Colin Disch Among Four Players on Sports Network Mid-Major All-America Football Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Northeast Conference champion University at Albany placed four players on the 2007 Sports Network Mid-Major and Independent Division I FCS All-America squad. Michael Dungey, Sam Pagano and David McCarty were first-team selections, while Colin Disch was named to the second team.

Dungey, who has previously has been named to several All-America teams, led a defensive unit that was ranked nationally in several categories. Dungey, who started all 12 games at the tackle and end positions, was voted All-Northeast Conference for the third year in a row. At 6-foot-2 and 275-pounds, Dungey made 44 tackles with 11.5 hits for a loss and 5.5 quarterback sacks.

Pagano, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound left guard, blocked for an offense that averaged 28.4 points and 362.5 total yards. The Great Danes were 20th among Division I FCS teams in rushing at 208.3 yards per game. Pagano made his third straight appearance on the All-NEC unit. McCarty, a sophomore tailback, rushed for the third-highest single-season total in team history with 1,503 yards and 13 touchdowns. He ran for 100 or more yards in eight games. McCarty, who piled up 247 yards in the conference championship against Central Connecticut State, averaged 125.3 per game, the tenth-leading FCS rushing mark nationally.

Colin Disch earned Sports Network mid-major honors for the third consecutive season. Disch, a senior inside linebacker, led the Great Danes with 70 tackles. He became the third UAlbany player to be named all-conference four times. Disch finished his career as the school’s all-time tackles leader with 416. He ranks third on the NEC’s career list.


Jon Volpe Leads Group of 13 on Northeast Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll

Jon Volpe, an all-conference defensive end, leads a group of thirteen UAlbany football players who have been named to the 2007 Northeast Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll, as announced on Tuesday, Jan. 22 by the league office.

Volpe, who is enrolled in the school’s master’s program, has a 3.40 grade point average. He has an undergraduate degree in business administration with a minor in economics. Chris Simpson, a sophomore linebacker, and junior tight end Dan Archer were also recognized. Simpson has a 3.95 GPA in physics, while Archer owns a 3.21 GPA in business administration.

Other UAlbany athletes named were quarterback Frank Blasinsky (3.40, business administration), flanker Daniel Bocanegra (3.20, business administration), fullback Chris Bright (3.55, biology), offensive guard Mike Falatyn (3.78, biology), inside linebacker Joe Grassia (3.43, business administration), defensive end Wil Moushey (3.72, business administration), offensive tackle Keith Peifer (3.34 business administration), defensive end Tony Sparano (3.27, history), offensive tackle Andrew Stevens (3.31, business administration) and defensive tackle Tyler Vernieu (3.32, business administration).