nearly four minutes left.
     "This wipes out that sour taste from last week, because only this football team expected to win," offered Disch, who recorded double-digit tackles for the 20th time in his career. "The fact we were able to blitz off the corners and keep their offensive line off balance was a key. We all said that this would be a big win, but words can't describe that right now."
     UAlbany stunned a capacity crowd of 22,016, the 14th consecutive sellout, by scoring on its second possession. Following a short punt, the Great Danes opened up the playbook with flea-flicker touchdown pass. Bocanegra took a pitch from flanker Mike Wall and fired a 38-yard strike down the middle of the field to Josh Furnas.
     "I am so happy for (Josh) Furnas," said Bocanegra who completed 11-of-16 attempts for 121 yards. "We ran the flea-flicker against Hofstra last year and he dropped the ball. That was an important play because it took something out of the crowd."
     After Barksdale misplayed a punt inside his 10-yard line, Delaware got on the board. Zach Hobby booted a 19-yard field goal with 1:17 left in the first quarter. However, UAlbany put together two nine-play drives in the second stanza in building a 17-3 halftime lead.
     Bocanegra capped a 54-yard march by diving over the top for his first career touchdown. Freshman tailback Colin Simmons keyed the sequence, including a 23-yard scamper around right end to the Blue Hens' 2. Jason Fralicker finished off the second drive with a 20-yard field goal. Marcus Allen darted 29 yards to the Delaware 14 to help set up that three-pointer.

     Somerset, N.J. -- University at Albany’s Frank Blasinsky has been named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week in football as announced by the conference office on Monday, Sept. 11.

     Blasinsky, a freshman quarterback from North Royalton, Ohio, completed 9 of 16 passes for 108 yards and one touchdown after being inserted into the lineup on the final series of the first half against Fordham on Sept. 9.

     Blasinsky, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound signal-caller, became the first true freshman to throw a touchdown pass, a 34-yard in the fourth quarter, since Nov. 11, 1994. He is also the first freshman quarterback to play in a game since Marcus Rotondi in 1998..

     UAlbany (1-1) travels to Delaware, who is No. 11 nationally in the NCAA Division I-AA rankings, on Saturday, Sept. 16. Kickoff is 7:05 p.m. The Blue Hens, who won the 2003 national championship and 2004 Atlantic 10 Conference title, opened with a 30-7 victory over West Chester last weekend.

     Albany, N.Y. -- Tailback James Prydatko rushed 33 times for 148 yards and one touchdown, as Fordham ended an eight-game road losing streak with a 9-7 non-league victory over Albany on Saturday, Sept. 9 in the Great Danes’ home opener at University Field.

     Fordham (1-1) picked off Albany starting quarterback Daniel Bocanegra three times in the opening half to build a 9-0 lead at the intermission. Free safety Earl Hudnell’s interception at the Great Danes’ 23 led to the first score. Prydatko, a 6-foot, 219-pound senior, then lugged the ball on all five plays in the short march. His drove through the middle on a 2-yard run for a 6-0 lead with 24 seconds left in first quarter. The extra-point attempt failed.

     A snafu on special teams led to Clukey’s 26-yard field goal with 10:10 left in the second period. Dave Casale took a direct snap on a fourth-and-two play at the Albany 21, but Ryan Kleve and Jeb Bent wrapped him up for a three-yard loss. Prydatko carried the ball on runs of three and seven yards to set up the field goal attempt.

     The Rams, who held the home team to 71 net rushing yards, came up with two more interceptions in the half. Cornerback Ray Loney grabbed Bocanegra’s attempt over the middle midway through the quarter. Marcus Taylor, who had a team-high nine tackles, rolled back in coverage to snare another pass on Albany’s next possession.

     “We shot ourselves in the foot on several occasions and when you do that it’s hard to beat anyone,” said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team was coming off a surprising 17-16 victory at Lehigh last week. “We needed to be focused and we were not in the first half.”

     Frank Blasinsky, a true freshman, took over the Albany offense at quarterback in the second half and ignited a seven-play, 60-yard drive that closed the gap to 9-7 early in the final quarter. He found his fullback Dan Beigel in the flat for a seven yards and tossed another nine-yard completion. Blasinsky then connected with flanker Mike Wall on a 34-yard post pattern his team’s lone touchdown.

     But Fordham was able to come up with two key plays to keep the lead. The defense stopped the Great Danes near midfield when Blasinsky overthrew Gabe Gallucci on a fourth-down play. Prydatko, a second-team all-league selection last year when he rushed for more than 1,000 yards, then bulled his way through the middle on a third-and-one to help run out the clock in the final two minutes.

     “We won a close game on the road and that’s a good step for our program,” offered Fordham coach Tom Masella, who is in his first year with the Rams after guiding Central Connecticut State to back-to-back conference championships. “Our philosophy is always to take away the run and make people throw the ball to beat us. We made some plays in that first quarter.”

     Fordham quarterback Derric Daniels completed his running back by completing 11 of 19 passes for 97 yards. Blasinsky finished 9-of-16 through the air for 108 yards.

     “We knew these guys would prepare well for this game,” said Albany defensive end Andre Coleman, whose team posted a 41-0 victory against Fordham in last year’s season finale. I sensed some cockiness this week. We had a big win in terms of the program (referring to the Lehigh victory), but it was not a big win by the score."

     Somerset, N.J. – University at Albany’s Jason Fralicker has been chosen as the Northeast Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in last Saturday’s surprising 17-16 victory over perennial Patriot League power Lehigh. Fralicker, a junior placekicker, tied a school record with three field goals, all in the first half, in the rain, wind and mud of Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem, Pa.

     Fralicker converted field goals of 37, 34 and 38 yards against Lehigh, a program that went 8-3 last year and finished among Division I-AA’s top 25 in the rankings. He equaled a record that was set by Scott Reagan against Cortland on Oct. 19, 1985. His 34-yarder gave UAlbany an 8-7 lead in the second quarter. He booted the longest field goal by a Great Danes’ kicker since Sept. 28, 2002 as he connected from 38 yards with 1:22 left before halftime for an 11-7 advantage.

     Fralicker, who was making his first appearance in a UAlbany uniform since transferring Erie Community College, added a 39-yard punt and one solo tackle on special teams.

     Albany, N.Y. -- With a surprising 17-16 victory over perennial Patriot League power Lehigh, UAlbany moved up in both the Football Gazette and The Sports Network Division I-AA mid-major polls on Monday, Sept. 4. The Great Danes are ranked No. 1 by Football Gazette for the first time since Oct. 12, 2003. UAlbany also climbed two spots to second in The Sports Network rankings.

     “I am thrilled that someone would pick us that high; it’s a nice place to be,” said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team won its season opener for the first time since 2001. “But now we need to hold on to that spot for an extended period of time. We did some very positive things last Saturday, but we made enough mistakes that we need a good week of practice to get ready for Fordham.”

     Omar Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown run with 14:55 remaining provided the winning points against Lehigh, a program that has won at least eight games in every season since 1998. The Mountain Hawks, who have made five NCAA playoff appearances in that period, threatened on their last two possessions. UAlbany’s Eric Neugebauer ended the first drive with a sack and forced fumble, while Jason Leo missed a 48-yard field goal attempt with 16 seconds to play.

     UAlbany will play its home opener on Saturday, September 9 against Fordham at University Field. Kickoff is 6:00 p.m. ET.

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FOOTBALL GAZETTE: 1. Albany, 2. San Diego, 3. Dayton, 4. Monmouth, 5. Central Conn. State, 6. Morehead State, 7. Duquesne, 8. Stony Brook, 9. Wagner, 10. St. Francis, Pa.

THE SPORTS NETWORK: 1. San Diego, 2. Albany, 3. Dayton, 4. Central Conn. State, 5. Duquesne, 6. Monmouth, 7. Drake, 8. St. Francis, Pa., 9. Wagner, 10. Stony Brook.

     Bethlehem, Pa. -- Omar Johnson scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter and UAlbany held on for a 17-16 upset over Lehigh on Saturday afternoon in the rain and wind at Goodman Stadium.
     A high snap over Lehigh punter Jason Leo's head set up what proved to be the winning points. As Leo tried to corral the ball, UAlbany's Dieuseul Joseph pushed him away and teammate Justin Brancaccio recovered at the one-yard line. Johnson later powered over left guard for a 17-13 lead with 14:55 remaining.
     The Mountain Hawks, who went 8-3 last year and had not lost an opener since 1997, regrouped with a 12-play drive that resulted in Leo's 28-yard field goal. Matt McGowan, who rushed 16 times for 72 yards, keyed the drive.
     "I loved our kids' fighting spirit," said UAlbany head coach Bob Ford, whose team dropped a 44-14 decision on this field in 2004. "The defense stepped up when they had to, we made three field goals on special teams and the offense got a first down when they absolutely needed to have one. Lehigh is an established program, so that's a good win."
     Lehigh threatened on its last two possessions but came up empty both times. On third-and-eight from the UAlbany 23, quarterback Sedale Threatt fumbled under heavy pressure that forced his team to punt. Leo later missed a 48-yard field goal with 16 seconds left.
     "We knew that with the conditions that special teams would be greatly affected," explained junior linebacker Dan Barnes, whose squad last opened with a win in 2001. "Their quarterback was slowed down by the field conditions in that they were not able to run boot passes. He wasn't able to roll out and get out of the pocket."
     With Tropical Storm Ernesto in full effect, the game started with a bang. The Great Danes scored on a safety created by a high punt snap, before Lehigh took a 7-2 lead on Micah Greene's 52-yard fumble return.
     UAlbany came back with first-half field goals by Jason Fralicker. His 34-yarder gave his team an 8-7 lead with 4:22 left in the second quarter. Following Rashad Barksdale's 38-yard punt return, Fralicker tied the school's single-game record. He connected on a 38-yard kick that just made the crossbar.
     Threatt, who completed 14 of 26 passes for 140 yards, then directed his team on a go-ahead drive for a 13-11 halftime advantage. He hooked up with split end Lee Thomas three times, including a 19-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the end zone with 19 seconds to play in the quarter.
     "We've talked a lot about playing up with regard to our schedule," said captain Ryan Chrobak, a senior who has played against the likes of Northeastern and Hofstra in previous season openers. "Today we proved we are just as capable, we are just as good as these teams. This means a great deal to the seniors."

     Albany, N.Y. – The University at Albany football team conducted its final intrasquad scrimmage of the preseason on Thursday, Aug. 24 on the Western Avenue practice fields.  Head coach Bob Ford is preparing a squad that was picked with Central Connecticut State as the favorites to win this year's Northeast Conference championship.

     "We learned today that we still have a ways to go on offense," offered Ford, who ran a brisk two-hour afternoon workout.  "I was very impressed with our defense, especially when you consider we rested four starters.  We were able to look at several combinations on the offensive line and our tailbacks ran the ball well.  I am still looking for consistent production from our wide receivers."

      Highlights from the scrimmage include quarterback Daniel Bocanegra's 30-yard touchdown pass to flanker Mike Wall and reserve cornerback C.J. Ross' 52-yard fumble return for another score.  Placekicker Jason Fralicker booted a 43-yard goal on the opening offensive series.

      The Great Danes, who have 17 starters returning from a team that won five of its last six games one year ago, begin their season against Patriot League member Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa. on Saturday, Sept. 2.

     Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Friday, Aug. 18 the hiring of Bill Banagan and John Bolt as assistant coaches. Banagan and Bolt, both former UAlbany football players, will work with the defensive line and wide receivers, respectively.

     Banagan returns to the UAlbany staff after coaching on the high school level. He previously served as the program’s tight ends coach from 1999-2002. In his last season, the Great Danes captured the Northeast Conference and ECAC championships. Banagan will recruit in both Central and Western New York.

     Banagan, 45, coached for nine years at Bishop Maginn High School in Albany prior to his first stint as a member of Bob Ford’s staff. He tutored the offensive line, receivers and tight ends and was the program’s offensive coordinator. In 2003, Banagan served in the same capacity at Shaker High School.

     A Capital Region native, Banagan lettered twice for the Great Danes in 1982 and 1983. He earned his undergraduate degree in economics with a minor in business administration.

     Bolt, 24, joins the UAlbany coaching staff after working at both Hudson Valley Community College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 2004-06. He worked with Hudson Valley C.C.’s defensive line last year.

     A three-year starter at defensive end for the Great Danes, Bolt played on a pair of Northeast Conference championship teams in 2002 and 2003. He totaled 83 tackles, 14.5 sacks and five pass deflections during his career. As a sophomore, Bolt was named to the Football Gazette I-AA Mid-Major All-America squad and All-NEC second team.

     A native of Watervliet, N.Y., Bolt received his B.A. in psychology with a minor in education in May 2004. He was a first-team all-state defensive end and a consensus all-area selection.

     Somerset, N.J. -- According to a preseason poll of Northeast Conference head coaches, UAlbany and Central Connecticut State are the favorites to win the 2006 NEC Football Championship. The Great Danes, who tied for third place in last year’s standings, received four first-place votes. Central Connecticut State earned two first-place votes after capturing back-to-back conference crowns in 2004 and 2005.

     This year’s NEC champion will meet the winner of the Pioneer Football League in the inaugural Gridiron Classic, an exempted postseason football game that takes place on Saturday, Nov. 18. The two-year agreement calls for the NEC champion to serve as host in 2006. The PFL winner will host the 2007 event.

     "I am elated that the coaches think that much of our team," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, who has a 210-154-1 career record in 37 seasons at the collegiate level. "However, the most important poll is the one at the end of the season. This is a very balanced league."

     Preseason All-America Colin Disch (6-1, 220) was named the Football Gazette mid-major linebacker of the year and the NEC's top defender as a sophomore. He is one of 17 starters returning for the Great Danes, who won five of their last six games to finish 5-6 overall in 2005. Disch joined defensive linemen Andre Coleman (6-4, 290) and Michael Dungey (6-2, 275) on the preseason all-conference squad. Offensive linemen Jacob Anderson (6-6, 300) and Sam Pagano (6-3, 305) were also on the All-NEC unit.

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2006 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll

T1. UAlbany (4), T1. Central Connecticut State (2), 3. Stony Brook, 4. Monmouth (1), 5. St. Francis, Pa. (1), 6. Wagner, T7. Robert Morris, T7. Sacred Heart.

( ) - first-place votes

     Philadelphia, Pa. – UAlbany has been picked fourth in The Sports Network 2006 Preseason I-AA Mid-Major College Football Poll. The Great Danes, who were unranked at the end of last season, have been tabbed to win this year’s Northeast Conference title by several preseason publications.

     San Diego, the 2005 Pioneer Football League champion and last year’s top mid-major program, was voted the No. 1 team with 12 first-place votes. Dayton and Duquesne were ranked second and third, respectively.

     UAlbany posted a 5-6 record last season after winning five of its final six games. The Great Danes begin their 2006 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 2 against Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa. at 1:00 p.m.

***************

1. San Diego, 2. Dayton, 3. Duquesne, 4. Albany, 5. Drake, 6. Central Connecticut State, 7. Monmouth, 8. Morehead State, 9. Marist, 10. Stony Brook.

     Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Friday, Aug. 4 the hiring of Drew Christ and Mike Morita as assistant football coaches. Christ served as the University of Rochester’s defensive coordinator last season, while Morita was the offensive coordinator and line coach at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

     Christ, a former UAlbany graduate assistant in 2001, will coach the defensive backs and recruit in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. Prior to his appointment at Rochester, Christ spent three seasons on Al Bagnoli’s staff at the University of Pennsylvania. The Quakers won two Ivy League championships during that period.

     In 1998, Christ began his coaching career at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, where he handled the defensive backs and place-kickers. A native of Bay Village, Ohio, Christ was a three-time All-University Athletic Association defensive back and kicker at the University of Chicago. He earned his undergraduate degree in economics.

     Morita will coach UAlbany’s offensive tackles and tight ends and recruit in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania. During his tenure at Shaw, the program won the 2004 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championship and the Pioneer Bowl with a 10-2 record.

     From 2000-03, Morita worked with the tight ends at Bucknell University. He also instructed the offensive line and running backs and coached an All-Patriot League tight end. Morita then went on to Santa Barbara City College as offensive line coach for one season. His first coaching position came at Eagle (Idaho) High School as a running backs assistant.

     A native of Mill Valley, Calif., Morita was a two-year letterman as a running back at Idaho State University, where he received a B.S. in elementary education in 1998. He earned his M.S. in instructional specialization from Bucknell.

     Albany, N.Y. -- Football preseason practice begins at the University at Albany on Monday, August 7 with an afternoon workout, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. The Great Danes will conduct their preseason sessions on the campus’ Dutch Quad intramural fields. UAlbany opens its 2006 schedule against Lehigh on Saturday, Sept. 2 in Bethlehem, Pa. Kickoff is 1:00 p.m. ET.

2006 SEASON PREVIEW

     The installation of a new offensive scheme coupled with teaching a young group of players contributed to the challenges that faced last year's UAlbany football team. The result of those trials is a squad that has 17 starters returning from a team that won five of its last six games.

     As the Great Danes get ready for their eighth season at the Division I-AA level, expectations are high that the program can win its third Northeast Conference championship. The NEC winner will also get to play another game against the Pioneer League champion in the Gridiron Classic.

     "We ended on a very positive note last year," offers UAlbany coach Bob Ford, who has a 210-154-1 career record in 37 seasons at the collegiate level. "Our league now has an opportunity to play in a postseason game and that adds to the excitement. All players and coaches want to reach for the golden ring."

     UAlbany will again compete against a formidable list of non-conference opponents, including perennial NCAA playoff teams Delaware and Lehigh.

OFFENSE: UAlbany's multiple attack improved as the season progressed. "We grew stronger as the year unfolded," Ford says. "You need to be strong down the middle from your center to the tailback position."

     Senior Brett Hall (6-4, 225) emerged at quarterback as a junior college transfer. He completed 75 of 152 passes for 739 yards and three touchdowns. Daniel Bocanegra (6-1, 195) can play multiple positions on the field and will continue to see time as a receiver and kick returner. Bocanegra, who accounted for 200-plus yards in the season-ending win at Fordham, threw for 445 yards and ran for 136 more during the season.  "Brett played with more calm in the second half of the season and was better in the progression of his pass reads," Ford states. "Dan is a jack-of-all-trades who we will feature in all phases of the game."

     The Great Danes have four of five starters back on the offensive line. The group paved the way for the offense to average nearly 174 rushing yards against NEC opposition. Jacob Anderson (6-6, 300) was a first-team all-conference right tackle, while Jacob Hobbs (6-4, 325) was solid in his first year at left tackle. Sam Pagano (6-3, 305) earned second-team All-NEC honors at the left guard position. Center Pierce Brennan (6-1, 275) has been a two-year starter in the trenches. Sophomore Raphael Nguti (6-6, 330) continues to develop and warrants playing time at right tackle.

     UAlbany will once again feature a one-two punch at tailback with Marcus Allen (5-11, 200) and Omar Johnson (6-0, 215). Allen led the team in rushing yards (594) and all-purpose yards (802) and caught 14 passes out of the backfield. Johnson, the team's most improved player, came on in the second half of the season with 385 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Fullback Dan Beigel (6-2, 230) has been productive throughout his career. He ran for 173 yards and two scores, plus caught a pair of TD passes.  "Marcus has all the physical tools, great speed, and blocks well," Ford explains. "Omar is a good inside runner who gets the majority of his yardage between the tackles."

     The football was spread to a large group of receivers last season. Irani DeAraujo (6-2, 200) led that corps with 34 receptions for 368 yards. Flanker Mike Wall hauled in 10 passes for 108 yards and one touchdown, plus ran for another score. Meanwhile, Wayne Carrabus, who had two touchdown receptions, and Ross Jatkola are penciled in at tight end.

DEFENSE: The Great Danes have built their defensive unit around an aggressive group of linebackers. In 2005, UAlbany ranked 11th among the I-AA leaders in rushing defense (113.1 ypg) and scoring against (17.6 ppg).

     "There's no question that this group performed extremely well," Ford says. "Our philosophy has always been to take the run away and force our opponents to throw the ball."

     Preseason All-America Colin Disch (6-1, 220) was named the Football Gazette mid-major linebacker of the year and the NEC's top defender as a sophomore. He reached the 100-tackle mark for the second straight season with 112. He added 15 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks with his quickness and speed. Dan Barnes figures to play alongside Disch at inside linebacker. A two-sport athlete, he had 38 tackles last season.

"Colin has great instincts as do all the great ones," Ford comments. "He can come over the the top and underneath blocks. He is extremely tough."

     Dave Nicomini (6-3, 230) and Trevor DuPont (6-1, 220) are a pair of athletic outside linebackers. Nicomini, who also works at free safety, was fourth on the team in tackles (55), including 21 unassisted, as a redshirt freshman. DuPont, a junior who made great strides in spring practice, had 31 tackles and broke up three passes.

     All-Conference standouts Andre Coleman (6-4, 290) and Michael Dungey (6-2, 275) are the top players on a veteran defensive line. Coleman, a first-team All-NEC end, accounted for 32 tackles, 12 hits for a loss, 4.5 sacks and two pass deflections in a breakout campaign. Dungey, who is very strong and has great legs, added 39 tackles in earning second-team all-league recognition as both a tackle and end.

     Mark Sheehan (6-2, 255) is expected to start at one of the end positions after playing in all 11 games one year ago. Defensive end Jon Volpe (6-1, 260) and tackle Tom Pandolf (6-0, 260) contributed 26 and 24 tackles, respectively. Senior Seamus McLaughlin (6-2, 260) increases the line's depth and talent.

     The UAlbany secondary returns Ryan Chrobak and Eric Neugebauer as starters. Chrobak is a three-year regular with 33 consecutive starts, 145 tackles, 20 pass break-ups and five interceptions as a collegian. "Ryan has quickness, good technique and is a fierce competitor," Ford says. Neugebauer totaled 45 tackles and picked off two passes as a junior.

KICKING GAME: Special teams should be greatly improved. Erie Community College transfer Jason Fralicker is the leading candidate to take over the place-kicking duties. He made 8 of 16 field goals and 21 of 28 PATs two years ago. Chris Lynch is back to help after scoring 36 points (24-24 PATs, 4-11 FGs) in 2004. He averaged 33.4 yards per punt attempt.

     Albany, N.Y. -- The University at Albany placed six players on the Football Gazette NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major Preseason All-America Team, as announced on Thursday, July 27 by the national publication. Linebacker Colin Disch, offensive tackle Jacob Anderson and defensive tackle Michael Dungey were named to the first team. Offensive guard Sam Pagano earned second-team honors, while defensive end Andre Coleman and cornerback Ryan Chrobak were honorable mention selections.

     Disch, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound inside linebacker, has already been picked by Street & Smith’s College Football Yearbook and Lindy’s Sports Annuals as the Northeast Conference’s top defender in their preseason publications. Disch, the 2005 Football Gazette mid-major linebacker of the year, made 112 tackles last season.

     Anderson was a second-team mid-major All-American and first-team All-NEC offensive tackle last year. A 6-foot-6, 300-pound senior, Anderson has made 21 consecutive starts on the line. Dungey (6-2, 275) recorded 39 tackles and 3.0 sacks en route to being named a 2005 mid-major All-America second-team defensive tackle.

     Pagano, a second-team All-NEC left guard, made 11 starts for an offense that averaged nearly 174 rushing yards against conference opponents. Coleman (6-4, 290) received first-team All-NEC honors with 32 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Chrobak, who will start for the fourth consecutive season in the secondary, had 47 tackles and five pass break-ups.

    Hatboro, Pa. -- Three University at Albany football players have been selected to The Sports Network 2006 Preseason Division I-AA Mid-Major All-America Team. Linebacker Colin Disch, offensive tackle Jacob Anderson and defensive tackle Michael Dungey are members of the 28-player squad.

    Disch, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound junior, recorded 112 tackles, including 15 for losses, with 4.5 sacks, three pass break-ups and one interception. Disch, the 2005 Northeast Conference defensive player of the year, earned mid-major All-America and first-team all-conference honors for the second consecutive season one year ago. Street & Smith’s College Football Yearbook and Lindy’s Sports Annuals have picked Disch as the NEC’s top defender in their preseason publications.

    Anderson, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound right tackle, was named second-team mid-major All-American and first-team All-NEC last season. Anderson, who has started 21 consecutive games, blocked for an offense that improved as the year progressed and allowed the Great Danes to win five of their last six games.

    Dungey, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound junior, made 39 tackles, including nine hits for a loss and 3.0 sacks, en route to being named to the 2005 mid-major All-America second team. He led a defense that ranked among the NCAA I-AA leaders in rushing defense (11th), scoring defense (11th) and total defense (15th).

COLIN DISCH ON SPORTS NETWORK’S PRESEASON I-AA ALL-AMERICA FOOTBALL TEAM

     Hatboro, Pa. -- University at Albany’s Colin Disch has been named to The Sports Network’s Division I-AA Preseason All-America Football Team, as announced on Thursday, July 6 by the national wire service. Disch, an honorable mention selection, and Michael Caputo of St. Francis, Pa., were the lone Northeast Conference players chosen.

     Disch, the 2005 NEC defensive player of the year, recorded 112 tackles, including 15 for losses, with 4.5 sacks, three pass break-ups and one interception from his inside linebacker position. Disch, a mid-major All-American and first-team all-conference choice for the second consecutive season, led a UAlbany defense that ranked among the NCAA leaders in scoring against, rushing yards allowed and total defense.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS TAKE UALBANY'S JERMAINE LEE IN CFL SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT
     Edmonton, Alberta - Former University at Albany football player Jermaine Lee was selected as a non-import defensive end by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2006 Canadian Football League Supplemental Draft on Monday, June 12.
     Lee, a native of Rockville Centre, N.Y., who earned four varsity letters from 2002-05, appeared in 37 games for the Great Danes. He totaled 116 tackles and 16.0 sacks as a collegian. Lee led a UAlbany defense that ranked among the NCAA Division I-AA leaders in points allowed, rushing defense and total yards allowed last season.
     To acquire Lee, the Eskimos relinquished their sixth round selection in the 2007 CFL Canadian Draft.

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE & PIONEER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS TO MEET IN GRIDIRON CLASSIC
     Somerset, N.J. -- The Northeast Conference (NEC) and Pioneer Football League (PFL) on Tuesday, May 16 announced a two-year agreement to meet in the Gridiron Classic, an exempted postseason football game that will match the champions of the two I-AA football conferences.
     The inaugural Gridiron Classic will take place on Saturday, November 18 with the NEC champion serving as host.  The PFL winner will host the 2007 event.
     “We are very pleased about the postseason opportunity that the Gridiron Classic affords our student-athletes,” said Ron Ratner, NEC Interim Commissioner.  “The NEC and its schools look forward to working with the PFL in making this a highly anticipated game at the I-AA level.”
     “Student-athletes thrive on competition and having a meaningful postseason opportunity is a high priority for our institutions,” said Patty Viverito, PFL Commissioner.  “The PFL’s new full round-robin schedule will crown a true league champion and the Gridiron Classic gives our best team the chance to test and showcase their talents against another top-notch Division I-AA champion.”

     Central Connecticut State and Stony Brook are the defending NEC co-champions, while San Diego is the reigning PFL champion.
     The Northeast Conference consists of 11 institutions of higher learning located throughout five states and is celebrating its 25th year as an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association.  Media coverage of the NEC extends to four of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Pittsburgh (#22), Baltimore (#24), and Hartford/New Haven (#28).  Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference.  The NEC began sponsoring football at the I-AA level in 1996, and has since increased its membership from five to eight institutions. Central Connecticut State, Monmouth, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (PA) and Wagner are full-time NEC members who sponsor football, and they are joined by associate members Albany and Stony Brook.

     Set to begin its 14th season, the Pioneer Football League is one of three Division I football-only sport conferences.  The PFL is comprised of eight members: Butler, Dayton, Davidson, Drake, Jacksonville, Morehead State, San Diego and Valparaiso.

DISCH, CHROBAK, BRENNAN, BEIGEL & BARNES NAMED UALBANY FOOTBALL CAPTAINS

     Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Tuesday, April 4 that Colin Disch, Ryan Chrobak, Pierce Brennan, Dan Beigel and Dan Barnes will serve as team captains for the 2006 season. The Great Danes will conclude spring practice on Wednesday, April 5 with a 3:00 p.m. workout at Alumni Turf Field.

     Disch, the 2005 Football Gazette mid-major linebacker of the year, was named the Northeast Conference’s top defensive player last season. He totaled 112 tackles and ranked among the national leaders in that category. Disch, who added 15 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks, was voted captain for the second consecutive year.

     Chrobak has made 33 consecutive starts at cornerback. He has accounted for 145 tackles, 20 pass break-ups and five interceptions during his career. Chrobak, who had 47 total hits and broke up five passes last year, was a key figure on a defensive unit that ranked 11th among the Division I-AA leaders in both rushing yards allowed (113.1 ypg) and scoring defense (17.6 ppg) in 2005.

     Brennan, a 6-foot-1, 275-pound center, has been a two-year starter on UAlbany’s offensive line. Beigel, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound junior, ran for 173 yards and two scores, plus caught a pair of touchdown passes from his fullback position last year. Barnes, a two-sport athlete in football and lacrosse, made 38 tackles, including four for a loss, as a sophomore inside linebacker.

     UAlbany opens its 2006 season at Lehigh on Saturday, Sept. 2 in Bethlehem, Pa.

UALBANY FOOTBALL COACH BOB FORD HONORED AT 69th MAXWELL AWARDS

     Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany's Bob Ford was honored on the occasion of his 200th career win at the school at the 69th Annual Maxwell Awards Banquet in Atlantic City, New Jersey last Friday. Ford recorded his milestone win in a 20-17 come-from-behind victory against Robert Morris on Nov. 5, 2005.
     Maxwell Awards President Ron Jaworski, the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and presently an ESPN pro football analyst, presented Coach Ford with his 200th Collegiate Win Award. In addition, Texas' Vince Young received the College Player of the Year, while Penn State's Joe Paterno was given the George Munger Award as the College Coach of the Year. Shaun Alexander, of the Seattle Seahawks, was presented the Bert Bell Award as the Professional Player of the Year. Tony Dungy, of the Indianapolis Colts, earned the "Greasy" Neale Award as the Professional Coach of the Year.
     "This was a great tribute to the University to be recognized on such a distinguished dais," said Ford, who has compiled a 201-132 record in 33 varsity seasons as the UAlbany head coach. "To be honored along with Joe Paterno and Tony Dungy was a great thrill. This recognition reflects favorably on our coaches, players and the entire university community."
     Coach Ford started the UAlbany football program as a club team in 1970. Since then, the program has competed at the NCAA Division III, Division II and Division I-AA levels. Ford ranks second among active I-AA coaches with 210 career victories overall. He guided the Great Danes to a pair of Northeast Conference championships in 2002 and 2003.