UAlbany Football Ranked In Two National Polls For First Time Since ‘06

Photo: UAlbany celebrates after a touchdown vs. Saint Francis on Oct. 13.

ALBANY, N.Y. - For the second time in program history and first time since 2006, the University at Albany football team is ranked in both the FCS Coaches Poll and The Sports Network Top-25 this week. The Great Danes moved up two spots in the Coaches Poll to No. 20, staying ranked for the third straight week, while breaking into the TSN Poll for the first time in six years at No. 24.

Ironically, UAlbany (6-1, 4-0 NEC), the Northeast Conference leader, moved into the TSN poll off its bye week. However, the Great Danes, who participated in the FCS playoffs for the first time last season, have been impressive against a solid schedule.

All of the Great Danes' wins have been by double figures, including against high-scoring Colgate from the Patriot League and Maine of CAA Football. Their lone loss was by a touchdown to Youngstown State from the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Bob Ford, the only coach UAlbany has known in 43 seasons, has 261 career wins, including 252 on the varsity level. His squad features senior running back Drew Smith, who leads the FCS with 15 touchdowns.

UAlbany's ranking in the TSN Poll is its first since Sept. 25, 2006 and the first for an NEC team since Robert Morris was ranked 25th in the Nov. 8, 2010 poll.

A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the Top 25 for The Sports Network, while the FCS Coaches Poll is based exclusively on a voting panel of head coaches in the FCS under the cooperation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and is administered by the Southern Conference.

The Great Danes resume play this weekend, traveling to Sacred Heart University (2-5, 1-3 NEC). The conference game will kick off at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Campus Field in Fairfield, Conn.

FCS COACHES POLL

Others Receiving Votes: Bethune-Cookman (26), McNeese State (26), UT Martin (25), Richmond (23), Alabama A&M (19), Southern Illinois (17), Sacramento State (16), Jacksonville State (14), Northern Iowa (4), South Dakota State (3), Princeton (3), Samford (2), The Citadel (1).