2009 NEC Football

16-21 Albany 46-51 Robert Morris Can Bob Ford’s Great Danes be the first to an outright three-peat? Are the young Colonials ready for a return to the top? 22-27 Bryant 52-57 Sacred Heart Where will the Bulldogs finish during their inaugural NEC season? 28-33 Central Connecticut State Can the Pioneers follow up the NEC’s top turnaround with a title?

Is a sixth-straight winning conference record in the cards? 58-63 Saint Francis (PA)

34-39 Duquesne Will the Red Flash take the next step toward contention?

Do the Dukes rebound from an uncharacteristic 3-7 record? 64-69 Wagner 40-45 Monmouth Does a 22nd winning season await Walt Hameline and Wagner? Slotted second in poll again, can the Hawks take back the title?

Albany Back-to-Back NEC Champions Table Of Contents Great Danes 2008 Gridiron Classic Champions 2-3 About The NEC/Membership 4 NEC Scholar-Athletes/Alumni 5 Composite Schedule 6 NEC Directory/Presidents 7 NEC Office Staff 8 Commissioner’s Cup 9 NEC Television 10 All-Americans in the NEC 11 Legaue News & Notes 12 Postseason Play 13 Preseason Poll/Preview 14 Officiating 16-69 NEC Team-By-Team Reports 70-84 NEC Seasons In Review 85-90 NEC Football Record Book 91 Driving Directions To NEC Institutions

Northeast Conference 399 Campus Drive, First Floor Somerset, NJ 08873 (732) 469-0440 • Fax: (732) 469-0744 www.northeastconference.org NEC Football Media Contact: Ralph Ventre

Credits Editing, Design and Layout: Ralph Ventre Editorial Assistance: Ron Ratner, Andrew Alia, Jackie Swierc, NEC SIDs Photos: NFL, James D. Smith, Dave Saffran, Greg Vedder, Bob Ewell, Steve Slade, George Kien, Jason Cohn, J.D. Cavrich, Paul Bereswill, Bob O’Rourke, J. Gregory Raymond and Steve Smith

www.northeastconference.org Visit the official league website for standings, stats, notes, releases and the latest in the world of NEC football. 2009 Northeast Conference Football About The NEC/Conference Membership

NEC History

As it strives toward becoming a NCAA Division I leader for athletic achievement, academic integrity, and sportsmanship, the Northeast Conference continues to ensure that the personal development of its student-athletes is its highest priority. Now in its 29th year of service, the NEC aims for a greater national presence while remain- ing committed to the local communities of its member institutions. The NEC can trace its roots back to 1981, when the league was first established as the men's basketball-only ECAC-Metro Conference. A single-sport entity at its inception, even the league's most ardent supporters during its formative years could not have envisioned a transformation into a burgeoning 12-member, 22-sport conference. The remarkable success story of the conference began to unfold in 1985, when the league began sponsoring additional sports. Three years later, a change of name was in order and the Northeast Conference as we know it today was born. With membership and sport sponsorship continuing to grow over the next decade and beyond, the NEC now enjoys qualification or play-in access to 13 different NCAA Championships (baseball, men's and women's basketball, field hockey, men's and women's golf, women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis and women's volleyball). Though the NEC has featured various looks since its inception, charter members Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island, Robert Morris, St. Francis (NY), Saint Francis (PA) and Wagner remain part of the current 12- school alignment. They are joined by Monmouth (admitted in 1985), Mount St. Mary's (1989), Central Connecticut State (1997), Quinnipiac (1998) and Sacred Heart (1999). NEC expansion continues with the addition of Bryant University in 2012 as the league's 12th member, which will give the league a six- state geographic footprint with access to such major media markets as New York City, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Hartford and Providence. NEC member institutions now compete in 22 championship sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's bowling, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and Northeast Conference Membership women's golf, men's and women's indoor track and field, women's lacrosse, men's and women's Though the NEC has featured various incarnations since its inception, outdoor track and field, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's swimming, men's and women's charter members Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island, Robert Morris, St. Fran- tennis, and women's volleyball. Men's lacrosse will become the league's 23rd sport in 2010-11. cis (NY), Saint Francis (PA) and Wagner remain part of the current 11- Evolving and Expanding school alignment. They are joined by Monmouth (admitted in 1985), Mount St. Mary’s (1989), Central Connecticut State (1997), Quinnipiac The past half decade has seen the Northeast Conference take aim at upgrading the caliber of the league's championship sports and enhancing the opportunities and experiences for the more than 4,000 (1998) and Sacred Heart (1999). student-athletes that compete in the conference. Set to become the NEC's 12th full-time member, Bryant has begun competition within the conference as it moves through the NCAA reclassification NEC expansion continues with the addition of Bryant University in 2012 process. The Conference has also secured automatic access to the NCAA Division I Football Champion- as the league’s 12th member, which will give the league a six-state geo- ship playoffs beginning in 2010, making football the 14th team sport in which NEC student-athletes are graphic footprint with access to such major media markets as New York guaranteed a chance to compete for the NCAA crown. New sport sponsorship in women's bowling and City, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Hartford and Providence. men's lacrosse (2010-11) will create further opportunities for NEC student-athletes. Set to embark on a number of branding, sportsmanship and community initiatives as part of the league's Strategic Plan, the NEC and its member institutions are committed to the future growth of the Conference. Institution Joined NEC NEC Website/Television Bryant University 2012 Central Connecticut State University 1997 More widely-recognized than ever, the NEC is providing a number of new ways in which its growing fan Fairleigh Dickinson University 1981 base can follow the action. The Conference began by fulfilling its strategic plan-driven new media Long Island University 1981 initiatives in 2008-09 when it launched its own YouTube channel, created NEC On The Run podcast Monmouth University 1985 segments, and added NEC Flashbacks, a video on-demand archive, to its website. More recently, the Mount St. Mary’s University 1989 league dove into the social media arena by launching a Facebook page and offering periodic news Quinnipiac University 1998 updates via Twitter. Robert Morris University 1981 To supplement one of the premier regional basketball television packages in the country, the confer- Sacred Heart University 1999 ence also produces a football package and a preseason basketball show entitled NEC Countdown to St. Francis (NY) College 1981 Tipoff. Over the last five years, the Conference has televised nearly 150 events, as the league's coverage Saint Francis (PA) University 1981 area expanded to 40 million homes plus coverage internationally. Along with flagship station MSG Wagner College 1981 Network, other regional television partners include MSG Plus (formerly FSN-New York), FSN-Pittsburgh, MASN, Fox College Sports, Cox Cable and the Connecticut Sports Network. In 2009, ESPN broadcast the Associate Members men's basketball championship game for the 22nd straight year, while ESPNU carried the women's championship game, marking the second time in as many years that the women's contest reached a Football Bowling nationwide audience. Further enhancing its multimedia efforts, the league will begin webstreaming a Albany, Duquesne Adelphi, Kutztown, Saint Peter’s women's basketball game of the week in 2009-10, and raise the number of NEC championship webcasts from five to eight. Field Hockey Lock Haven, Rider, Siena

2 About the NEC

Educating Student-Athletes and Providing Opportunity On & Off Field Athletic Success Reinforcing its presence on a national stage, the Northeast Conference sent representatives to NCAA Championship events in 14 different team sports while NEC student-athletes 2009-10 NEC Championship Dates individually qualified to compete for an NCAA title in men's outdoor track & field and women's swimming. In its longstanding effort to increase student-athlete opportunities, Championship Date Host Site the Conference began sponsoring women's bowling as a championship sport and immedi- M/W Cross Country Oct. 31 Hamden, CT ately grabbed national headlines for its successful inaugural season. Five of the league's Field Hockey Nov. 6-7 High Seed seven bowling members occupied a spot in the final regular season edition of the NTCA Women’s Soccer Nov. 6 & 8 High Seed Top-20 Poll with No. 2 Fairleigh Dickinson defeating top-seeded Nebraska to advance all Men’s Soccer Nov. 13 & 15 High Seed the way to the semifinal round of the NCAA Women's Bowling Championship. Lock Haven Women’s Volleyball Nov. 21-22 High Seed found itself ranked amongst the nation's Top-25 as it marched toward its third consecutive M/W Indoor Track Feb. 20-21 P.G. County Sports Complex (Landover, MD) NEC field hockey title. M/W Swimming Feb. 11-13 Yale University (New Haven, CT) In football, Albany became the first NEC team in nearly a decade to post back-to-back Men’s Basketball Mar. 4, 7 & 10 High Seeds undefeated seasons within league play. In a game televised nationally on the YES Network, Women’s Basketball Mar. 6-7, 14 SFPA (quarters/semis), High Seed (champ.) the Great Danes blanked Pioneer Football League champion Jacksonville, 28-0, to win the Bowling Mar. 20-21 Parkway Lanes (ELmwood Park, NJ) third annual Gridiron Classic. Robert Morris men's basketball, which has won 50 games M/W Tennis Apr. 16-18 Mercer Tennis Center (West Windsor, NJ) and two NEC regular season crowns in two years under head coach Mike Rice, captured its Women’s Lacrosse Apr. 23 & 25 High Seed league-best sixth NEC title with a 48-46 last-second victory over Mount St. Mary's before a Women’s Golf Apr. 23-25 TBD nationwide ESPN2 television audience and a school-record crowd at the Charles L. Sewall Men’s Golf Apr. 30-May 2 TBD Center. On the heels of its perfect (18-0) run through the NEC women's basketball schedule M/W Outdoor Track May 1-2 Mount St. Mary’s (Emmitsburg, MD) and second NEC Tournament title in four years, Sacred Heart gave third-seeded Ohio State Softball May 14-15 TBD all it could handle in NCAA first round play. Baseball May 27-29 TBD Individually, 13 NEC student-athletes received All-America honors in their respective sports. Lock Haven's Blair Wynne, the only three-time Player of the Year in NEC field hockey history, was named to the Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-America Second Team for the second consecutive season. NEC men's soccer has its most successful year since 1987 with three 2009-10 NEC Championship Winners players acknowledged at year's end for their play. Quinnipiac's Graciano Brito earned his Sport ______Team Champion second straight NSCAA/adidas All-America honor, and was joined by FDU junior forward Field Hockey ______Lock Haven Samson Malijani on the third team. Brito and Monmouth's Angelo Amato were third team Men’s Cross Country ______Quinnipiac College Soccer News honorees. In addition to five football All-Americans, Monmouth's Women’s Cross Country ______Quinnipiac John Nalbone became the latest NEC player to reach the NFL when he was selected by the Women’s Soccer ______Central Connecticut State Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2009 Draft. Former Wagner pitching great Andrew Men’s Soccer ______Fairleigh Dickinson Bailey, a 2006 draft pick, broke into the big leagues in a big way during 2009. A non-roster Women's Volleyball ______Long Island Spring Training invitee, Bailey won a place in Oakland's bullpen before earning a spot in the Football ______Albany Women’s Swimming ______Central Connecticut State MLB All-Star Game three months later. Hoping to someday follow Bailey's rise up the Men’s Indoor Track & Field ______Saint Francis (PA) professional ranks, five of the NEC's finest were taken in the 2009 MLB Draft - Long Island's Women’s Indoor Track & Field ______Monmouth James Jones (Mariners), Monmouth's Ryan Buch (White Sox) and Brett Brach (Indians), Men’s Basketball ______Robert Morris Quinnipiac's Chris Gloor (Giants), and Wagner's Kyle Morrison (Nationals). Women’s Basketball ______Sacred Heart Bowling ______Fairleigh Dickinson For the second straight year, Sacred Heart captured the Northeast Conference Commissioner's Men’s Golf ______Sacred Heart Cup, recently renamed in honor of NEC Commissioner Brenda Weare, who passed away in Women’s Golf ______Fairleigh Dickinson June. The Pioneers claimed the women's cup for the third year in a row while earning the Men’s Tennis ______Sacred Heart men's cup for the first time ever to complete a clean sweep. The Pioneers established new Women’s Tennis ______Long Island Cup records for overall and women's points in the process. Women’s Lacrosse ______Sacred Heart Softball ______Sacred Heart Academic Success Men’s Outdoor Track & Field ______Monmouth Women’s Outdoor Track & Field ______Monmouth The Northeast Conference's commitment to academic excellence translated into national Baseball ______Monmouth recognition for both individual student-athletes and the league's member institutions as a whole. NEC student-athletes graduated at an 83.8 percent rate, which is well above the national average of 78 percent according to NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data. Likewise, a total of 19 NEC teams garnered public recognition from the NCAA for their latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. The league placed 42 representatives on ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District teams, five of whom went onto garner Academic All-America Honors. The first team honorees were Fairleigh Dickinson's Matt Maher (baseball), who was a third team recipient in 2008, and Wagner's Andrea Lazzari (softball). Saint Francis (PA)'s Eric Reifsteck (field hockey, second team), Monmouth's Ben Evenden (tennis, third team) and CCSU's Yan Klukowski (soccer, third team) were also honored for their academic and athletic performance. Evenden was a nominee for the prestigious Rhodes Scholar Award, while Wagner swimmer Alexandra Tomlinson was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. On a conference-wide level, there were over 2,000 student-athletes who qualified for the NEC Academic Honor Roll, nearly a 25 percent increase from the previous year. Saint Francis (PA) posted the highest GPA in the conference to claim the NEC Institutional Academic Award for the first time ever. In the Community The NEC, its member institutions and student-athletes have made community involvement an important piece of its mission. In 2008-09, the NEC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee made its annual visit to the Cancer Recovery Foundation in Hershey, PA in February. That same month, conference members participated in "Think Pink" Day, a global effort organized by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The NEC made efficient use of the $75,000 it received from the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Grant Program last season. Expanding its base deeper into local communities, the Conference saw its women's basketball attendance increase by 20 percent from to establish a new league record.

3 2009 Northeast Conference Football NEC Scholar-Athlete Award NEC Football Robert Morris junior linebacker Adam Lawrence (Big Run, PA/Dubois Area) received the 2008 NEC scholar-athlete award in football. A two-year starter at outside linebacker, he finished Academic Honors/Alumni second on the Colonials and seventh in the NEC with 83 tackles this past season, including 30 solo stops. Lawrence also paced Robert Morris with 3.5 sacks (tenth in NEC) and six quarterback hurries, forced a fumble and recovered another. His 170 career tackles ranks first among active Colonials and 19th in school history. Named to the ESPN The Magazine District II Academic All- America team, the Big Run, PA native sports a near perfect 3.98 grade point average as an NEC Notable Alumni Environmental Science major. Central Connecticut State Year Scholar-Athlete School Ricky Bottalico, Former Major League Pitcher Dave Campo, Asst. Head Coach/Secondary, Jacksonville Jaguars 1998 Matt Farabaugh Saint Francis (PA) John Hirschbeck, Major League Baseball Umpire 1999 Brian Russo Wagner Jim Kelly, Director of Player Personnel, Toronto Raptors Rick Lantz, Head Coach, Berlin Thunder (NFL Europe) 2000 J.T. Herfurth Albany John Larson, U.S. Congressman (First District, Connecticut) 2001 Marvin Royal Sacred Heart Donna Fiedorowicz, Director of Tour. Business Affairs, Senior PGA 2002 Justin Rosato Monmouth Mike Sherman, Head Football Coach, Texas A&M Michael Ryan, Head Athletic Trainer, Jacksonville Jaguars 2003 Victor Camacho Albany Scott Pioli, General Manager, Kansas City Chiefs 2004 Jonathan LeDonne Robert Morris Fairleigh Dickinson 2005 Luke Palko Saint Francis (PA) Harry Carson, Former NY Giant, Member of the NFL Hall of Fame 2006 Ray Gensler Robert Morris Seth Greenberg, Head Basketball Coach, Virginia Tech 2007 Ryne Nutt Central Connecticut State Tim Higgins, NCAA Basketball official George Martin, Former Pro Football player 2008 Adam Lawrence Robert Morris Peggy Noonan, Former Speechwriter for Ronald Reagan Greg Olson, Third civilian to travel to the International Space Station Bill Willoughby, Former NBA Player 2008 NEC Football Academic Honor Roll Fred Roedel, Founder & Former CEO, Suisse Chalet Long Island Dan Archer Albany Jonathan Stolarz Monmouth Rose Bird, First woman named to California’s highest court as Chief Justice Frank Blasinsky Albany Joshua Vallejos Monmouth Jimmy Breslin, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist/author Bud Greenspan, Olympic documentor & President, Cappy Productions Daniel Bocanegra Albany Kevin Walsh Monmouth Dr. Louis Lemberger, Member of team that developed Prozac Chris Bright Albany Brandon Wood Monmouth Ossie Schectman, Former NBA player (Scored first point in NBA history) Vince Gonzales Albany Troy Yudin Monmouth Velma Scantlebury, One of two African-American women transplant surgeons in Wil Moushey Albany Matt Catanzarite Robert Morris the world Tom Pandolf Albany Nick England Robert Morris Terry Semel, Former Chairman & CEO, Yahoo! Keith Peifer Albany Regis Flowers Robert Morris Chris Simpson Albany Erik Frund Robert Morris Monmouth Tony Sparano Albany Josh Keil Robert Morris Alex Blackwell, Former NBA Player Andrew Stevens Albany Chris Kozak Robert Morris Ed Halicki, Former Major League Pitcher Michael Abany Bryant Jon Krepps Robert Morris Christie Rampone, Member of U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team Juan Aviles Bryant Adam Lawrence Robert Morris David Wilson, Editor, Bloomberg Financial Markets Jack Barons Bryant Mike Lovely Robert Morris Brian Donnelly Bryant Logan Miles Robert Morris Mount St. Mary’s Fred Carter, Former NBA player and ESPN NBA Analyst Julien Dumont Bryant Ryan Nearhoof Robert Morris Lou Grillo, NBA Referee Douglas Emerzian Bryant Mark Szymanski Robert Morris Father Flanagan, Founder of Boys Town Matthew Llewellyn Bryant Joey Wines Robert Morris Matt McHugh, Former US Congressman and Director of World Bank Timothy McManus Bryant Adam Conger Sacred Heart Njuguna Mahugu, Secretary General of U.N. Security Council and Kenyan James Meyer Bryant Charles Curry Sacred Heart Ambassador to the U.N. David Morgan Bryant Stephen Gerhard Sacred Heart Scott Newkam, President & CEO, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Timothy Pates Bryant Jonathan Gibbons Sacred Heart Peter Rono, Gold medal winner in 1,500 meters at 1988 Olympics Brendan Brackett Central Conn. St. Jason Pfalzgraf Sacred Heart Robert Fisher Central Conn. St. Rich Marrone Sacred Heart Quinnipiac Mark Fritz Central Conn. St. Ray Sheehan Sacred Heart Murray Lender, Founder of Lenders Bagels Matthew Gomes Central Conn. St. Steve Tedesco Sacred Heart William C. Weldon, Chairman/CEO Johnson & Johnson Marc Mignault Central Conn. St. Mark Uyeno Sacred Heart Turk Wendell, Former Major League Baseball Pitcher Nathan Pagan Central Conn. St. Luke Bender Saint Francis (PA) Robert Morris Danny Rodriguez Central Conn. St. Zachary Blahovec Saint Francis (PA) Murray Cohn, Senior Director of Ticket Sales, NBA Dominick Tomanelli Central Conn. St. Seth Burkert Saint Francis (PA) Kevin Colbert, Director of Football Operations, Pittsburgh Steelers Adedotun Akintoye Duquesne Christopher Buzas Saint Francis (PA) Hon. William J. Coyne, Retired U.S. Congressman (Pennsylvania) Tyler Baker Duquesne Zachary Campbell Saint Francis (PA) Hank Fraley, Starting center, Cleveland Browns Wiley Brown Duquesne Jared Colmer Saint Francis (PA) Vic Gregovits, Former VP of Marketing/Broadcasting, Pittsburgh Steelers; Current Joe Cangilla Duquesne Tyler Gillmen Saint Francis (PA) CEO RMU Island Sports Center Duncan Falk Duquesne Chad Iachini Saint Francis (PA) Bill Sutton, VP of Team Marketing, NBA David Glunt Duquesne Jordan Kelly Saint Francis (PA) P.J. Horne Duquesne Scott Lewis Saint Francis (PA) Sacred Heart Matt Kikta Duquesne Luke McConnell Saint Francis (PA) Kevin Nealon, Actor/Comedian, Former cast member of Saturday Night Live Steve Kuhns Duquesne Paul Print Saint Francis (PA) John Ratzenberger, Actor/Comedian, Former cast member of Cheers Brian Layhue Duquesne Benjamin Shankel Saint Francis (PA) Craig Ryden, Chairman, CEO and President of Yankee Candle Co. Charlie Leventry Duquesne Michael Zack Saint Francis (PA) Joseph V. Melillo, Executive Producer, Brooklyn Academy of Music Casey Quinn Duquesne Patrick Abdul Wagner St. Francis (NY) Michael Rasky Duquesne Matthew Connelly Wagner Joseph Browne, Senior VP of Communications/Governmental Affairs, NFL Zachary Richert Duquesne Daniel D'Amato Wagner Robert J. Clark, VP & Treasurer, Major League Baseball Kevin Rombach Duquesne Ryan Dayton Wagner Dr. Frank Macchiarola, President of St. Francis (NY)/Former Chancellor of the NYC Jim Sabia Duquesne Shayne Dickinson Wagner Board of Education Mark Troyan Duquesne Adam Farnsworth Wagner Donald A. McQuade, Vice Chancellor of University Relations, Michael Winsko Duquesne Andrew Hager Wagner Cal-Berkeley Jeffrey Brady Monmouth Hayden Hunter Wagner Thomas Von Essen, Executive VP Giuliani Partners/Former Commissioner of Daniel Burke Monmouth Jorel Joseph Wagner NYC Fire Department Lawrence Caprio Monmouth Chad Lennon Wagner Eric Cirino Monmouth Mark Mangion Wagner Saint Francis (PA) Garrett Culloo Monmouth Shane McKenna Wagner Claire Ansberry, Author and staff writer, Wall Street Journal Ryan Folsom Monmouth Zachary Michael Wagner Jeffrey Bower, Assistant Coach/Former GM, New Orleans Hornets Dr. James P. Gallagher, President, Philadelphia University Christopher Garcia Monmouth Kyle Muir Wagner Mike Iuzzolino, Former NBA Player Tyler George Monmouth Calogero Nocera Wagner Scott Layden, Asst. Coach, Utah Jazz/Former VP and GM, New York Knicks Tucker Karl Monmouth Olatunde Ogunlana Wagner J. Randall MacDonald, Senior VP of Human Resources, IBM Alexander Laipple Monmouth Eric-John Ortiz Wagner Tom Meredith, Managing Director, Dell Ventures Eric McCutcheon Monmouth Anthony Pedrotti Wagner Maurice Stokes, Three-time NBA all-star with the Rochester and Cincinnati Royals Christopher Mejia Monmouth Ryan Pentz Wagner and Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer Andrew Musick Monmouth Alex Sharf Garcia Wagner Norm Van Lier, Three-time NBA All-Star, Joshua Pack Monmouth Tyler Seling Wagner Craig Peterson Monmouth Erik Smith Wagner Wagner David Presby Monmouth Nicholas Suppes Wagner Andrew Bailey, 2009 MLB All-Star/Oakland A’s pitcher Nicholas Romeo Monmouth James Ullman Wagner Rich Kotite, Former NFL Head Coach Matthew Sterner Monmouth Richard Vellucci Wagner Robert Loggia, Actor, Appeared in Big and Independence Day Dr. Donald Spiro, Founder of Oppenheimer Fund 4 About the NEC

NEC member listed in ALL CAPS. 2009 Season All dates and times are subject to NEC Football change. All times are EST. Composite Schedule

Saturday, September 5 Saturday, October 17 ALBANY at Georgia Southern 6:00 pm BRYANT at ALBANY 1:00 pm So. Connecticut at BRYANT 3:00 pm CENTRAL CONN. ST. at DUQUESNE 12:00 pm CENTRAL CONN. ST. at Lehigh 12:30 pm MONMOUTH at SACRED HEART 1:00 pm Bucknell at DUQUESNE 6:00 pm SAINT FRANCIS (PA) at ROBERT MORRIS (NEC-TV) 12:00 pm MONMOUTH at Colgate 6:00 pm ROBERT MORRIS at Virginia Military 1:30 pm Marist at SACRED HEART 6:00 pm Saturday, October 24 SAINT FRANCIS (PA) at New Hampshire 1:00 pm ALBANY at MONMOUTH 1:00 pm Stonehill at WAGNER 1:00 pm CENTRAL CONN. ST. at BRYANT 1:00 pm DUQUESNE at SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 7:00 pm Thursday, September 10 SACRED HEART at WAGNER 1:00 pm WAGNER at SUNY Maritime 7:00 pm Saturday, October 31 Saturday, September 12 ALBANY at Massachusetts 6:00 pm ALBANY at CENTRAL CONN. ST. 12:00 pm Hofstra at BRYANT 1:00 pm BRYANT at MONMOUTH 1:00 pm CENTRAL CONN. ST. at William & Mary 7:00 pm WAGNER at DUQUESNE 12:00 pm DUQUESNE at Nicholls State 2:00 pm SACRED HEART at ROBERT MORRIS 12:00 pm MONMOUTH at Coastal Carolina 7:00 pm ROBERT MORRIS at Bucknell 6:00 pm Saturday, November 7 SACRED HEART at Holy Cross TBA ROBERT MORRIS at ALBANY 1:00 pm Morehead State at SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 1:00 pm BRYANT at SACRED HEART 1:00 pm CENTRAL CONN. ST. at WAGNER 1:00 pm Saturday, September 19 DUQUESNE at MONMOUTH (NEC-TV) 12:00 pm MONMOUTH at SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 1:00 pm Maine at ALBANY 4:00 pm Dayton at ROBERT MORRIS 12:00 pm Saturday, November 14 SAINT FRANCIS (PA) at Northern Iowa 5:05 pm SAINT FRANCIS (PA) at BRYANT 12:00 pm WAGNER at North Dakota State 7:00 pm MONMOUTH at CENTRAL CONN. ST. 12:00 pm DUQUESNE at SACRED HEART 12:00 pm Saturday, September 26 WAGNER at ROBERT MORRIS 12:00 pm SACRED HEART at ALBANY 4:00 pm BRYANT at ROBERT MORRIS 12:00 pm SAINT FRANCIS (PA) at WAGNER 1:00 pm Saturday, November 21 CENTRAL CONN. ST. at Columbia 12:30 pm ALBANY at WAGNER (NEC-TV) 1:00 pm DUQUESNE at Dayton 1:00 pm BRYANT at DUQUESNE 12:00 pm MONMOUTH at Old Dominion 6:00 pm CENTRAL CONN. ST. at SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 1:00 pm ROBERT MORRIS at MONMOUTH 12:00 pm Saturday, October 3 ALBANY at SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 1:00 pm Saturday, December 5 WAGNER at BRYANT 1:00 pm Fourth Annual Gridiron Classic SACRED HEART at CENTRAL CONN. ST. (NEC-TV) 12:00 pm NEC Champion at PFL Champion TBA ROBERT MORRIS at DUQUESNE 1:00 pm

Saturday, October 10 DUQUESNE at ALBANY 1:00 pm ROBERT MORRIS at CENTRAL CONN. ST. 12:00 pm WAGNER at MONMOUTH 1:00 pm SAINT FRANCIS (PA) at SACRED HEART 12:00 pm BRYANT at Fordham 6:00 pm

5 2009 Northeast Conference Football NEC Office/Football Membership NEC Football Northeast Conference Associate (Interim) Commissioner Institutional Directory Ron Ratner [email protected] (732) 469-0440, Ext. 6 Assistant Commissioner (Marketing/Operations) Andrew Alia [email protected] (732) 469-0440, Ext. 4 Assistant Commissioner (Compliance) Joyce Bell [email protected] (732) 469-0440, Ext. 2 Assistant Commissioner (Sport Services) NEC Presidents Michelle Boone [email protected] (732) 469-0440, Ext. 5 Director of Sport Services Benjamin Shove [email protected] (732) 469-0440, Ext. 3 Assistant Director of Communications (Football Contact) Ralph Ventre [email protected] (732) 469-0440, Ext. 7 Media Relations Interns Jackie Swierc [email protected] (732) 469-0440, Ext. 8 Lindsey Williams [email protected] (732) 469-0440, Ext. 9 Coordinator of NEC Football Officials Milton J. Halstead Hon. Ronald K. Machtley Dr. John Miller Bryant Central Connecticut State NEC Fax Number (732) 469-0744 NEC Website www.northeastconference.org

Albany Bryant Director of Athletics Director of Athletics Dr. Lee McElroy (518) 442-2562 Bill Smith (401) 232-6559 Asst. AD/Media Relations Asst. AD/External Relations Brian DePasquale (518) 442-3072 Jason Sullivan (401) 232-6072 [email protected] [email protected] Head Football Coach Head Football Coach Bob Ford (518) 442-3052 Marty Fine (401) 232-6808 Dr. J. Michael Adams Dr. David Steinberg Fairleigh Dickinson Long Island Sports Information Fax (518) 442-3139 Sports Information Fax (401) 232-6743 Press Box Phone (518) 442-5895 Press Box Phone (401) 232-6829 Web Address ualbanysports.com Web Address bryantbulldogs.com

Central Connecticut State Duquesne Director of Athletics Director of Athletics Charles Jones (860) 832-3038 Greg Amodio (412) 396-5589 Asst. Sports Information Director Asst. AD/Media Relations Tom Pincince (860) 832-3089 Dave Saba (412) 396-5861 [email protected] [email protected] Head Football Coach Head Football Coach Jeff McInerney (860) 832-3064 Jerry Schmitt (412) 396-1157 Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney Dr. Thomas H. Powell Sports Information Fax (860) 832-3084 Sports Information Fax (412) 396-6210 Monmouth Mount St. Mary's Press Box Phone (860) 832-0120 Press Box Phone (412) 396-5370 Web Address ccsubluedevils.com Web Address goduquesne.com

Monmouth Robert Morris Director of Athletics Director of Athletics Dr. Marilyn McNeil (732) 571-3414 Dr. Craig Coleman (412) 397-4302 Asst. Sports Information Director Sports Information Director Greg Viscomi (732) 571-4447 Jim Duzyk (412) 397-4314 [email protected] [email protected] Head Football Coach Head Football Coach Kevin Callahan (732) 571-7583 Joe Walton (412) 397-5876

Sports Information Fax (732) 571-3535 Sports Information Fax (412) 397-5857 Dr. John Lahey Dr. Gregory G. Dell’Omo Press Box Phone (732) 571-4400 Press Box Phone (412) 397-3280 Quinnipiac Robert Morris Web Address gomuhawks.com Web Address rmucolonials.com

Sacred Heart Saint Francis (PA) Director of Athletics Director of Athletics C. Donald Cook (203) 365-7649 Robert Krimmel (814) 472-3280 Asst. Sports Information Director Sports Information Director Bill Peterson (203) 396-8125 Sean Fagan (814) 472-3128 [email protected] [email protected] Head Football Coach Head Football Coach Paul Gorham (203) 396-8105 Dave Opfar (814) 472-3275

Sports Information Fax (203) 371-7889 Sports Information Fax (814) 472-3196 Press Box Phone (203) 365-7532 Press Box Phone (814) 472-3128 Dr. Anthony J. Cernera Brendan J. Dugan Web Address sacredheartpioneers.com Web Address goredflash.com Sacred Heart St. Francis (NY)

Wagner Director of Athletics Walt Hameline (718) 390-3488 Sports Information Director John Beisser (718) 390-3227 [email protected] Head Football Coach Walt Hameline (718) 390-3488

Sports Information Fax (718) 390-3347 Press Box Phone (718) 420-4050 Rev. Gabriel Zeis, TOR Dr. Richard Guarasci Web Address wagnerathletics.com Saint Francis (PA) Wagner

6 About the NEC Ronald Ratner • Associate (Interim) Commissioner NEC Football Ronald Ratner, 40, begins his twelfth year with the Northeast Conference and will serve as Interim Commissioner until a permanent replacement is hired. Ratner was promoted NEC Office Staff to Associate Commissioner in June, 2002 after serving as Assistant Commissioner since December, 1998. Ratner was originally hired as the league’s Assistant Director of Com- munications in July, 1998.

Ratner orchestrates the league’s public relations efforts, and is the publicity contact for men’s basketball and women’s lacrosse. He serves as executive producer of the NEC Andrew Alia • Assistant Commissioner Countdown to Tipoff preview show, as well as basketball and football telecasts on the NEC television network, where he is responsible for the scheduling of contests, acquisition of Andrew Alia, 36, is in his twelfth year with the Northeast Conference. The 1998-99 NEC on-air talent and production of in-game and pre-taped features. Ratner oversees the league’s new media initiatives, administrative intern was named Assistant Director of Operations in July, 1999, was pro- including podcasts, webstreaming, on-demand video archive, YouTube channel, Facebook page, and Twitter up- moted to Director of Operations in July, 2000, and was most recently elevated to Assistant dates. He also directs the content of the league’s official website and facilitated the redesign and relaunch of the site Commissioner in July, 2002. this September. Ratner also organizes and coordinates NEC Championships for basketball and tennis, and conducts the NEC Scholar-Athlete awards program. His 2003-04 NEC men’s basketball guide was judged "Best In The Nation" As Assistant Commissioner, Alia oversees the NEC's marketing program including areas among all conference publications by CoSIDA. Additionally, Ratner served on the NCAA FCS Region Advisory such as corporate sponsorship packages and promotion of championships and special Committee from 2004-07. events. His other duties include serving as an executive producer of NEC Television Network broadcasts, acting as a liaison to marketing specialists at NEC member institutions, Prior to joining the NEC, Ratner served as Sports Information Director at Hunter College in New York City for six and directing the league's licensing and merchandising efforts. years. Ratner was responsible for publicizing the program's 19 sports, facilitated the development and aided in the maintenance of Hunter’s athletic website and was also involved in the internal and external marketing of the program. Alia also organizes and administers selected NEC championship events, develops schedules for numerous sports, While at Hunter, Ratner served as the Publicity Director for the Skyline Athletic Conference from 1993-95 and the and serves as the conference office's business manager. Alia's professional experience includes working as a media Met Wrestling Conference from 1994-98, while also serving as a radio analyst for CUNY Athletic Conference relations assistant at three NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament events; the 2004 East Rutherford Regional, basketball from 1993-97. the 2000 first and second rounds in Buffalo, NY, and the 1999 East Regional, which was held at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Nationally, Alia is a member of the NCAA Division I Football Issues Committee, beginning his term in He has taken on roles as a media relations assistant at the 1996 World Series and during the 1998 Goodwill Games September, 2006. at Madison Square Garden. Ratner also served as the Director of Computer Operations for the NCAA sponsored Alia's internship with the NEC enabled him to complete his master's degree in Sport Management, which he received National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) at Hunter from 1993-98. from the University of Connecticut in December, 1998. While at UConn, he worked extensively with the athletic department's academic counseling program. Ratner graduated summa cum laude from Brooklyn College in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in Business Management and Finance. He earned his master's degree in Sports Management from Brooklyn College in 1992. Ratner and his A native of Saddle Brook, NJ, Alia graduated cum laude from Albright College in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in wife, Diane, reside in Flemington, NJ along with their seven-year old son Kyle. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890 history and political science. Alia and his wife Catherine currently reside in Franklin Park, NJ.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345

123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345 Joyce Bell • Assistant Commissioner Michelle Boone • Assistant Commissioner Joyce Bell was named NEC Assistant Commissioner for Compliance Services on April 10, 2008. Michelle Boone was named NEC Director of Sports Services on July 21, 2008 and pro- moted to Assistant Commissioner in March 2009. Bell oversees the NEC’s compliance and eligibility programs, assist with rules Boone is responsible for championship and regular season sport administration, supervi- interpretations and education, and handle compliance visits and reviews. The primary sion of officiating programs, and coordination of awards. contact for NCAA coaches’ certification and National Letter of Intent matters, she engages the membership in NCAA governance and national policy issues. Bell also serves as the Prior to her arrival at the NEC, Boone spent 2007-08 working as a Regional Marketing primary liaison to the NEC Faculty Representatives and Student-Athlete Advisory Coordinator for CBS College Sports, concentrating on sponsorship activation at the Atlan- Committee. tic-10. She also served as the A-10 Shootout Manager, coordinating the season-long on- campus event at Atlantic-10 institutions. Most recently, Bell served as an NCAA Membership Services Intern for the 2007-08 academic year. In that role, she contributed to Member Services initiatives including providing legislative and interpretative assistance, coordinating Boone previously served as a Marketing and Championships intern at the Big West Conference in 2006-07. In addition the interpretation letter process and facilitating continuing education. Additionally, Bell processed academic to assisting with the organization and administration of championships, she traveled with the Big West Touring Display waivers, including progress-toward-degree waivers, Academic Progress Rate adjustments and penalty waivers. She to promote championship events and sponsors. also assisted in organizing and conducting the NCAA Conference Intern Seminar. While completing her graduate studies, Boone worked as a Street Team Member for the Anschutz Entertainment Bell joined the NCAA staff from the University of Akron School of Law where she received her juris doctorate in Group to promote the JP Morgan Chase Open Tennis Tournament. She also served as a Marketing and Promotions Intern 2007. While in law school, Bell was President of the Black Law Students Association in 2006-07 and served as a at Cal-Riverside. Following her college graduation, Boone spent two years as an Assistant Softball Coach at Penn. compliance intern at both Akron and the Mid-American Conference. A Philadelphia native, Boone completed her Master’s Degree in Sports Management from the University of San Francisco in 2007. She is a 2003 graduate of Lock Haven University with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science with A graduate of the Ohio State University, Bell earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in both a concentration in Athletic Training. While at Lock Haven, she pitched and was a four-year letterwinner on the women’s Marketing and Accounting. softball team. In her senior campaign, she was named All-PSAC, All-Region and helped lead the Eagles to NCAA 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890 Regional runner-up honors for the first time in 14 years. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789 Ralph Ventre • Assistant Director of Communications Benjamin Shove • Director of Sport Services Ralph Ventre, 26, enters his third year as NEC Assistant Director of Communications after Benjamin Shove was named NEC Director of Sports Services on November 12, 2008. having been named to the position on July 30, 2007. Shove is responsible for championship and regular season sport administration, and assists in Ventre handles day-to-day conference media relations for football, women's basketball, the media relations and marketing efforts of the Conference. baseball, field hockey, tennis and track and field, and assists with conference champion- Prior to his appointment, Shove spent three years as Associate Sports Information Director at ships, televised events, league publications and maintenance of the NEC’s website. Georgetown University. He also served five years in the Sports Information Office at NEC member Wagner College, including a stint as Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Prior to his arrival at the NEC, Ventre spent two years as a Sports Information Assistant at from 2003-05. Manhattan College. In that role, he served as primary media contact for a host of sports, including women’s basketball and volleyball, and supervised the office’s staff of student Shove is a 1998 graduate of Marist College, where the Communications major was a three-plus year starting second workers. Ventre took on additional responsibilities as a Production Assistant for the Manhattan College Basketball baseman on the Red Fox baseball team. Weekly television show that debuted on SportsNet New York in January 2007. Benjamin and his wife Randi Larson, an Academic Advisor for student-athletes at Rutgers University, were married Ventre has worked as a Field Reporter/Writer for PA SportsTicker since 2006, covering numerous sporting events on July 4, 2008 and the couple resides in Piscataway, N.J.

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789

on behalf of the newswire organization, including the U.S. Open Tennis Championships and NCAA Men’s Basketball 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789 East Regional. He also spent three years as an Administrative Assistant for The Hoop Group from 2001-04. Lindsey Williams • NEC Administrative Intern The Lincroft, New Jersey native is a 2005 graduate of Fordham University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Lindsey WIlliams joined the NEC staff as a Media Relations Intern on August 3, 2009. Political Science. While at Fordham, he served as men’s basketball team manager for three seasons. Ventre was the 2005 recipient of the Patrick Kenneally Memorial Award, presented to the Fordham student who best serves athletics A 2008 graduate of Virginia Wesleyan College with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, in capacities other than athletic participation. Williams assists in the media relations efforts of the conference, handling publicity for a number of sports. She also provides support at NEC championships and televised events, and assist in the day-to-day operations of the league office.

7 2009 Northeast Conference Football Sacred Heart Claims Second NEC Football Straight Commissioner’s Cup Commissioner’s Cup For the second straight year, Sacred Heart is the recipient of the Northeast Conference (NEC) Commissioner’s Cup, newly renamed in honor of current NEC Commissioner Brenda Weare. Sacred Heart finished the 2008-09 athletic season as the Joan Martin Women’s Commissioner’s Cup champion for the Weare’s Legacy Will third year in a row and also earned the Men’s Commissioner’s Cup award for the first time to complete the clean sweep. The awards were presented to C. Donald Cook, Sacred Heart Director of Athletics, at the league’s annual spring Live On Through Cup meetings in West Long Branch, NJ last week.

Sacred Heart shattered the conference record with 244.07 Cup points on the year, nearly 22 more than the former mark of 222.09 points set by UMBC in 2000-01. The Pioneers also established a new Women’s Cup record with 140.85 points, eclipsing the standard set by UMBC in 2001-02 with 131.17 points. Sacred Heart finished with 103.22 men’s points to edge Monmouth (96.66 points) and snap the Hawks’ seven-year run as the Men’s Cup winner.

Sacred Heart broke open a close race for the Cup with a memorable spring that featured NEC Tournament Championships in men’s golf, women’s lacrosse, softball and men’s tennis. The Pioneers also won the women’s basketball title over the winter.

“Winning the overall Northeast Conference Commissioner’s Cup is a special capstone achievement for Sacred Heart University,” commented Cook. “Win- ning in both the men’s and women’s categories just adds an extra measure of satisfaction to what was an immensely satisfying accomplishment a year ago when the University won its first overall Commissioner’s Cup. This year’s sweep of all three categories (men, women, overall), including setting a new NEC Brenda Weare (middle), SHU AD Don Cook (L) SHU SWA Alicia Alford (R) record for overall and women’s points, is the wonderful validation of hard work and dedication at every level of the University.” In May 2009, the Northeast Conference Commissioner's Cup was re- named in honor of the late Brenda Weare, who passed away in June Sacred Heart outdistanced second place Monmouth (199.55 points) by nearly following a courageous fight against cancer. 45 points in the standings. In its highest Cup finish since 1987-88, Long Island placed third with 171.62 points. Quinnipiac was fourth with 162.01 points, During her short time as the NEC's third-ever Commissioner, she intro- followed by Saint Francis (PA) in fifth with 161.57 points. Central Connecticut duced a number of new programs aimed at upgrading the caliber of State ended the year in sixth place (158.45 points), with Robert Morris (157.25) the league's championship sports and enhancing the opportunities in seventh, Mount St. Mary’s in eighth (150.30), Fairleigh Dickinson (134.26) in and experiences for the more than 4,000 student-athletes that com- ninth, Wagner (119.94) in tenth and St. Francis (NY) (74.766) in eleventh. pete in the conference. In addition to securing Bryant as the NEC's 12th full-time member, Weare was instrumental in the NEC gaining automatic access to the NCAA Division I Football Championship be- “Winning the Commissioner’s Cup is a terrific way to culminate an outstanding ginning in 2010, spearheading the conference's new strategic plan year for Sacred Heart University,” said Weare. “To field such a successful broad- and implementing a new league-wide sportsmanship policy. based athletic program is no easy feat and I congratulate the Sacred Heart student-athletes, coaches and administrators who made it happen.” "I am deeply touched by this tremendous honor," said Weare follow- ing the announcement. "I truly was overwhelmed, not just by the 2008-09 Commissioner’s Cup recognition, but by everyone's kind words that were shared. It was an NEC Commissioner’s Cup amazing night for me and my family. This gesture on the part of the Overall Standings Past Champions League was above and beyond what I ever expected for my work. I'm 2008-09 Sacred Heart looking forward to continuing to do great things with this group of 1. Sacred Heart 244.07 2007-08 Sacred Heart exceptional administrators for years to come." 2. Monmouth 199.55 2006-07 Monmouth 3. Long Island 171.62 2005-06 Monmouth "The conference is fortunate to have found and landed Brenda as our 4. Quinnipiac 162.01 2004-05 Monmouth Commissioner," said Monmouth President Paul Gaffney, who also 5. Saint Francis (PA) 161.57 2003-04 Monmouth serves as the Chair of the NEC Presidents Council at the time. "She has 6. Central Connecticut State 158.45 2002-03 UMBC done wonders in the conference with automatic qualification, inspir- 7. Robert Morris 157.25 2001-02 UMBC ing management and improved conference visibility and reputation." 8. Mount St. Mary’s 150.30 2000-01 UMBC "Brenda Weare's leadership of the Northeast Conference has displayed 9. Fairleigh Dickinson 134.26 1999-00 UMBC 1998-99 UMBC vision, passion and integrity providing for a dynamic framework for 10. Wagner 119.94 the administrators and student-athletes at each conference institu- 11. St. Francis (NY) 74.76 1997-98 Monmouth 1996-97 Mount St. Mary’s tion," said Bob Krimmel, Director of Athletics at Saint Francis (PA) and 1995-96 Mount St. Mary's Chair of the NEC Athletic Directors Committee. "The renaming of the 1994-95 Mount St. Mary's Commissioner's Cup, which is the symbol of athletic excellence in the 1993-94 Fairleigh Dickinson Northeast Conference, reflects the impact Brenda Weare has made on 1992-93 Fairleigh Dickinson the league as our Commissioner. As a conference family, we have been 1991-92 Fairleigh Dickinson blessed to have Brenda leading us to new opportunities and in meet- The Commissioner's Cup is 1990-91 Monmouth ing the challenges that conferences face in today's world of college awarded annually to the school 1989-90 Fairleigh Dickinson athletics. Brenda truly represents the best of college athletics and the Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup will forever reflect the excellence that fares best in the 1988-89 Fairleigh Dickinson she has inspired in all who are part of the Northeast Conference." league's championship sports. 1987-88 Fairleigh Dickinson 1986-87 Long Island 8 About the NEC Northeast Conference On the Tube NEC Football Set to commence its 14th football season, the Northeast Conference (NEC) will On Television televise four games in 2009.

The first two games of the package will air live on MSG-Plus and Fox College Sports as perennial NEC contender Monmouth welcomes Duquesne at noon on September 19th, followed by Constitution State opponents Sacred Heart and Cen- tral Connecticut State meeting in New Britain at noon on October 3rd. FSN-Pitts- NEC Network Partners burgh will also broadcast the Monmouth-Duquesne game on a one-day delay (September 20th) at 1:00 pm, while Cox Cable (CT/RI) will carry Sacred Heart- CCSU live and Connecticut Sports Network will air the game on tape delay.

Two weeks later, Robert Morris hosts Saint Francis (PA) in a western Pennsylvania battle on October 17th. Kickoff is at noon on FSN-Pittsburgh, Fox College Sports and WWCP Fox 8 (Altoona/Johnstown). In the finale on November 21st, two-time defending league champion Albany visits Wagner at 1:00 pm in a game to air on Fox College Sports and Time Warner Albany (TW3).

These games will reach over nearly 11 million households regionally in the Northeast, plus those satellite subscribers nationally with multi-sport packages. Fox College Sports, which is available on digital cable in approximately 54 million homes nationwide, will air all four contests.

The 2009 season marks the seventh straight that the NEC has aired football games as part of its extensive regional sports package. This coming winter, the league will air more than 20 men’s and women’s basketball games. NEC Broadcast Personalities “We’re very pleased to be able to expand our football coverage this season,” said Ron Ratner, NEC Interim Commissioner. “This is an exciting time for NEC football Entering his eleventh year, PAUL DOTTINO with interest rising and automatic access to the FCS playoffs just one year away. Thanks to our television partners, this year’s package includes a pair of rivalry has become a familiar face in the North- games, and also opens and closes with traditional NEC powers Monmouth and east Conference and its numerous media Albany, respectively.” markets through his work as sideline an- nouncer on conference telecasts and as the Paul Dottino enters his seventh season as the play-by-play voice of NEC football. league’s play-by-play announcer on foot- He is also a member of the NEC basketball broadcast team and the New York ball and women’s basketball broadcasts. Giants gameday reporter with the WFAN/Giants Radio Network. Longtime NEC He is also the host of NEC on the Run basketball announcer Dave Popkin will provide color commentary. Eric Singer is podcasts as well as Two-on-2:00, an NEC the Producer of NEC football telecasts. halftime segment where one player from each team address vari- ous topics in a style similar to ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption. Dottino, who is known for his enthusiasm and high energy style, is 2009 NEC-TV Football Schedule the New York Giants’ beat/gameday reporter for 50,000-watt The Northeast Conference will reach the largest coverage area in its history this WFAN. year with multiple games slated to air on Madison Square Garden Network, Fox Sports-New York, Fox Sports-Pittsburgh, Cox Cable, and Fox College Sports this DAVE POPKIN enters his first season as a coming season. color commentator for NEC football, but has been a familiar face on the league’s basketball broadcasts as a play-by-play Date Time Opponents Carrier announcer for the past nine years. Armed Sept. 19 12:00 pm Duquesne at Monmouth MSG-Plus, FSN-Pitt * with a wealth of experience, Popkin is also Oct. 3 12:00 pm Sacred Heart at Central Conn. St. MSG-Plus, Cox Cable the analyst for Seton Hall men’s basketball radio broadcasts and a college football/ Oct. 17 12:00 pm Saint Francis (PA) at Robert Morris FSN-Pitt, WWCP Fox 8 basketball announcer for ESPN Regional Television. The Jersey Nov. 21 1:00 pm Albany at Wagner FCS, Time Warner 3 Shore native has called five different sports for CN8 during the past decade. All Games can also be seen live on Fox College Sports. * - Live on MSG-Plus, but one-day tape delay on FSN-Pitt (Sept. 20 @ 1:00 pm) ^- Tape Delay on Connecticut Sports Network. FLASHBACK on the Web Couldn’t catch the action live? Be sure Newtork Legend to log onto northeastconference.org Carrier Region for highlights of ALL NEC-TV games MSG MSG Network Three states in NY metro area through the website’s extensive video FSN-New York Fox Sports Net-New York Three states in NY metro area on-demand archive. NEC FLASHBACKS FSN - Pitt Fox Sports Net-Pittsburgh Western PA, portions of WV is the destination for on-demand video FCS-Atlantic Fox College Sports-Atlantic Eastern U.S. on digital cable of recent and classic Northeast Confer- Cox Cox Cable Connecticut and Rhode Island ence games and events. ESPNU ESPNU Nationwide CTSN Connecticut Sports Network Connecticut & Rhode Island NORTHEASTCONFERENCE.org is Your Source for NEC Sports. 9 2009 Northeast Conference Football NEC All-Americans NEC Football In its 13 seasons of competition, numerous NEC football student-athletes have garnered All- America honors from various awarding organizations, including Associated Press, Sports Net- All-America Honors work, and American Football Coaches Association All-America status. Associated Press FCS All-Americans 1997 Rick Sarille Wagner Third Team Five Northeast Conference players earned All-American sta- 1999 Rick Sarille Wagner Third Team tus in 2008, accounting for the highest number of individual 2000 J.T. Herfurth Albany First Team honorees the NEC has had in any given year. 2000 Kayode Mayowa Sacred Heart Third Team 2002 Gary Jones Albany Second Team 2002 Joe Sentipal Monmouth Third Team John Nalbone (Monmouth) 2003 Gary Jones Albany Third Team 2006 Justise Hairston Central Conn. St. Third Team AFCA FCS All-America Team 2007 Robert Brown Wagner Third Team The All-American tight end was the 2008 Dave Sinisi Monmouth Third Team Hawks’ leading receiver as a senior 2008 Kevin Walsh Monmouth Third Team with team highs in catches (42), re- ceiving yards (491), and touchdowns Sports Network FCS All-Americans (5). No tight end in Monmouth his- 2001 Daryn Plummer Wagner Third Team tory has produced better pass-catch- 2002 Gary Jones Albany Third Team ing numbers than Nalbone who con- 2005 Michael Caputo Saint Francis (PA) Third Team cluded his four-year career with 101 2006 Justise Hairston Central Conn. St. Second Team receptions for 1,079 yards, and nine 2006 Ray Gensler Robert Morris Third Team touchdowns. The four-time All- 2007 Michael Dungey Albany Fabulous 50 Northeast Conference honoree, who 2008 David McCarty Albany Third Team stands at 6-foot-4 and 240 lbs., signed AFCA Division FCS Coaches All-Americans a professional contract with the Mi- ami Dolphins after being selected in 2000 JT Herfurth Albany First Team 2004 Geir Gudmundsen Albany First Team the fifth round of the 2009 National 2006 Colin Disch Albany First Team Football League Draft. Nalbone is 2006 Justise Hairston Central Conn. St. First Team the second player in Monmouth an- 2007 Piotr Czech Wagner First Team nals to earn AFCA All-American hon- 2008 John Nalbone Monmouth First Team John Nalbone (above) ors, joining linebacker Joe Sentipal 2008 Raphael Nguti Albany First Team 2009 NFL Fifth-Round Draft Pick who was named twice (2002, 2003). Sports Network I-FCS Mid-Major All-Americans Raphael Nguti (Albany) 2001 2005 AFCA FCS All-America Team Alex Argulewicz Albany Miles Austin Monmouth The book-end tackle was a major factor in Albany’s back-to-back NEC Josh Bazan Albany Michael Caputo Saint Francis (PA) Aaron Edwards Monmouth Joe Kinard Wagner Championship run during which they ran all over their competition. Reggie Chambers Robert Morris John Castoro Monmouth Paving the way and helping tailback David McCarty obliterate the Sam Dorsett Robert Morris Derek Pearson Central Connecticut program’s rushing records, Nguti was a All-Northeast Conference First Mark Leyenaar Robert Morris Jason Forrest Robert Morris Team selection in each of the past two years. The 6-foot-7 offensive Justin Holtfreter Sacred Heart Colin Disch Albany lineman, who closed his career by making 24 consecutive starts, moved Shaun Hubbard Sacred Heart James Noel Robert Morris from right tackle to the left side for his senior season where he protected DeVeren Johnson Sacred Heart Al Phillips Wagner the quarterback’s blind side. Nguti is the fourth UAlbany player to be Kayode Mayowa Sacred Heart named to the AFCA FCS All-America squad. Marvin Royal Sacred Heart 2006 Andre Coleman Albany Dave Sinisi (Monmouth) 2002 Colin DIsch Albany Gary Jones Albany Justise Hairston Central Connecticut AP All-America Third Team Alex Argulewicz Albany Ryne Nutt Central Connecticut Set for his final collegiate season in West Long Branch, Monmouth’s all- Shaun Hubbard Sacred Heart Farod Muhammad Central Connecticut time leading rusher (3,612) and point scorer (330) has already built Odain Mitchell Sacred Heart Matt Connolly Monmouth quite a legacy. Sinisi has an all-NEC selection to show for each of his Josh Bazan Albany Mike Castellano Monmouth first three collegiate seasons during which he has scored a NEC record Kayode Mayowa Sacred Heart Matt Hill Monmouth 55 touchdowns. The reigning NEC Offensive Player of the Year, and Jarvis Powers Robert Morris Joe Sentipal Monmouth former Offensive Rookie of the Year (2006), rushed for single-season Mario Hines Robert Morris Aden Smith Stony Brook program record 1,674 yards and 22 TDs in 11 games as a junior. Chris Blackshear Central Connecticut Matt Brunck Robert Morris Corey Oaks Robert Morris Ray Gensler Robert Morris Jon Corto Sacred Heart Kevin Walsh (Monmouth) 2003 AP All-America Third Team Gary Jones Albany 2007 Monmouth’s former defensive tackle went from being a second team Geir Gudmundsen Albany Jason Butler Wagner all-NEC selection as a junior to an Associated Press All-American as a Mike Laroche Albany David McCarty Albany senior. Walsh was the centerpiece of a Hawks’ defensive front that Mike Malone Central Connecticut JoJo Freeman Central Connecticut allowed the second-fewest points (20.5 ppg) and rushing yards (126.5 Sam Pagano Albany Greg Tonzola Sacred Heart ypg) in the NEC and won the Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year Pete Athans Sacred Heart Mario Hines Robert Morris award as a result. The 6-foot-3 interior lineman made 38 tackles, 12 of Franklin Bright Wagner Robert Brown Wagner Tim Heaney Wagner Michael Dungey Albany which were for a loss, and sacked the opposing passer sixt times in Joe Sentipal Monmouth Bryan Brand Wagner 2008. Walsh, a two-year starter, ended his career with 100 total tackles, Sean Dennis Monmouth Scott Lewis Saint Francis (PA) 32 TFL, 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and seven pass breakups. Al Phillips Wagner 2004 Piotr Czech Wagner David McCarty (Albany) Ed Pricolo Sacred Heart Sports Network All-America Third Team Geir Gudmundsen Albany The bruising back, who moved from flanker to tailback prior to the Dante Settles Robert Morris 2007 campaign, needed only two seasons to become Albany’s all-time Jason Forrest Robert Morris rushing leader (3,353). McCarty shattered the school’s single-season David Bamiro Stony Brook James Noel Robert Morris records for rushing yards (1,852) and all-purpose yards (2,208). He Josh Marino Robert Morris * - Mid-Major listings comprised of First scored 17 touchdowns, including 13 on the ground, and broke the Donnie Rose Central Connecticut Team Selections Only. program’s FCS single-game standard with 271 rushing yards and four TDs in a 28-0 victory over Jacksonville in the Gridiron Classic. 10 About the NEC

Sports Network Preseason Nalbone Drafted by Dolphins All-America Team Features Four-time All-Northeast Conference tight NEC Football Three from NEC end John Nalbone of Monmouth was News & Notes Three Northeast Conference student- selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth athletes earned their way onto The Sports round of the 2009 National Football Network Football Championship League Draft with the 161st overall pick. Subdivision Preseason All-America Nalbone, who left West Long Branch with Teams, which were released on July 10. Albany Adds Gridiron Classic Title Two-time all-NEC linebacker Scott a slew of tight end receiving records, joins Lewis (South Fork, PA/Bishop McCort) former Hawk Miles Austin in the NFL ranks. to Remarkable Championship Run earned his way onto the Second Team Austin recently resigned with the Dallas Defense while all-conference tailbacks Cowboys, the team he has played for the past two seasons. David McCarty rushed for a career- David McCarty (Gansevoort, NY/ high 271 yards and four LaSalle Institute) and Dave Sinisi UAlbany’s Delaney Defies Odds touchdowns in leading UAlbany (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) to a 28-0 victory over Jacksonville comprise the backfield for the Third for Success Story in the third annual Gridiron Classic Team Offense. One of the more remarkable stories on Saturday afternoon at University throughout Division I FCS, Albany Field. The exempted postseason Can Danes Dive into Un- sophomore Eddie Delaney (Holtsville, game featured the champions of chartered Waters? NY/Sachem East) earned second team all- the Northeast Conference and NEC honors as a rookie. The 6-foot-6 No program in Northeast Conference Pioneer Football League. defensive end, who plays without a left history has secured three consecutive hand and needs an insulin pump to control outright league crowns, let alone three UAlbany (9-3) scored on its first diabetes, made 37 tackles and broke up straight undefeated seasons. Not having possession after returned the six passes. lost a conference game since the 2006 opening kickoff 44 yards past season finale, Albany has the midfield. Quarterback Vinny opportunity to accomplish both feats CCSU Finds Top 10 Again Esposito, who connected on 15 of in 2009. The reigning back-to-back NEC Central Connecticut Sate left little doubt 25 attempts for 141 yards, hooked champions officially kick off their title that it would once again finish amongst up with wide receiver Tim Bush defense against Sacred Heart on the top-10 rushing teams in Division I FCS, on a 17-yard completion into the September 26 at University Field. After gaining 337 yards on the ground in a 49- red zone. McCarty, a junior non-league dates against Georgia 14 victorious regular season finale at tailback, then broke a couple of Southern (Sept. 5), Massachusetts (Sept. Nutmeg State rival Sacred Heart that capped tackles en route to a 16-yard 12), and Maine (Sept. 19), the Great the program’s fifth consecutive winning touchdown run. David McCarty (above) Danes put their 13-game NEC win streak season. Entering the rivalry game at ninth on the line when the Pioneers visit the in the nation, the Blue Devils (239.18 ypg) Both offenses fizzled for the remainder of the first half as the teams Capital Region. Albany has lost only moved to eighth amongst FCS rushing combined for five turnovers. UAlbany defensive end Mike Kelly sacked twice in 11 meetings with Sacred Heart. leaders thanks to a season-best ground quarterback Josh McGregor from behind and forced a fumble that was performance against the Pioneers and will recovered by safety Dave West. The Great Danes returned the favor Harmony Classic Breaks likely finish in the top 10 for the third when McCarty was stripped by cornerback Oscar Johnson inside the Dolphins’ five-yard line. Jacksonville (9-4) had an opportunity to NEC Attendance Record consecutive season. In the 33 games CCSU has played under third-year head coach draw even with less than two minutes left in the period, but halfback Veterans Stadium in New Britain, CT’s Wil- Jeff McInerney, the Blue Devils have J.J. Laster fumbled at the UAlbany 19 and outside linebacker Emerson low Brook Park played host to the most exceeded 250 yards rushing in a game 20 Kinsey pounced on the loose ball. widely-attended home game in North- times. The 2007 Blue Devils (257.64 ypg) east Conference history on Sept. 20, 2008. finished 10th on the national leaderboard The Great Danes, who lost in this same game last year, finally uncorked Playing before a record crowd of 8,322 a year after ranking atop the entire country. their attack midway through the third quarter. Esposito fired a 30-yard in the NAACP-sponsored event, Central In 2006, the Blue Devils (284.91 ypg) completion to Bush, who made a diving catch at the Dolphins’ 12. Connecticut State and North Carolina rushed for a higher average than any DI McCarty then carried three straight times, including a one-yard blast Central played in front of more fans than FCS team thanks to the efforts of NCAA over left guard into the end zone for a 14-0 advantage. the 8,136 that watched Stony Brook host Statistical Rushing Champion Justise St. John’s on September 14, 2002. En- Hairston (167.91 ypg). The NEC champions scored twice in the final stanza to put the game hancing the Blue Devils’ record day was away. UAlbany held on to the ball for six-plus minutes in a 12-play a 35-23 victory over NC Central. march. McCarty and Gannon did most of the work as their team pounded out 312 of its 456 yards on the ground. After Esposito kept the drive alive with a third-down pass to wideout Daniel Bocanegra, Running With the Best in FCS McCarty pushed his way over right guard on a 3-yard TD run. McCarty, The Northeast Conference increased its presence amongst the Division I FCS who had 33 carries, then capped the program’s second-highest single- game rushing total on a dazzling 77-yard scamper with 7:25 remaining. rushing elite in 2008. Five NEC running backs completed the campaign ranked amongst the nation’s top-25. Albany’s David McCarty topped a trio of NEC “In the second half we came to play,” said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, leaders in the nation’s top-five. Ranked second overall, McCarty averaged whose squad went unbeaten for the second consecutive year against 154.33 yards per game on the ground last season. Monmouth’s Dave Sinisi conference opponents. “I had no clue that we could shut them down. (152.18) was directly behind in third followed by fourth-ranked James Mallory They have too much speed on the perimeter and have put up pinball (138.18) of Central Connecticut State. Robert Morris’ Myles Russ (114.09) numbers. Our defense stepped to the plate. They have been consistent ranked 15th while Sacred Heart’s Evin Jones (106.73) stood 25th. and great at shutting down the run.”

Below is a look at the five NEC rushers who rank in the nation’s Top 20. Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Final ------Jacksonville. 0 0 0 0 - 0 Player (School) Season Total (Avg./Game) Nat’l Rank Albany 7 0 7 14 - 28 David McCarty (Albany) 357 car., 1852 yds. (154.33) 2nd Dave Sinisi (Monmouth) 286 car., 1674 yds. (152.18) 3rd Scoring Summary: James Mallory (CCSU) 288 car., 1520 yds. (138.18) 4th 1st 12:24 UA - McCARTY, David 16 yd run (GLASS, Herb kick) Myles Russ (Robert Morris) 215 car., 1255 yds. (114.09) 15th 3rd 04:19 UA - McCARTY, David 1 yd run (GLASS, Herb kick) 4th 08:07 UA - McCARTY, David 3 yd run (GLASS, Herb kick) Evin Jones (Sacred Heart) 234 car., 1174 yds. (106.73) 25th 07:25 UA - McCARTY, David 77 yd run (GLASS, Herb kick)

11 2009 Northeast Conference Football NEC Postseason Evolution NEC Football From ECAC to the GRIDIRON to FCS Postseason Play The Northeast Conference’s postseason opportunities have evolved over the years since the league began Division I football competition in 1996. Now 12 seasons later, a bid into the NCAA championship bracket sits on the horizon. Come 2010, the NEC will gain automatic access into the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs as a result of NCAA Board approval for champion- ship bracket expansion.. The championship postseason opportunity that awaits the league will be the next chapter in a history that began with the league’s victory in 1996 ECAC Football Auto Bid to FCS Playoffs Awaits Classic. After claiming the inaugural Northeast Conference football crown, Robert Morris edged The Northeast Conference will gain automatic access into the Division I Football Championship Playoffs beginning in 2010 MAAC champion, and cross-town rival, Duquesne, now a NEC member, 28-26, in the 1996 ECAC when the approved bracket expansion goes into effect. The Classic, the first-ever postseason game in conference annals. The game went on hiatus from number of FCS playoff participants is set to increase to 20 1998-2000 before Sacred Heart bested Duquesne in the 2001 Classic in Pittsburgh. The Dukes from the current 16-team format. The NEC will acquire one of returned to the ECAC game as the MAAC representative for each of the next two seasons. Albany the four added berths and be guaranteed an opportunity to defeated Duquesne, 24-0, in the 2002 postseason before DU bounced back to edge Monmouth, play for the 2010 FCS Championship. 12-10, in the final ECAC Classic on November 22, 2003. In 2006, Monmouth hosted San Diego as the West Coast met the Jersey Shore in the first-ever Gridiron Classic broadcast live by CSTV. The NEC's automatic access could come sooner than 2010 if Jim Harbaugh’s Toreros prevailed in West Long Branch, 27-7, as the NEC and Pioneer Football its champion meets each of three specified criteria. The Foot- ball Championship Committee has determined to award a League began a tradition that continues on Saturday. Prior to the 2006 season, the NEC guaranteed at-large position to any conference champion team partnered with the PFL to conceive the event, which pits the champion of each conference that: 1) accrues at least eight Division I victories, 2) wins a against one another in a post-season battle. The original agreement between the two confer- minimum of two non-conference games against Division I ences instated the exempted postseason football game for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Follow- teams from a league that has earned an automatic berth in ing a successful inaugural game, the two leagues extended the agreement through 2009. With that given year, and 3) ranks 16th or higher in an average of the NEC recently acquiring a path to D-I FCS playoff access, the two leagues have also agreed the last regular season media, coaches and/or computer polls. that in the event the regular season champion of either conference is selected to participate in the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs, the second-place team from that conference will participate in What They’re Saying About the Gridiron Classic. Automatic Acces to FCS Playoffs? Below is a year-by-year look at the NEC’s Postseason History "I can't say enough about what the Commissioner and her staff has done getting the automatic bid be- Postseason Game (Location) Result Date` cause that just throws a whole new light onto our 2008 Gridiron Classic (Albany, NY) Albany 28, Jacksonville 0 Dec. 6 league. It brings light to what we have a chance to do 2007 Gridiron Classic (Dayton, OH) Dayton 42, Albany 21 Dec. 1 here for the young student-athletes in our league…by 2006 Gridiron Classic (W. Long Branch, NJ) San Diego 27, Monmouth 7 Dec. 2 getting that going, that's huge." 2003 ECAC Classic (Pittsburgh, PA) Duquesne 12, Monmouth 10 Nov. 22 2002 ECAC Classic (Albany, NY) Albany 24, Duquesne 0 Nov. 23 Jeff McInerney, CCSU head coach 2001 ECAC Classic (Pittsburgh, PA) Sacred Heart 31, Duquesne 15 Dec. 1 1997 ECAC Classic (Washington, DC) Robert Morris 35, Georgetown 13 Nov. 22 1996 ECAC Classic (Pittsburgh, PA) Robert Morris 28, Duquesne 26 Nov. 23 “A year and a half ago when we joined, we were just excited about the conference and the things that were Gridiron Classic Provides More Postseason Opportunity going on with the conference, and then with the auto bid just recently - that is icing on the cake.” For the fourth year running, the first Saturday in December will once again mean postseason football for the Northeast Conference and the Pioneer Football Jerry Schmitt, Duquesne head coach League. The two Division I FCS conferences will renew their rivalry in the 2009 Gridiron Classic set for December 5. “I think if you talk to every team in the league and With each league being granted the opportunity to any coach, we're all excited about it. It's something host the postseason contest every other season, the that our league did that wasn't easy. They worked Pioneer League's representative will provide the venue hard to get that automatic bid for us and it's to their for this year's event. credit. Anytime you have something to shoot for or "We are very pleased about the postseason opportunity something that is at the end of the road to reward that the Gridiron Classic affords our student-athletes," you, it gives the kids a lot to fight for and it's excit- said Ron Ratner, Interim NEC Commissioner. ing.” Pioneer Football League Commissioner Patty Viverito had a similar take. Joe Walton, Robert Morris head coach "Student-athletes thrive on competition and having a meaningful postseason opportunity is a high priority for our institutions," said Viverito.

The two leagues have also agreed that in the event the regular season champion of either "It provides greater opportunity for our league on conference is selected to participate in the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs, the second-place numerous levels. It should bolster our recruiting ef- team from that conference will participate in the Gridiron Classic. forts and overall competitiveness, while also helping Defending Northeast Conference champion Albany made its second consecutive appearance us brand our league." in the postseason event last December. Avenging the prior year's 42-21 loss at Dayton, the Great Danes rolled past Jacksonville, 28-0, at University Field in a game televised nationally by Brenda Weare, late NEC Commissioner whose tire- the YES Network. Albany's victory was the NEC's first in the three-year history of the postseason less efforts led to bracket expansion Classic. 12 About the NEC Albany Tabbed Northeast Conference NEC Football Favorite For Fourth Straight Year Preseason Poll/Preview UAlbany stands as the unanimous favorite to 2009 Northeast capture the 2009 Northeast Conference foot- ball crown, which would be its third straight. Conference Football The Great Danes received eight first-place votes Preseason Coaches Poll to finish atop an annual survey of league's All-time NEC Champions head coaches for a fourth consecutive sea- son. Monmouth, the 2008 NEC runner-up, NEC Overall 1. Albany (8) garnered the lone remaining first-place nod Year Champion Rec. Rec. 2. Monmouth (1) to finish second in the preseason poll, the 1996 Robert Morris 3-1 9-2 3. Central Connecticut State results of which were announced during a Monmouth 3-1 7-3 4. Sacred Heart media teleconference. The Conference also 1997 Robert Morris 4-0 8-3 unveiled its Preseason All-NEC Team during 5. Robert Morris 1998 Robert Morris 4-1 4-6 the media session, which served as a prelude Monmouth 4-1 5-5 6. Duquesne to the NEC's 14th season on the gridiron. 1999 Robert Morris 7-0 8-2 7. Bryant Central Connecticut State, which has posted 2000 Robert Morris 8-0 10-0 8. Wagner a winning conference record in each of the 2001 Sacred Heart 8-0 11-0 9. Saint Francis (PA) past five seasons, claimed third in the poll 2002 Albany 6-1 8-4 ahead of Sacred Heart in fourth and Robert 2003 Monmouth 6-1 10-2 First place votes in parentheses Morris in fifth. Embarking on its second NEC Albany 6-1 7-4 season, Duquesne was chosen sixth while 2004 Monmouth 6-1 10-1 new league member Bryant took seventh. Cent. Conn. St. 6-1 8-2 Wagner, in eighth, and Saint Francis (PA), in 2005 Cent. Conn. St. 5-2 7-4 ninth, round out the preseason selections. Stony Brook 5-2 6-5 The Northeast Conference kicks off the 2009 campaign on September 5 when all nine of its 2006 Monmouth 6-1 10-2 members take the field. Monmouth will host Duquesne to open the league schedule on September 2007 Albany 6-0 8-4 19 in front of a NEC-TV audience, but it is not until October 3 that the NEC slate steps into full swing. 2008 Albany 7-0 9-3 No program in Northeast Conference history has secured three consecutive outright league crowns, let alone three straight undefeated seasons. Not having lost a conference game since the 2006 season finale, Albany has the opportunity to accomplish both feats in 2009 and reigning NEC 2009 Preseason All-NEC Team Coach of the Year Bob Ford welcomes back six preseason all-NEC performers to help in the effort. Offense Sacred Heart, which experienced a positive five-game turnaround last season, tied the defending Pos Name School champion Great Danes by placing a NEC-high six representatives on the preseason all-league team. QB Dale Fink $^ Sacred Heart RB David McCarty $^ Albany Twenty-two of the 25 preseason honorees received all-NEC accolades at the conclusion of the 2008 campaign. RB Dave Sinisi $^& Monmouth WR Tim Bush $ Albany WR Steve Tedesco $* Sacred Heart TE Sean Bunevich ! Duquesne OL Cody Kekipi $ Saint Francis OL Anthony Pineiro ^ Central Conn. St. OL Kevin Richards !^ Albany OL Justin Smith ! Sacred Heart OL Shawn Wright $^ Monmouth

Defense Pos Name School DL Eddie Delaney ! Albany DL Bill O’Brien ! Sacred Heart DL Ray Saunders $ Central Conn. St. DL Mark Szymanski !^ Robert Morris LB Justin Brancaccio $ Albany LB Scott Lewis $* Saint Francis LB Nathan Totino $ Duquesne DB Dave Casale $ Albany DB Andre Isla ! Sacred Heart DB Michael Landers $ Robert Morris DB Alondre Rush $ Central Conn. St.

Special Teams Pos Name School K Zak Campbell Saint Francis P Nick Schirtzinger ^ Robert Morris RS Garry Coles $ Sacred Heart

$ - 2008 First Team All-NEC ! - 2008 Second Team All-NEC * - 2007 First Team All-NEC ^- 2007 Second Team All-NEC #- 2006 First Team All-NEC & - 2006 Second Team All-NEC

13 2009 Northeast Conference Football Officiating Northeast Conference Football The NEC Would Like To Milton J. Halstead Coordinator of Football Officials Thank Its Recent Milton J. Halstead enters his 12th season as Coordinator of Football Officials for Corporate Partners the Northeast Conference.

Well-known and respected along the east coast as a football official and assignor, Halstead also serves as the Commissioner of the Eastern Collegiate Football Officials Association. There, he handles assignments for the Pennsyl- vania State Athletic Conference (Division II) and Middle Atlantic Conference (Division III).

Halstead’s officiating experience includes the 1994 NCAA I-FCS National Cham- pionship game and the NCAA I-FCS National Championship Tournament from 1983-92. Recently, Halstead was honored by the All-American Football Foun- dation for his dedicated service.

A 1964 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and Engineering, Hal- Twelfth Year stead lives in Pipersville, Pennsylvania with his wife, Vicky.

NEC Officials for 2009 (by position)

REFEREE LINE JUDGE BACK JUDGE Mike Davis Robert Hefferon Joseph Yochim, Jr. Steven Dobis Tommy Meehan, Sr. Jack Zilles John Gerbino Daniel Bush Melvin Riddick Vance Harris Kenneth Broome George Trout Steven Keller Mark Tarleton Frank Usseglio Ray Skold Frank D’Angelo Ron Roberts Robert Webb, Jr. Phil DiDomenico Bob Frazier Jim Winterberg John Wilson Michael DeBerdine

UMPIRE FIELD JUDGE SUPPLEMENTAL OFFICIALS Jim Kauffman Daniel Aminoff Greg Allen (Referee) Tom Tierney John Svorinich Fred Yawger (Umpire) Tony Donato Matt Brewer N.J. Cogliati (Linesman) Rob Kinter Dan Carr Jonathan Perry (Line Judge) Tim Linnartz Joseph Cosenza, Jr. Will White (Side Judge) Rick Shavensky Mark McCarter Sean O’Callahan (Back Judge) Tim Gover Scott Weidner Terry Moore Joe Benda

LINESMEN SIDE JUDGE Jeffrey Bower Richard Donofrio Robert Schuster Charles Costanza Anthony Ciccaglione Ron Reidinger Joseph Mate Tim Kehoe Joseph Cook John O’Brien Peter Ciriello Doug Donnelly Frank Miranda James Snyder III Anthony Solimine Eric Cantell

14 About the NEC

15