University at Albany UAlbany Football 2010 Northeast Conference Football Champion, 2002, 2003, 2007 & 2008 this season and upped that total to seven over the last two years ... UAlbany Great Danes (3-4, NEC 1-3) vs. ... the Great Danes have played in 15 non-Saturday games in the Bryant Bulldogs (4-3, NEC 1-3) program's history and own a 6-9 record in those contests ... ... UAlbany's Buddy Leathley became the first UAlbany QB to run and GAME #8: Saturday, October 30, 2010 pass for 100-plus yards in a game since Sept. 30, 1989 ... ... the Great Danes lost when leading by double-figure points at halftime Bulldog Stadium (3,400 / Natural Grass) for the third time as a Division I FCS program ... Smithfield, R.I., 1:00 p.m. Eastern ... ILB Jon Morgan made a career-high 13 tackles vs. Central Conn. State, the highest total by a Great Dane since Sept. 13, 2008 ... TELEVISION COVERAGE ... UAlbany was the last NCAA Division I FBS or FCS program to play None. a home game in the program's homecoming game on Oct. 9 ... RADIO COVERAGE ... the Great Danes have posted seven-plus wins in four consecutive Fox Sports 980 (WOFX-AM) will again air the entire University at Albany seasons for just the second time in the program's history ... football schedule. Rodger Wyland, the sports director at WNYT-TV ... UAlbany has reached the seven-win mark in eight of its previous 11 (NBC 13), serves as the WOFX Radio play-by-play announcer. seasons at the NCAA Division I FCS level ... ... the Great Danes finished with six victories in conference play for the UALBANY vs. BRYANT sixth time, including three years in a row ... UAlbany and Bryant are meeting for the second time on the gridiron. The ... UAlbany has won or shared four Northeast Conference champion- Great Danes registered a 20-17 victory one year ago at Unviersity Field. ships (2002, 2003, 2007 & 2008) ... QB Vinny Esposito passed for a season-high 280 yards and two ... Bob Ford ranks sixth among the FCS all-time leaders in career second-half touchdowns. WR Jason Poore hauled in a 34-yard scoring victories with 244 ... the legendary Eddie Robinson tops that list ... reception to give his team a 13-9 lead in the third quarter. Esposito found .... the Northeast Conference champion will earn an automatic NCAA TB Andrew Smith with a 5-yard touchdown pass on the first play of FCS playoff berth for the first time in 2010 ... the final period. Bryant took a 9-6 lead in the third quarter when Vinton ... the National Football League's New York Giants have made the South scored on a 13-yard halfback pass from RB Mike Canfora. UAlbany campus its summer training camp home since 1996 ... LAST GAME - Central Conn. State, Oct. 22, 2010 ABOUT BRYANT: The Bulldogs, who were idle last week, are in their Joe Izzo connected on a game-winning 32-yard field goal, his third of third of a four-year NCAA Division I reclassification. Bryant (4-3, NEC the game, as Central Connecticut State rallied for a 30-27 overtime 1-3) will be a full member of the Northeast Conference in 2012-13. Head victory over UAlbany on Oct. 22. The Blue Devils trailed by eight points coach Marty Fine previously led the program to NCAA Division II playoff in the final minutes, but drew even with an eight-play, 74-yard drive. appearances in 2006 and 2007. Fine has 17 returning starters from a UAlbany seemed to have the defending conference champions stopped in their own territory before a fourth-down defensive holding call kept 2010 UAlbany Football Schedule the series alive. QB Gunnar Jespersen took advantage with a 24-yard completion and an 11-yard first-down run. He later found P.J. Borawski Sept. 2 (Thu.) at Maine 3-0, W on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 36 seconds remaining. RB Everette Sept. 11 (Sat.) at #10/12 Stephen F. Austin 59-14, L Benjamin scored on the tying two-point conversion run. In overtime, Sept. 25 (Sat.) at Duquesne* 28-17, L UAlbany QB Buddy Leathley scrambled for a first down but fumbled Oct. 2 (Sat.) at Yale 23-20, W at the CCSU 13 where LB Lorenzo Baker scooped up the loose ball. The Oct. 9 (Sat.) Saint Francis, Pa.* (HC) 48-0, W Blue Devils ran three straight times to set up Izzo's winning kick. Oct. 16 (Sat.) at Robert Morris* 38-0, L Oct. 22 (Fri.) Central Conn. State* (OT) 30-27, L ABOUT UALBANY: In 2009, the Great Danes finished second in the Northeast Conference standings. UAlbany (7-4, NEC 6-2) had won the Oct. 30 (Sat.) at Bryant* 1:00 conference championship the previous two years. Eight all-confer- Nov. 6 (Sat.) at Sacred Heart* 1:00 ence players graduated off last year's squad. Nov. 13 (Sat.) Wagner* 1:00 Head coach Bob Ford is in his 42nd season as a college head Nov. 20 (Sat.) Monmouth* 1:00 coach. Andy Sparano, a preseason All-NEC selection, is among four *Northeast Conference Opponent returning starters on the offensive line. Andrew Smith is a triple- (HC) - Homecoming/Fall Festival Weekend threat on offense as a quarterback, tailback and receiver. WR Jason Poore had 26 catches for 243 yards and two touchdowns. ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Trevor Anderson, a first-team All-NEC defensive tackle, leads Brian DePasquale, a defense that was tough against the run and allowed just over 19 Associate Athletics Director/Communications & Media points per game. CB Ross Bertrand has 100-plus career tackles. PK (O) 518-442-3072 (FAX) 518-442-3139 Herb Glass earned second-team All-NEC honors. e-mail: [email protected] ALBANY SPORTSLINE (518) 442-DANE UALBANY QUICK HITS www.ualbanysports.com ... UAlbany played in its fourth overtime game in last Friday's 30-27 loss to Northeast Conference unbeaten Central Connecticut State ... www.facebook.com/ualbanysports ... UAlbany has played in three games decided by three points or less www.twitter.com/ualbanysports squad that went 5-6 overall (4-4 NEC) in its first season of conference suffered setbacks in its previous two OT decisions. competition. The Bulldogs lead the league in scoring offense at 30.9 UAlbany's Overtime History points per game. RB Jordan Brown is second in the NEC in rushing Oct. 21, 2000: Sacred Heart 35, Albany 28 (OT) (120.6 ypg), first in all-purpose yards (184.9 ypg) and first in scoring Oct. 12, 2002: Drake 49, Albany 42 (2OT) (10.3 ppg). The sophomore has 844 yards and nine TDs on the ground. Sept. 13, 2008: Albany 22, Hofstra 16 (OT) He helped his team rally for a 25-24 win over Sacred Heart with a 73- Oct. 22, 2010: Central Conn. State 30, Albany 27 (OT) yard punt return for a TD in the final period. RB Mike Canfora adds 344 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. The team's 2009 offensive MVP NON-SATURDAY GAMES: UAlbany played in a non-Saturday game also has two receiving TDs. QB Mike Croce has connected on 84 of for the 15th time in its history in the contest with Central Connecticut 147 pass attempts for 1,010 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has used State on Oct. 22. The Great Danes are 6-9 all-time in non-Saturday 10 different receivers in recording a 130.5 pass efficiency rating. The games and have split four games at the Division I FCS level. UAlbany Merrimack College transfer threw for 1,695 yards and 13 scores last hosted a non-Saturday game for the first time since the 1998 opener. season. Freshman Jordan Harris is the top receiver with 19 catches for 361 yards and two TDs. His first reception as a collegian was a 44- UAlbany's Division I FCS Non-Saturday Games yard scoring strike. RG Jon Lewis (6-2, 270) is the lone senior starter Oct. 13, 2000: Albany 27, St. John's 3 (Friday) on the offensive line. TE Matt Tracey (6-5, 240) earned first-team All- Sept. 4, 2004: Hofstra 45, Albany 0 (Thursday) NEC recognition last year and was a preseaon FCS All-American. LB Sept. 2, 2010: Albany 3, Maine (Thursday) Jason Riffe is the key figure on Bryant's defensive unit. A 6-foot, 230- Oct. 22, 2010: Central Conn. 30, Albany 27, OT (Friday) pound defender, Riffe is third in the conference in tackles with 78 and second in sacks (5.0). He adds 8.5 hits for a loss and two forced NIGHT GAMES: UAlbany has a 7-17 record in night games at the fumbles. The senior has 219 career tackles and made a career-best 14 NCAA Division I FCS level (games starting at 6:00 p.m. or later local time). stops against UAlbany last year. Samad Wagstaff, a junior cornerback, The Great Danes lost to Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 11 and Central Conn. totals 30 tackles, four pass break-ups and two interceptions. He was State on Oct. 22 this season. Previous to this year's season-opening the league's co-defensive player of the week on Sept. 13. SS Addison 3-0 win at Maine on Sept. 2, the Great Danes last won at night in a 22- Lynch and DE Joshua Janes (6-3, 245) add 41 and 27 tackles, 16 overtime decision at Hofstra on Sept. 13, 2008. respectively. PK Chris Bird is second on Bryant's all-time list with 175 career points.