Football Opens Home Slate With Rhode Island Saturday
GAME NOTES I RADIO I LIVE STATS I COACH'S CORNER
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The University at Albany football team welcomes Rhode Island to Bob Ford Field Saturday for the squad's first home game and CAA clash of the season. Airing live on the American Sports Network, kickoff is set for 3:34 p.m.
UALBANY, RHODE ISLAND SERIES
In their last meeting, the Great Danes captured the program's first CAA victory over the Rams in 2014, winning 37-20 on Sept. 20 in Kingston, R.I. The series is currently tied, 1-1. The last time UAlbany hosted Rhode Island was Sept. 14, 2013, which marked the first football game to ever be played at Bob Ford Field. The Rams stole a 19-13 win in overtime in front of a sold-out crowd.
LAST TIME OUT
Taking on the program's first FBS opponent, UAlbany marched down the gridiron in its opening drive Saturday afternoon at UB Stadium, taking a quick 7-0 lead in front of 20,872 fans. However, the hosting University at Buffalo Bulls responded with 38 straight points, stealing a 51-14 win over the Great Danes in the season-opener. In the game, UAlbany totaled 269 yards of offense, led by DJ Crook's 11-for-22 passing effort for 104 yards and a touchdown. In the second half, freshman Neven Sussman connected 2-of-3 passes for 24 yards. Josh Gontarek piloted the receiving corps with five receptions for a total of 66 yards. In the ground game, Ibitokun-Hanks logged 74 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in the second half. Redshirt freshman Elliot Croskey rushed the ball 12 times for a total of 29 yards and also had a 10-yard reception. Defensively, Colin Cooper led the Great Danes with 11 tackles (5 solo) followed by Julian Cox's seven (4 solo).
SCOUTING RHODE ISLAND
Like UAlbany, the Rams come off a week one loss to an FBS team. URI fell 47-0 to Syracuse at the Carrier Dome last Friday night, committing three turnovers in the first five minutes of the game. Going 1-11 in 2014, Rhode Island returns 17 starters -- seven on offense, eight on defense, and two on special teams -- including senior cornerback Myles Holmes and redshirt junior left tackle Tyler Catalina who were named CAA third team all-conference last year. Head coach Jim Fleming is in his third season at the helm, owning a 1-12 mark at URI and 22-13 career record, coaching two seasons at Sacred Heart.
IBITOKUN-HANKS NAMED CAA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
UAlbany freshman running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks was named the CAA Rookie of the Week, announced Monday by the conference office.
STATS VS. BUFFALO
Rushes: 11
Net Yards: 74
Rushing TDs (Yards): 1 (20)
IBITOKUN-HANKS NOTES: Led UAlbany with 74 rushing yards at Buffalo, including a fourth-quarter touchdown … Averaged 6.7 yards on 11 carries in the game … All 11 rushing attempts went for positive yards against the FBS Bulls.
KETTER, MORRISON, NICASTRO, WIERBINSKI, & EIGHT-YEAR-OLD LUKE HOAG NAMED 2015 TEAM CAPTAINS
Head Coach Greg Gattuso and the UAlbany football program named Nic Ketter, Neil Morrison, Michael Nicastro, Adam Wierbinski, and eight-year-old Luke Hoag as team captains for the 2015 season. The captains were chosen based on votes by the Great Dane players and coaches.
NIC KETTER, RJR., TE, QUEENSBURY, N.Y. -- Ketter is sidelined this fall due to a torn ACL he suffered during spring season. In his sophomore campaign, the tight end from Queensbury, N.Y. native played in all 12 games, recording eight receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
MICHAEL NICASTRO, RJR., LB, CLARKSVILLE, MD. -- Nicastro was named to the Third-Team All-CAA Defense in 2014, ranking third in the CAA with 120 tackles (54 solo), averaging 10.0 per game. He also totaled three sacks for a loss of eight total yards. Nicastro played in every contest the last two seasons, starting all 12 as a redshirt sophomore.
ADAM WIERBINSKI, RJR., OL, CAMILLUS, N.Y. -- Starting every game for the past two seasons, Wierbinski helped UAlbany's offense to 26.8 points per game, good for fifth in the conference last season. At center, he protected quarterback Will Fiacchi, allowing him to break the single-season passing record (2,636 yards) and career passing record (7,150 yards).
NEIL MORRISON, JR., LB, MIRAMAR, FLA. -- In 2014, Morrison had the play of the season, lighting the spark to the Great Danes' 4-0 start when he recovered a 79-yard fumble for the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the season-opener vs. Holy Cross. Morrison totaled 31 tackles, including 17 solo on the season.
LUKE HOAG, 3RD GRADE, HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. -- Luke connected with the UAlbany football team through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. Luke was diagnosed with a ganglioglioma of the brainstem and cerebellum when he was 16 months old. Meeting the Great Danes last spring, Luke hasn't let his inoperable brain tumor take away his giant smile that's served as an inspiration to the team this season.
BRIAN PARKER MAKES KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 53-MAN ROSTER
After signing with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in the spring of 2015, former UAlbany tight end Brian Parker was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 6 off waivers and named to the 53-man roster. Parker caught one pass during the preseason with the Chargers for 14 yards. Parker, a native of Henrietta, N.Y., totaled 1,006 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in his career at UAlbany. The 6'4 tight end was named Third-Team All-CAA in his senior season, totaling 500 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 39 receptions. A member of UAlbany's squad from 2010 to 2014, Parker helped UAlbany win back-to-back Northeast Conference championships (2011-12) and to the program's first NCAA Division I Playoff in 2011. Parker also played a key role in the Great Danes' jump to the Colonial Athletic Association in 2013 and to 2014's seven-win season.
UALBANY'S 2014 IN REVIEW
With a 7-5 overall record and 3-5 mark in the CAA, Greg Gattuso led the Great Danes to a six-win turnaround in his inaugural season. Going undefeated in non-conference play while opening the season with four straight victories, the Great Danes received votes in the national polls for 10 consecutive weeks. UAlbany appeared in The Sports Network Top-25 for four weeks, ranking as high as No. 23. Enforcing discipline and care of the football, UAlbany led the nation in turnover margin (1.25) as well as fumble recoveries (20), while quarterback Will Fiacchi became UAlbany's all-time leading passer with 7,150 career yards and broke the program's single-season passing record with 2,636 yards. Marking the University's second season as an associate member of the CAA, Gattuso led the Danes to the program's first three CAA wins, overcoming Rhode Island, Maine, and Stony Brook. True freshman wide receiver Josh Gontarek was named the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year, headlining UAlbany's group of seven players who were honored by the CAA. Running back Omar Osbourne was named to the second team, while tight end Brian Parker, offensive lineman Kevin Malloy, place kicker Patrick Toole, and linebacker Michael Nicastro were all named to the CAA's third team. In addition, wide receiver Jake Meek was the recipient of the CAA's Chuck Boone Leadership Award.
A UALBANY WIN WOULD…
- Improve UAlbany's record to 1-1 overall.
- Give UAlbany a 2-1 all-time record vs. Rhode Island.
- Improve UAlbany's all-time CAA record to 4-14.
- Improve UAlbany's all-time varsity record to 265-176.
- Improve Coach Gattuso's career record to 105-38.
- Improve Coach Gattuso's record at UAlbany to 8-6.
A UALBANY LOSS WOULD…
- Make UAlbany's record 0-2 overall.
- Give UAlbany a 1-2 all-time record vs. Rhode Island.
- Drop UAlbany's all-time CAA record to 3-15.
- Drop UAlbany's all-time varsity record to 263-177.
- Drop Coach Gattuso's career record to 104-39.
- Drop Coach Gattuso's record at UAlbany to 7-7.
UALBANY FOOTBALL TO HAVE FOUR GAMES FEATURED IN CAA TV LINEUP
CAA Football has finalized its television package for the 2015 season, and is again set to feature one of the nation's top lineups with partners NBCSN, NBC Sports Regional Networks and the American Sports Network. The UAlbany football program will have four of its games featured in the bundle, including the home opener on Sept. 12 versus Rhode Island, marking the season's first conference matchup. The clash kicks off CAA Football's 2015 television package at 3:30 p.m. on American Sports Network (ASN). The following Saturday, the Great Danes will travel to take on James Madison at 3 p.m. on NBC Sports Regional Networks/Comcast SportsNet. Back at Bob Ford Field for two games on ASN, UAlbany hosts Villanova on Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m., and concludes the home slate against New Hampshire at 7 p.m. on Nov. 21.
GONTAREK NAMED TO CAA PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
UAlbany wide receiver Josh Gontarek was named to the CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team, announced at the conference's annual Media Day at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Gontarek, a sophomore from Mount Airy, Md., was the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014. Boasting the highest freshman output in program history, Gontarek recorded a team-high nine touchdowns (8 receiving, 1 rushing), 58 receptions, and 687 receiving yards. In addition, Gontarek was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, was named the CAA Rookie of the Week four times, and was honored as the FCS National Freshman of the Week after leading the Great Danes to the program's first CAA victory.
UALBANY FOOTBALL REVEALS ALTERNATE UNIFORM
The UAlbany football program unveiled an alternate third uniform Thursday, Aug. 27, which will be worn on the Sept. 12 home opener versus Rhode Island. A change from the program's traditional gold helmets and purple home jerseys, the alternate uniform features a purple helmet with “UAlbany” written in an arch, Nike's Anthracite Grey as a base jersey and pant color, and detailed accents of purple and gold throughout.
1985 FOOTBALL TEAM, DMITRENKO TO BE INDUCTED INTO UALBANY ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
The University at Albany has announced that it will induct Blair Buchanan (Volleyball, 2003-06), Amber Maisonet (Softball, 2005-08), Luke Daquino (Men's Lacrosse, 2002-05), Kevin Rae (Men's Lacrosse, 2002-05), Scott Dmitrenko (Football, 1984-85), and the 1985 football team into the Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept. 26.
Scott Dmitrenko (Football, 1984-85)
A two-year member of the UAlbany football team, Scott Dmitrenko led the 1985 Great Danes to the ECAC North Championship title. A product of Shenendehowa High School, Dmitrenko recorded 123 tackles (34 solo) in the 1985 season, which currently ranks 10th all-time in the program's record book. In the ECAC Championship game versus Plymouth State, Dmitrenko totaled 14 tackles and made a key 4th-and-1 stop that garnered the linebacker ECAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. After graduation, Dmitrenko went on to compete professionally in the Arena Football League. As a member of the Pittsburgh Gladiators, he played in the inaugural Arena Bowl in 1987.
1985 Football Team
Under the direction of head coach Bob Ford, the 1985 University at Albany football team rallied from a three-touchdown deficit to capture a 33-21 victory over Plymouth State in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) North Championship. With a 9-2 overall record on the season, the Great Danes ended Plymouth's 28-game home win streak. The '85 team boasted offensive and defensive units that were nationally ranked, and featured five Pizza Hut and one Associated Press All-America players. UAlbany chalked up three shutouts on the season and held opponents scoreless in the second half in six of 11 games. Celebrating the feat's 30-year anniversary, the 1985 team marks the second football team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining the undefeated 1974 squad.
FOUR FORMER NFL PLAYERS ON STAFF
The Great Danes have four former NFL players currently on the coaching staff -- associate head coach Bernard Clark, offensive line coach Jim Sweeney, defensive line coach Delbert Cowsette, and tight ends coach Nate Byham. Clark was a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks, playing three seasons in the NFL and two in the AFL. A 16-year veteran of the NFL, Sweeney was second round pick in the 1984 draft. He was named to the All-NFL Rookie Team after his first season with the New York Jets and played 11 seasons with the Jets with 158 consecutive starts. Cowsette was drafted by the Washington Redskins and played for the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears from 2000-06. Lastly, Byham was sixth round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He battled in 29 NFL games, playing 14 games, including three starts, with the 49ers before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
UALBANY FOOTBALL WEEKLY ON MY4
For the second straight year, a UAlbany football coaches show will air on MY4 (WNYA) this season. NBC13 (WNYT) sports director Rodger Wyland hosts the 30-minute show with new Great Danes football coach Greg Gattuso every Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
UP NEXT
UAlbany travels to take on CAA-foe James Madison Saturday, Sept. 19 at 3 p.m.
