Football Albany Great Danes

the team competes in ncaa division football championship subdivision (fcs) football-only member of colonial athletic association (caa). 2013 season great danes first in caa, following 14-year tenure in northeast conference.

albany played football club sport in 1920s, dropped program in 1924. modern era of albany football began in 1970, when school restored football club sport. team upgraded full varsity status in 1973. revival of football in 1970 through 2012, team played home games @ 10,000-seat university field in albany, new york. albany opened new 8,500-seat stadium, bob ford field, 2013 season. stadium named after bob ford, great danes head coach 1970 through 2013.

during late 1900s 1 of known coaches @ university ford. architect of university @ albany s football program, ford albany s head coach reinstatement of program after 46-year absence until retirement @ end of 2013 season. ford joined program in 1970 when club. after 3 seasons @ club level, program upgraded varsity status in 1973, , finished 7–2 record. in 1974, team finished 9–0, school s undefeated season. ford put record of 256–169 great danes. ford recorded 250th career win 38–10 victory against duquesne on october 8, 2011.

during time albany, ford led great danes 1 ecac north championships (d-iii), 1 division iii playoff appearance, 2 east football conference championships , 3 northeast conference championships (two co-championship).

the great danes have been successful in football since first season on division i-aa level. in 1999 season great danes compiled 7–2 overall record, finishing 6–1 in-conference, second in nec.

on april 17, 2012, university broke ground on new multi-sport complex available use beginning in fall 2013. along complex new home football , soccer, new track created on current football field, university field. plans build stadium revealed in summer 2011. new stadium, field named bob ford field, hold 6,000. however, stadium built future expansion can take place upwards 10,000 15,000.

it announced on august 7, 2012, beginning in 2013, football program accept increase in scholarships , move out of northeast conference , colonial athletic association. stony brook, former northeast conference rival, making move them.

on november 17, 2012, great danes played final nec conference game , final game @ university field against central connecticut state. ualbany defeated blue devils, 63–34, finishing 78–24 all-time against nec opponents , 127–65 @ university field. great danes clinched share of nec championship. however, did not win nec automatic bid due loss against wagner (one of 2 losses on 2012 season) , finishing in tie seahawks.

on august 13, 2013, bob ford announced after 2013 season (his 45th year @ ualbany), retiring. on november 16, 2013, ford coached final home game great danes.

the great danes had worst season under bob ford in 2013. team finished 1–11, time bob ford team won 1 game in season. went 0–5 @ home , 0–8 overall in first season in caa.

ford coached final home game @ ualbany on november 16 against new hampshire. on november 23, ford coached final game @ ualbany, great danes lost stony brook on long island. finished 265 career wins (256 @ ualbany), ranked 15th all-time in coaching victories @ time.

on december 9, 2013 greg gattuso, former head coach @ duquesne university , assistant head coach @ both pittsburgh , maryland, named new head coach @ ualbany.

ualbany , nfl

the ualbany football program grew under ford s leadership, leading connections between program , national football league. rudy vido, graduated in 1974 fullback , defensive end, became first player in school history sign contract nfl team. cut in preseason new england patriots, never played in nfl. vido signed several canadian football league teams, never played in cfl either.

in 2005, kurt campbell became first player in program s history drafted nfl. campbell selected in seventh round green bay packers.

in 2007 nfl draft, rashad barksdale became second player in school history drafted. selected in sixth round philadelphia eagles. barksdale cut @ end of training camp, signed kansas city chiefs, , became first player in school history placed on nfl 53-man roster.

barksdale made national football league debut on october 7, 2007 against jacksonville jaguars. marked first time ualbany player had appeared in nfl regular-season game when took field on special teams. played on punt cover , punt return units , recorded first career tackle in fourth-quarter.

barksdale cut chiefs on august 31, 2008. however, signed new york giants member of practice squad 2008 season. on december 30, 2008, barksdale became first ua stand-out make nfl playoff roster after giants signed him replace corner sam madison, went down ankle injury.

the great danes have sent multiple players try-outs , nfl training camps un-drafted free agents. in addition nfl, multiple alumni have participated in canadian football league , arena football league. many former coaching staff members have coached in nfl, including former nfl head coach dave campo. 2006 2010, tony , andy sparano key figures on great danes roster. @ same time, father, tony sparano, head coach of miami dolphins.

the strongest connection nfl university hosting new york giants summer training camp. 1996 2012, university s practice fields handed on giants, bringing fans , media around new york , united states albany. in 2007, school dedicated university s football practice field in honor of wellington mara , preston robert tisch, late co-owners of giants. mara , tisch instrumental in making university @ albany home giants summer training camp.