Albany, N.Y. - The first day of preseason football camp brings a variety of sights and sounds. An assistant coach adamantly lets an offensive tackle know he has missed an assignment, a couple of defensive linemen playfully push each other as they move to another drill, and a defensive back causes the sideline to erupt following an interception. In any circumstance, the opening practice provides the backdrop for the excitement that only a new season can bring.
"You can't wait to get started and then you think where did the summer go," said University at Albany head coach Bob Ford, who is beginning his 39th varsity season at the school. "I like our entire defense, especially the line. We have a solid group of running backs and receivers, but we still have to pick a starting quarterback. The offensive line just needs to gel, because I know you will not play in December if you can't run the football."
The Great Danes, who were picked fourth in the Northeast Conference's preseason poll, started on Monday afternoon (Aug. 8) with the traditional form running as a couple of rain drops fell on an 80-degree day that began with clouds and ended with sunshine. In the two-hour session, the coaches and players transitioned through individual work, special teams, tackling drills, seven-on-seven situations, before finishing with the field goal unit.
"This is the first time on the field for me since Monmouth (final game in 2010)," stated Eddie Delaney, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end who missed spring practice after recovery from off-season shoulder surgery. "We have a solid defensive line and I am excited to see what we can do. Our goal is to win the conference."
The Great Danes have fourteen starters, including seven on offense and seven on defense, back from last year's 6-5 campaign. Although the program was happy with a record fifth consecutive winning season, there was no satisfaction in tying for fourth in the conference standings.
"This will be a better football team," offered Ford, who has recorded 238 of his 247 career victories as the UAlbany mentor. And a new season has arrived.
Paw Prints: UAlbany's road game at Wagner on Saturday, Oct. 29 is part of the NEC television schedule and will air on Fox College Sports and ESPN3 ... kickoff has been moved to 12 noon ... placekicker Herb Glass and punter Paul Layton each attended separate kicking camps in the state of Wisconsin during the summer ... defensive end Eddie Delaney says he enjoys playing for coach Bob Ford because, "he is never in a bad mood and loves football" ... Andy Sparano, the starting the center on last year's UAlbany team, has been named assistant coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) ... UAlbany coach Bob Ford says he has mixed emotions about the New York Giants not training at UAlbany this summer ... Ford, who started his career as running backs/secondary coach at St. Lawrence University in 1959, misses the relationships with the coaches and players, but is pleased to have his practice fields and meetings rooms back.
