UAlbany Football Announces Captains for 2007; Samson Brown Named Assistant Coach

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Monday, July 30 that Colin Disch, Sam Pagano and Michael Dungey have been voted team captains for the 2007 season. The Great Danes begin practice on Monday, Aug. 6. UAlbany opens its schedule at Colgate on Sept. 1.

Disch, a senior inside linebacker from North Plainfield, N.J., is the third player in the program’s history to be selected as a captain three times. Arnie Will (1973-75) and Frank Sarcone (1985-87) also served in that role three years in a row. Disch was chosen to the AFCA FCS/I-AA All-America squad as a junior, and was tabbed as the Football Gazette I-AA Mid-Major Linebacker of the Year for the second consecutive year. He accounted for 103 tackles, including 11 for a loss, in earning the NEC defensive player of the year award for the second straight season.

Dungey, a senior defensive tackle from Rochester, N.Y., was named to the 2006 Football Gazette Mid-Major All-America second team and was a first-team All-NEC selection. He had 34 tackles with two sacks and eight tackles for a loss. The Great Danes were ranked in the top-five nationally in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.

Pagano, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound left guard, has appeared in 29 career games on UAlbany’s offensive line. He was chosen second team mid-major All-America by Football Gazette and named to the All-NEC second team. The Great Danes averaged 296.0 total yards and 193.7 rushing yards against conference opponents.

UAlbany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Monday, July 30 the hiring of Samson Brown as assistant coach. Brown, a former Great Danes’ free safety, will coach the outside linebackers and recruit in the areas of New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island.

Brown previously coached the tight ends and assisted with special teams at Hofstra University. He served as an intern coach for two years at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Division III program, and one season at Siena College. At Rensselaer, Brown worked with the defensive backs, wide receivers and special teams.

Brown, who also interned with the New York Giants’ scouting department, was a four-time All-Northeast Conference defensive back at UAlbany. He totaled 52 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two interceptions in leading the Great Danes to the 2002 conference championship. Brown, a first-team All-NEC selection on three occasions, finished his career ranked among the school’s all-time tackles leaders with 240.

Brown, 27, earned a B.A. in information science and policy from UAlbany in 2003. He has also worked as a professional recruiter for Aerotek Architecture and Engineering in New York.