Football To Host CCSU On Hall Of Fame Weekend

 

ALBANY, N.Y. – In search of the program’s first win at Bob Ford Field, the University at Albany football team hosts former Northeast Conference foe Central Connecticut State University (0-3, 0-0 NEC) Saturday at 7:00 p.m. In their last meeting, the Great Danes hoisted the NEC trophy after topping the Blue Devils, 63-34, clinching a share of the conference title in the 2012 season finale. Now competing in the CAA, UAlbany (1-2, 0-1 CAA) will look to return to a .500 winning percentage in the non-conference clash before hitting the road for three consecutive away games.

CATCH THE ACTION
TICKETS: Click here for UAlbany ticket information.
AUDIO: The game can be heard in the Capital Region on WGY 810AM/103.1FM or anywhere online here. To listen on your mobile device, download the iHeartRadio app and search for WGY. Rodger Wyland and Zach Bye will have the call.
TELEVISION: Saturday’s action will be aired live on Time Warner Cable Sports.
TWITTER: Follow @UAlbanySports on Twitter for live updates, photos and highlights.
LIVE STATS: Live stats can be found here. A full recap and box score will be available at the conclusion of the game at UAlbanySports.com.
GAME NOTES: An in-depth look at the weekend’s matchup.

SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES
2013 Record: 1-2, 0-1 CAA
2012 Record: 9-2, 7-1 NEC (T-1st)
2013 CAA Preseason Poll: 10th/11
Head Coach: Bob Ford (41st varsity season at UAlbany/44th overall at UAlbany/45th overall as head coach) (256-161-0 / 265-182-1)

THE COACH: Bob Ford ranks first among active NCAA Division I FCS coaches with 265 career victories and is also fourth on the all-time FCS chart. Ford, the architect of the UAlbany program, has led the Great Danes to a 256-161 record in his 41st varsity season. Under his direction, the Great Danes have moved from the club level in 1970 to its present NCAA Division I FCS status. At the team’s media day on Aug. 13th, Ford announced that his 44th season at the helm in 2013 will be his last. More than 100 of Bob Ford’s assistant coaches are currently working in the professional, college and high school ranks.

LAST TIME OUT
The Great Danes lost an overtime heartbreaker to Rhode Island last Saturday, 19-13, in front of a sold-out crowd in the inaugural game at Bob Ford Field and first CAA clash. After falling behind early, UAlbany scored 13 points in the third quarter, tying up the ballgame on Jake Meek’s 17-yard run as time expired in the stanza. With a 1:35 remaining in the fourth, URI missed a field goal and the game went to overtime. The Rams scored a touchdown on their possession, but missed the extra point, giving the Great Danes a chance to steal the victory. However, URI recorded a sack on third-down and knocked down the fourth-down end zone pass, ending the game. Omar Osbourne led the team with 96 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Jameel Gay record 96 receiving yards with seven receptions, while Will Fiacchi completed 17 of 36 passes with one interception. Defensively, Christian Dorsey led the squad with 14 tackles.

SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS
2013 Record: 0-3, 0-0 NEC
2012 Record: 2-8, 2-5 NEC (8th)
2013 NEC Preseason Poll: 6th/7
Head Coach: Jeff McInerney (8th season at CCSU) (44-36 / Same)

THE COACH: Jeff McInerney is in his eighth season as Central Connecticut State’s head coach. He has led the Blue Devils to a pair of Northeast Conference titles and his 44 wins are the second-highest total in school history. In 2009, McInerney was named the NEC Coach of the Year, as the Blue Devils won the first outright NEC title in school history and advanced to their first-ever Division I postseason game. McInerney has seen plenty of success in his coaching career, three times being a part of a staff that won a National Championship (1984 and 1987 at Troy State; 1990 at Georgia Southern).

CCSU OVERVIEW: The Blue Devils are in search of their first win of the season, falling to top-25 ranked James Madison (38-14) and Lehigh (51-44) in the first two weeks of the season. Most recently, CCSU was overcome by Holy Cross, 52-21, in the Blue Devils’ home-opener. Offensively, CCSU is led by running back Rob Hollomon, who has totaled 371 rushing yards and five touchdowns this fall, averaging 123.7 yards per game. Sophomore quarterback Nick SanGiacomo has completed 32-of-53 passes with five TD tosses and one interception, while top receivers are Tyrell Holmes and Denzell Jones with two touchdown catches apiece.

NEARING 100 DIVISION I WINS
Since becoming a Divison I FCS program in 1999, UAlbany owns a 98-60 overall record – just two victories away from the century mark.

1974 TEAM TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME
The 1974 UAlbany football team has been selected to be inducted into the University at Albany Athletics Hall of Fame. The ’74 team is the only squad in program history with an undefeated record, going 9-0. Current UAlbany linebackers coach Don Mion was a member of that team and set the record for tackles in a single game during that year. He recorded 24 tackles against Alfred on Sept. 28, 1974. The ’74 team will be inducted along with two other athletes – Todd Cetnar (Basketball, 1996-2000) and Alissa Gibbs (Volleyball, 1999-2002) Friday night and will be honored at halftime of the CCSU game.

HOME CROWDS
UAlbany broke its home attendance record with the opening of Bob Ford Field on September 14, 2013, filling the stadium to its capacity of 8,500. Attendance has topped 6,000 fans 12 times since 1973.

UALBANY’S TOP HOME CROWDS
1. Sept. 14, 2013: 8,500 (stadium capacity) vs. Rhode Island
2. Nov. 6, 1978: 7,500 vs. Ithaca
3. Sept. 20, 1975: 7,500 vs. Ithaca
4. Oct. 13, 2012: 6,852 vs. Saint Francis, Pa.
5. Oct. 9, 2010: 6,624 vs. Saint Francis, Pa.
6. Oct. 5, 1974: 6,500 vs. RIT
7. Sept. 10, 1984: 6,500 vs. Ithaca
8. Oct. 13, 2007: 6,419 vs. Sacred Heart
9. Oct. 10, 2009: 6,255 vs. Duquesne
10. Sept. 10, 2005: 6,212 vs. Hofstra
11. Sept. 1, 2012: 6,194 vs. Colgate
12. Oct. 12, 1996: 6,082 vs. Union

CAREER VICTORIES
UAlbany’s Bob Ford is fourth among the winningest Football Championship Subdivision head coaches in career victories (265). Grambling’s Eddie Robinson leads the list with 408.

WINNINGEST FCS COACHES ALL-TIME BY VICTORIES
408, Eddie Robinson, Grambling (408-165-15, 55 years)
314, Roy Kidd, Eastern Kentucky (314-124-8, 39 years)
300, Tubby Raymond, Delaware (300-119-3, 36 years)
265, Bob Ford, St. Lawrence, Albany (265-182-1, 45th year)
246, Mike Kelly, Dayton (246-54-1, 27 years)
245, Billy Joe, Cheyney, Central State, Florida A&M, Miles (245-127-4, 34 yrs)
241, Jim Tressel, Youngstown State, Ohio State (241-79-2, 25 years)

UP NEXT
UAlbany hits the road for three consecutive away games, traveling to Old Dominion (9/28), James Madison (10/5), and Delaware (10/12) before returning home on Oct. 19th to host Towson.