Albany Great Danes football


 * For information on all University at Albany sports, see Albany Great Danes

The Albany Great Danes football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University at Albany located in the U.S. state of New York. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and completed a 14-season tenure in the Northeast Conference in 2012. In 2013, Albany football will move to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

Albany played football as a club sport in the 1920s, but dropped that program in 1924. The modern era of Albany football began in 1970, when the school restored football as a club sport. The team was upgraded to full varsity status in 1973. From the revival of football in 1970 through 2012, the team played its home games at the 10,000 seat University Field in Albany, New York. Albany will open a new 8,500-seat stadium, Bob Ford Field, for the 2013 season. The stadium is named after Bob Ford, who has been the Great Danes' head coach since the program's revival.

History
One of the most well known coaches at the university is football coach Bob Ford. The architect of the University at Albany's football program, Ford has been Albany's only head coach since the program was reinstated after a 46-year absence. Ford joined the program in 1970 when it was a club. After only three seasons at the club level, the program was upgraded to varsity status in 1973, and finished with a 7–2 record. In 1974, the team finished 9–0, the school's only undefeated season. Ford has put together a record of 246-156 with the Great Danes, while his 256 career victories rank first among active NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) head coaches. His UAlbany teams own a 80-52 mark for a .606 winning percentage as a Division I FCS program. (records as of end of 2011 season). Ford recorded his 250th career win with a 38-10 victory against Duquesne on October 8, 2011.

At his time with Albany, Ford has led the Great Danes to one ECAC North Championships (D-III), one Division-III Playoff appearance, two East Football Conference Championships and three Northeast Conference Championships (two Co-Championship).

Ford's knowledge has also created a "coaching factory scenario" at the university. More than 100 coaches, who have started their careers under Ford, are currently employed with 60 different high schools, colleges, and professional teams from around the world. [edit]1999–2010: Start of Division I Football

The Great Danes have been successful in football since its first season on the Division I-AA level. In the 1999 season the Great Danes compiled a 7–2 overall record, finishing 6–1 in-conference, which was good for second in the NEC.

In 2002, Ford's team had its first big successful season at the Division I level. The Great Danes, led by running-back Gary Jones, would win the program's first-ever Northeast Conference title. They would go on to defeat unbeaten Duquesne in the 2002 ECAC Bowl. Jones would set the single-season rushing record mark with 1,509 yards (1,380 m) and scoring a program record 22 rushing touchdowns.

Jones would break his own single-season mark the following season, rushing for 1,524 yards (1,394 m). He would also become the programs all-time leading rusher with 3,033 yards (2,773 m) in only two seasons with the Great Danes.

Success for Ford's program continued during the 2006 season. The Great Danes would defeat #11 FCS ranked University of Delaware (a full-scholarship program) 17–10 in front of just over 22,000 people on September 16. Two weeks later, for the first time in the program’s history, the team would be ranked in both The Sports Network and College Sporting News Division I-AA national polls, ranked at No. 23 in both national rankings. The Great Danes would finish the season 7–4.

The 2006 season also marked a major change in recruitment of athletes for the football program. The program, which had played non-scholarship football since being established, had begun offering scholarships to part of its roster players, joining other Northeast Conference programs in the expansion of the conferences football teams.

Despite starting the season 1–3, including loses to #19 Hofstra and #2 University of Montana, the Great Danes in 2007 would run through the NEC Conference, going 6–0, to win their second conference championship. In what was deemed the 'NEC Championship Game', UAlbany defeated Central Connecticut State University 49–14 in the final regular season game. The Great Danes became the fifth team in NEC history to go undefeated in conference play. The victory also gave them a postseason appearance against the University of Dayton of the Pioneer League in the Gridiron Classic in Dayton, Ohio.

UAlbany continued its run during the 2008 season despite playing an un-orthodox schedule to start the season. The Great Danes would play their first five games of the season on the road, three against Top 25 ranked FCS opponents, and eight consecutive road games from the 2007 to the 2008 season. UAlbany would be the lone Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision team to not play at home in August or September of the 2008 season.

Led by running-back David McCarty, who would break Gary Jones single season and career rushing record during the season, the Great Danes would go 7–0 to win their second consecutive NEC Championship. The undefeated season marked a 13 conference game winning streak, second longest in NEC History, and the second time in conference history a team won back-to-back championships. The Great Danes defeated the Jacksonville University Dolphins in their second consecutive appearance in the Gridiron Classic on December 6, 2008 by a score of 28–0.

Prior to the 2008 season, the NCAA Board of Directors' approved the expansion of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision post-season bracket, allowing the Northeast Conference to gain automatic access into the Division I Football Championship beginning in 2010. The NEC’s automatic access could come sooner than 2010 if its champion meets specified criteria of the Football Championship Committee for an at-large spot.

In 2011, after 39 years of running the program, Ford's program would reach a major accomplishment. The Great Danes would finish the season 8-3 (7-1 in conference), despite starting the season 0-2. The team would finish the season as co-champions with Duquesne. However, because of a 38-10 victory against the Dukes earlier in the season, the Great Danes would win their first ever trip to the NCAA Division I Football Championship. They would play former NEC opponent and Big South Champions, the Stony Brook Seawolves in the first round of the tournament. They would lose 31-28, as the Seawolves came up with an interception at the goal-line with under a minute to play. Stony Brook coach Chuck Priore graduated from Albany, played for Bob Ford and was running back coach for Albany from 1983-85. The Great Danes would have strong leaders on the 2011 team. Senior quarterback, Dan Di Lella would lead an offense that averaged 34.2 point per game. Di Lella would set a school record for most touchdowns passes in a single season. On defense, senior captain defensive-end Eddie Delaney would set a single season school record for sacks. Delaney would also get national recognition for his success on the field despite being a diabetic and having been born without a left hand.[2] [edit]Bob Ford Field and move to CAA

On April 17, 2012, the university broke ground on a new multi-sport complex that would be available for use beginning in Fall 2013. Along with a complex that will be the new home for football and soccer, a new track will be created on the current football field, University Field. The plans to build the stadium were revealed in the summer of 2011. The new stadium, which the field will be named Bob Ford Field, will hold initially 6,000. However, the stadium will be built so future expansion can take place upwards to 10,000 to 15,000. It was announced on August 7, 2012 that beginning in 2013, the football program would accept an increase in scholarships and move out of the Northeast Conference and into the Colonial Athletic Association. Stony Brook, a former Northeast Conference rival, would also be making the move with them.

On November 17, 2012, the Great Danes played their final NEC Conference game and final game at University Field against Central Connecticut State. UAlbany defeated the Blue Devils 63-34, finishing 78-24 all-time against NEC opponents and 127-65 at University Field. The Great Danes also clinched a share of the NEC Championship. However, they did not win the NEC automatic bid do to a loss against Wagner (one of only two loses on the 2012 season) and finishing in a tie with the Seahawks.

Notable former players
Notable alumni include:

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Conference championships
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