University of Albany Women's Basketball Receives Two More Commitments for 2008-09 Season

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University at Albany women’s basketball coach Trina Patterson announced on Tuesday, July 29 that two student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to join the Great Danes in the 2008-09 academic year. Delaney Cohan, a 6-foot-1 forward from Boothwyn, Pa. (Chichester H.S.) and Shelby Coon, a 6-foot-1 forward from Briarcliff, N.Y. (Briarcliff H.S.), each made a commitment.

Cohan was named one of the top five players in the Delaware Valley League by the Philadelphia Inquirer after averaging 15.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this past winter. She also garnered all-county and all-conference honors. As a junior, she earned honorable mention all-county and all-conference laurels while averaging 10 points and seven rebounds per contest. Cohan, who intends to major in biology at UAlbany, took all honors courses at Chichester High School and graduated with a 3.2 grade point average.

“Delaney is a highly skilled forward,” said Patterson, who is beginning her seventh season as head coach. “She has a high basketball IQ and the ability to stretch the defense with her long-range shooting.”

Coon led her high school team to a 28-1 record and the 2008 New York State Federation Class B championship. For her efforts, she earned all-tournament honors after averaging 13.5 points and 15.6 rebounds per game. Furthermore, Cohen was named league MVP and to the all-state first team. She set a sectional record by grabbing 470 boards, which also ranked fourth in the state and 19th in the country. As a junior, the forward was named fifth-team all-state, all-section and all-conference. Her team was co-league champions with an 18-2 ledger. Coon plans to major in business administration at UAlbany.

“Shelby plays the power forward position,” Patterson stated. “She is fundamentally sound, rebounds well, and is an outstanding defender.”

Kate Cronin, a 5-foot-10 forward from Amityville, N.Y., Adrienne Jones, a 5-foot-7 guard from Waldorf, Md., and Tabitha Makopondo, a 6-foot-1 forward from Gainesville, Fla., previously signed during the November period.



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2008-09 University at Albany Women's Basketball Signings
Name Pos. Ht. Hometown (High School)
Delaney Cohan F 6-1 Boothwyn, Pa. (Chichester)

Shelby Coon F 6-1 Briarcliff, N.Y. (Briarcliff)

Kate Cronin F 5-10 Amityville, N.Y. (St. John’s the Baptist)

Adrienne Jones G 5-7 Waldorf, Md. (Westlake)

Tabitha Makopondo F 6-1 Gainesville, Fla. (Buchholz)

2007-2008 UAlbany Athletics - Year In Review

2007-2008 Championships and Tournaments

Men's Lacrosse: America East Conference Championship Finals

Women's Golf: America East Champions

Men's Outdoor Track: America East Champions

Softball: America East Regular Season Champions

Men's Indoor Track: America East Champions

Volleyball: America East Champions - 2nd Round of NCAA Tournament

Football: Undefeated NorthEast Conference Champions

Field Hockey: America East Conference Championship Finals


Individual Accomplishments

Men's Track: Mike McCadney Wins IC4A Championship's Triple Jump

Softball: Amber Maisonet earns All Conference first team honors for 4th time - named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America University Division Softball Team

Softball: Chris Cannata was named America East Coach of the Year

Tennis: earned the America East Conference Coaching Staff of the Year award

Women's Track: Laura Cummings breaks UAlbany record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:33.60

Men's Track: Luke Schoen breaks America East Pole Vault Record with 17ft 3in mark

Football: Michael Dungey, Sam Pagano and David McCarty were named to the 2007 Sports Network FCS All-America squad.

Football: Coach Bob Ford NEC Coach of the Year. Undefeated in Conference 2007.

Field Hockey: Michell Simpson named an All American.

Volleyball: Kamisha Kellam named to All-America East Conference Team.

Men's Basketball: Brian Lillis & Tim Ambrose on All-America East Conference Team

Women's Basketball: Trina Patterson 2008 America East Conference Coach of the Year

Indoor Track: Joe Greene breaks UAlbany record in 300 meter at 33.81 seconds;

Indoor Track: Luke Schoen sets indoor Pole Vault record clearing 16ft.- 4.75in.

Women's Indoor Track: Arina Gerasimova Sets School Record in the Triple Jump with a leap of 42-feet, 7-inches

Men's Track And Field: Daniel Avery Registers Program's Top Division I Time in the 110 Meter Hurdles

Men's Track And Field: Luke Schoen Finishes Fifth in Pole Vault at NCAA National Championships

Men's Lacrosse: Jordan Levine & Brett Queener Chosen in Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft

Baseball: Mike Konstanty Selected by Cinncinnati Reds in MLB Draft

Football: Jacob Hobbs signs with the New York Giants

MLL top goal-scorer Merrick Thomson Scores Five Goals in New Jersey's MLL Victory

Courtesy: Inside Lacrosse

Nine games into the season, make-it, take-it runs were something the Pride were used to seeing stretch close games out of reach in favor of their opponents, and never the other way around. Saturday night against Washington, they saw what they were missing as they used several face-off-powered bursts to blow open a tight game late in the second quarter, breezing to a 25-20 victory.

Rookie face-off specialist Danny Brennan saw action for the Pride for just the second time all-season and his impact was apparent. While his numbers won’t place him in the running for Defensive Player of the Week, it was a drastic increase from the sub-forty face-off percentage the Pride entered with which placed them on course for the all-time worst percentage in MLL history. The offensive bursts were a welcome change.

“It’s nice,” Jacobs said of the streaks. “Our offense has always been pretty good at getting goals when they get the ball, it’s just a matter of getting the ball and getting good possessions.

“Danny did a good job today.”

The Peyser brothers led the way for the Pride offensively. Older brother Greg had a solid game for the Pride, while Stephen scored four goals and handed out an assist to earn Bud Light MVP Honors.

“It’s really fun to hug your brother on a day where you both do well and see a smile on his face just like the one I’m probably showing him,” Stephen Peyser said.

With siblings, of course, there also comes that extra juice to match what the other is providing on the field.

“Yeah, I’m sure he has the same sentiment,” Stephen Peyser said. “We’re brothers, so we like to compete with each other - we’ve been doing it since we were little - so it’s just fun to get out there and ball with each other.”

The competition worked out for the best for the Pride, though the results don’t surprise Jacobs.

“They’re tough kids,” Jacobs said. “They play hard defensively and hard offensively. When we traded to get them we did it because we knew they were tough two-way players.”

Scott Urick also provided strong offense for the Pride, showing that he’s still “The Shot” with multiple precision strikes en-route to a three goal night.

“Scotty never went away,” Jacobs said. “It’s just a matter of getting him the ball. When we have the ball and we’re on offense, Scotty is going to get the ball and he’s going to score goals.”

MLL top goal-scorer Merrick Thomson bolstered his numbers with five goals, including some deep strikes, as opposed to his textbook crease runs.

“He’s becoming more and more of a complete attackman,” Jacobs said. “Early in the year he was labeled a ‘Canadian attackman’ who could only play off the ball and be an inside finisher, but now he’s completing his game and it’s making us a more dangerous attack.”

Washington attackman Buggs Combs was spectacular offensively in the losing effort, scoring eight goals, a Bayhawks franchise record.

“I don’t mind if one guy scores a lot of goals if the rest of the team defense is okay,” Jacobs said, ‘but we weren’t doing a good job team-wise of rotating to him, so it wasn’t that one person was guarding him and doing a bad job.

“We may have to re-evaluate our looks, because it’s one of those things where early in the year our defense was doing a great job and later in the year it’s been not so good.”

The Pride penalty kill was strong all game, but no stretch was more important than an early illegal stick violation on Chris Unterstein. With the game tied 2-2, the Pride killed the entirety of the 3:00 non-releasable penalty, ending a chance for the Bayhawks to put some space between them without so much as a scoring threat.

“It was huge for us,” Jacobs said, “that’s one of those situations where you can give up one, two or three depending on how you face-off. But we did a good job of scouting and finding their passing lanes and our guys got in them, then when our offense had the ball we used the full shot clock.”

The teams traded scores early, with neither squad able to take a decisive lead. Tim Treubig got things started for the Pride at 2:36, but Combs answered in the fourth minute to make the score 1-1. After Jordan Levine re-established the Pride lead, but Combs again knotted things up. After the successful illegal stick penalty kill and Cinosky goal, it was Kyle Dixon’s turn to again even things up, making the score 3-3.

Matt Ward gave the Bayhawks their first goal of the game at 12:48 of the first, but the Pride used a newfound advantage at face-off to tie it on a Scott Urick goal just :11 later, and take the lead back :16 after that on Merrick Thomson’s first of the game. A Stephen Peyser goal with just seven seconds remaining gave the Pride a 6-4 lead after one.

Jamison Mullen and Combs quickly tied things up again for the Bayhawks, but the Pride responded with a pair of goals of their own by Urick and Peyser to re-establish a two-goal lead before Combs’ fourth of the day cut the lead to 8-7.

After Cinosky stripped Dixon and earned a slashing penalty, Thomson used the man-up to tally his second of the day. The Pride won the resulting draw, and Urick scooped up the rebound of a Stephen Peyser shot to make the score 10-7.

Washington answered with some make-it, take-it of their own however with a pair of quick goals by Brendan Healey and Combs to narrow the margin to 10-9. Stephen Peyser continued the run of important draws however, scoring another make-it, take-it for the Pride.

While the run ended there, the scoring tear did not, as following a lone non-scoring possession of the ensuing draw by the Pride, the Bayhawks again chipped away at the lead with a Mark Richards goal. The Pride, sparked their half-ending run with, fittingly enough, a Thomson goal followed immediately with a won draw and score by Stephen Peyser. Matt Danowski added his first of the game behind his back, and Greg Peyser fired a laser in the fifteenth minute to put the Pride ahead 15-10 at the break.

Combs again tallied for Washington, but the Pride used their 6-goal run to put the game out of reach at 21-11. The Bayhawks threatened late in the third with a 5 goal run of their own, before another behind-the-back score from Danowski opened the fourth quarter scoring, and gave the Pride a 22-16 lead.

University of Albany President George Philip Makes Presentation to New York Giants at Training Camp

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Interim President George M. Philip (middle) made a presentation, on behalf of the University, to New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin (right) on the occasion of the National Football League organization’s Super Bowl XLII championship. Joining Philip for the ceremony was Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy (left). The presentation was made adjacent to the UAlbany campus’ Mara-Tisch Practice Field following the Giants’ morning workout on Monday, July 28.

Interim President Philip presented a small pewter sculpture of, “The Great Dane.” The piece was designed by sculptor Louise Peterson, of Guffey, Colo. In his remarks, Philip noted that Coach Coughlin and the Giants will always be part of the University family.

"This is in recognition of your great achievement in winning the Super Bowl," Philip said. "It is also for you to remember that you have been and will always be a part of the UAlbany family, (as well as) the coaches, the players and the management. As far as we are concerned, you are part of our organization and we value every minute."

UAlbany adopted the nickname “Great Danes” in the spring of 1965. All of the school’s intercollegiate athletic teams use the “Great Dane” as both a nickname and mascot. The Great Dane is noted for its grandeur, alertness and intelligence.

The New York Giants are conducting their NFL training camp at UAlbany for a record-setting 13th summer. Giants training camp continues through Sunday, Aug. 17.

University of Albany Releases Men's Soccer Schedule for 2008 Season

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Monday, July 28 the school's men's soccer schedule for 2008. The Great Danes will play a 17-match schedule, including tournaments in San Diego and Pittsburgh.

UAlbany kicks off its 10th season as a NCAA Division I program at the Robert Morris Invitational. The Great Danes open up against Pittsburgh on Friday, Aug. 29, at 2:30 p.m. Two days later, the team will face host Robert Morris. The following weekend, the Great Danes travel to southern California for the Courtyard by Marriott Central San Diego Tournament. UAlbany will face San Diego on Sept. 5 and San Diego State on Sept. 7.

The Great Danes stay on the road and square off against Rhode Island on Friday, Sept. 12, and Cornell on Wednesday, Sept. 17. The team’s home opener at Varsity Field will be against crosstown-rival Siena on Sunday, Sept. 21. The club will then face Marist on the road the following Sunday.

UAlbany opens America East Conference play against 2007 NCAA Tournament participant Boston University on Saturday, Oct. 4. The Great Danes will play regular-season champion Binghamton in their conference home debut on Oct. 8. Conference opponents Stony Brook, UMBC and America East Tournament Champion Vermont will also visit Varsity Field. UAlbany also matches up against New Hampshire, Hartford and Maine on the road.

Head coach Johan Aarnio enters his ninth season in charge of the Great Dane program. He will oversee a club which returns nine starters and all of its goal scoring from a year ago. Senior goalkeeper Steward Ceus, who has been the team’s regular starter in net since his freshman season, played every minute last year and finished with 83 saves, three shutouts and a 1.59 goals against average.

2008 University at Albany Men’s Soccer Schedule

August – 29 (Fri.), vs. Pittsburgh^, 2:30; 31 (Sun.), at Robert Morris^, 2:00;

September – 5 (Fri.), at San Diego+, 10:00; 7 (Sun.), at San Diego State+, 4:00; 12 (Fri.), at Rhode Island, 7:00; 17 (Wed.), at Cornell, 7:00; 21 (Sun.), Siena, 3:00; 28 (Sun.), at Marist, TBA;

October – 4 (Sat.), at Boston U.*, 7:00; 8 (Wed.), Binghamton*, 4:00; 11 (Sat.), at New Hampshire, 4:00; 15 (Wed.), Stony Brook*, 4:00; 18 (Sat.), UMBC*, 1:00; 22 (Wed.), at Hartford*, 7:00; 25 (Sat.), Bryant, 1:00; 29 (Wed.), at Maine*, 3:00;

November – 2 (Sun.), Vermont*, 1:00;

*America East Conference Opponent
^Robert Morris Invitational

+Courtyard by Marriott Central San Diego Tournament

All Times Eastern

University of Albany's Archeology Students Explore at the Pethick Archeological Site in Schoharie

At the Pethick Archeological Site in Schoharie, University of Albany students get the chance to study history through the excavation of thousands of Native American artifacts.

Indiana Jones' latest world-traveling adventure might make for box office gold, but for UAlbany's archeology field school, the excitement of field study can be found right in the Capital Region's backyard.

At the Pethick Archeological Site in Schoharie, students get the chance to study history through the excavation of thousands of Native American artifacts, some dating back to prehistoric times. For UAlbany assistant professor and site director Sean Rafferty, the first step is clearing up any misconceptions set in place by the iconic Dr. Jones.

Ultimately, the field school provides the framework for students not only to understand archeology, but to become fully engaged in the archeological process. After completing the field school, students have obtained the skill set to apply for federal and state jobs, or to pursue a myriad of other opportunities.

The Pethick Site is just one of the archeological field schools offered by the University at Albany. Other programs include sites in Belize, Cyprus and Serbia, where more adventure awaits inquisitive UAlbany students.

UAlbany Football, Field Hockey, And Volleyball Picked Preseason Favorites

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Somerset, N.J. – According to a preseason poll of Northeast Conference head coaches, the University at Albany has been chosen to defend its conference football championship in 2008. The Great Danes, who became the fifth team in NEC history to go undefeated in league play en route to last year’s title, received five first-place votes. Monmouth placed second in the voting with two first-place votes, while Central Connecticut State was third with one vote to finish first in the standings.

This year’s NEC champion will host the winner of the Pioneer Football League in the third annual Gridiron Classic, an exempted postseason football game that takes place on Saturday, Dec. 6. The Northeast Conference receives an automatic NCAA Division I FCS playoff berth, beginning in 2010. In addition, Duquesne joins the conference as its eighth football-playing member this season.

“Our school and program are respected and that’s a major reason why we were voted to win the conference,” said UAlbany’s Bob Ford, who leads all active FCS head coaches with 225 career victories. “Our offensive line has a strong nucleus returning and we have a great tailback. The defense is solid with some key players back from last year. But I tell the squad every day that we have arrived at a point where you can lose on any weekend in this conference.”

The Great Danes, who won the NEC crown for the third time since joining the league in 1999, finished with an 8-4 overall record. Coach Ford has 46 letterwinners, including 11 starters, back from last year’s championship team. UAlbany has produced seven or more wins six times as an Division I FCS program.

**********

2008 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Football Poll

1. UAlbany (5), 2. Monmouth (2), 3. Central Connecticut State (1), 4. Wagner, 5. Duquesne, 6. Robert Morris, 7. Sacred Heart, 8. St. Francis, Pa. ( ) – first-place votes

*********

Somerset, N.J. – The Northeast Conference announced its 2008 preseason all-conference football team. UAlbany had six players voted to the squad by the conference’s head coaches. Nineteen of the 25 student-athletes on the preseason all-star unit earned NEC postseason honors last year.

David McCarty, who was named to the Sports Network FCS All-America team, ran for 1,503 yards, the third-highest single-season total in program history. The junior tailback ranked 10th among the nation’s rushing leaders at 125.3 yards per game. McCarty, who also totaled 1,634 all-purpose yards, gained 100 or more yards on the ground in eight games. He was a second-team All-NEC selection in 2007.

Raphael Nguti, a 6-foot-7, 330-pound right tackle, and Kevin Richards, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound center, were also voted to the league’s preseason team. Nguti, a first-team All-NEC lineman, has made 33 career appearances and may have an opportunity to play at the next level with his size. Richards anchored a line that helped the offense average 208.6 rushing yards and 362.5 total yards per game.

Defensive tackle Tom Pandolf was one of five UAlbany players who were named to last season’s all-conference first team. He accounted for 37 tackles, three sacks and 6.5 hits for a loss. Justin Brancaccio, a junior inside linebacker, was second on the UAlbany defense in tackles with 63 and added two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Dave West, a senior safety, made 60 tackles, including 44 unassisted, and had five pass break-ups and two interceptions. West earned second-team All-NEC recognition last season.

Courtesy: America East Communications

If the head coaches’ predictions hold true, a new champion will be crowned at the 2008 America East Field Hockey Championship this November. University at Albany topped the 2008 preseason coaches’ poll, voted on by all six field hockey head coaches across the conference, which would end Boston University’s three-year reign as tournament champions. The Great Danes received four first-place votes out of a maximum of five and 24 total points to edge out the Terriers who received two first-place votes and 22 points.

Albany (15-5 overall record in 2007, 4-1 America East record) fell to Boston University (18-6, 5-0) in last year’s final by a 4-1 score.

This year’s field hockey championship will take place November 7 and 9 and will be hosted by the highest seed with an artificial turf surface. The top four teams from the regular season will participate in the tournament, with the winner of the championship receiving an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship.

University of Vermont (16 points) and University of New Hampshire (14 points) were picked to finish the season third and fourth, respectively, while University of Maine (nine points) and Fairfield University (five points) rounded out the six-team poll.

The Great Danes finished runners-up to the Terriers last year in both the regular season and the tournament, and are searching for their first America East crown. Albany turned in the second-most productive offense in the league last year largely due to senior midfielder Michelle Simpson (Midlesbrough, England/University of Teesside), a second-team All-American recording 34 points, who returns with one more year of eligibility. Head coach Phil Sykes’ team also has America East first-team goalkeeper senior Ashley Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley), who led America East with a 1.14 goals against average in 2007. Juniors Nicole Savage (Wilkes-Barr, Pa./James M. Coughlin) and Jess Lindsey (Norristown, Pa./Methacton) will also look to produce results after putting up 31 and 19 points, respectively, last year.

The Terriers lost a senior class that led the team to four straight regular season titles and three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, but head coach Sally Starr’s squad hopes to replace that experience with nine freshmen and two transfers in addition to the returning athletes. Boston U. boasts the 2007 America East Rookie of the Year in sophomore goalkeeper Kim Kastuk (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) as well as senior backs Lizzie Perreault (Teaticket, Mass./Falmouth) and Holly Wiles (Harare, Zimbabwe/Arundel School), who all should make for a very strong defensive unit. Junior Gabby Hajjar (Ottawa Hills, Ohio/Ottawa Hills) is the highest-scoring returner up front with 2007 totals of nine goals, one assist and 19 points.

Vermont (12-7, 3-2) is coming off one of its most successful seasons, tying the program’s record for total wins, and will try to continue that momentum into 2008. Leading the team should be two returning first-team all-conference picks, seniors Kim Striegler (Whitney Point, N.Y./Whitney Point) and Maegan Luce (Hartford, Vt./Hartford). Luce, a forward, notched seven goals and eight assists last season, while Striegler posted 12 points on four goals and four assists from the midfield a year ago.

New Hampshire (9-12, 2-3) will feature a pair of second-team all-conference selections in junior forward Megan Shea (Melrose, Mass./Melrose) and junior back Kiera Williams (Dover, N.H./St. Thomas Aquinas), while senior Sarah Craigue (Concord, N.H./Concord) will also provide a veteran presence up front. Despite missing three games due to injury, Craigue still finished second on the team in both points (13) and assists (five) last year. The hardest decision for 18th-year head coach Robin Balducci may be at goalkeeper, where two rookies and a sophomore will be vying for the job.

Josette Babineau’s Black Bears (5-11, 1-4) also have a void at the goalkeeper position which they hope to fill with either rookie Brittany Fleck (Vancouver, British Columbia/Crofton House School) or classmate Elizabeth Anderson (Morrill, Maine/Kent’s Hill). Maine has a young squad in 2008, but has a talented sophomore class which placed back Maire Dineen (Toronto, Ontario/Michael Power-St. Joseph) and midfielders Brittney Cummings (Belfast, Maine/Belfast) and Courtney Veinotte (Canaan, Maine/Skowhegan) on the 2007 All-Rookie team.

Fairfield (3-17, 0-5) begins its second season in America East on a quest to reach its first conference championship. Senior forwards Emily Janis (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) and Molly Byrnes (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) were consistent performers for the Stags last year, each posting a team-high eight points and playing in the starting lineup. Janis and Byrnes will be leaders on a team which welcomes nine freshmen.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – The University at Albany volleyball team was picked to finish first in the America East Conference preseason poll, as voted by the league’s head coaches and announced on Tuesday afternoon. The Great Danes, who have won three of the last four America East championships, received four first-place votes for 33 total points.

UAlbany edged out New Hampshire in the voting, as the Wildcats garnered two first-place votes and 31 points. UMBC earned the final first-place vote to finish third in the poll, followed by Binghamton, Stony Brook, Hartford and Maine.

UAlbany became the first America East program to win a match in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Cleveland State, 3-0, last season. The Great Danes return 2007 conference rookie of the year Amanda Cowdrey and the postseason championship’s most outstanding player Brooke Stanley. UAlbany will retain much of its youth from last season, with just two seniors gracing a 13-player roster. The list includes all-conference first-team middle blocker Kamisha Kellam, who was among the league leaders last season in hitting percentage (.327), kills (3.24 kpg) and blocks (1.06 bpg).

The 2008 America East volleyball championship will take place November 21-23 at the top seed’s home court. The top four teams from the regular season will participate in the championship and the tournament winner will earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

UAlbany starts the 2008 season on August 29 at San Diego State’s Aztec Invitational.

First Weekend Attendance Record Established at 2008 New York Giants Training Camp

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

The New York Giants continued their 2008 training camp on the University at Albany campus with two practice sessions on Saturday, July 26. An opening two-day record crowd of 6,205 fans greeted the Super Bowl XLII champions.

The Giants, who are off on Sunday, will practice twice on Monday, July 28 with the morning workout scheduled for 8:40 a.m. The evening session begins at 6:10 p.m. Players and coaches will sign autographs following the night practice and the Super Bowl trophy will be on display.

On Tuesday, July 29, the Giants practice once in the afternoon, from 2:40-4;50 p.m. The New York Giants will hold two workouts on Wednesday (July 30), with a morning sesion at 8:40 a.m. and evening practace at 6:10 p.m.

The Giants are conducting their National Football League training camp at UAlbany for a record-setting 13th summer. The previous high for attendance on the opening two days of camp was 6,000 in 1996, the first year the Giants trained in the Capital Region

New York Giants Begin Training Camp at the University of Albany Today

The Giants, who have trained on the UAlbany campus since 1996, begin workouts today, Friday, July 25. The camp concludes on Sunday, August 17.

For the third consecutive year, Giants training camp will feature eight evening practices. The first night practice is slated for Monday, July 28, at 6:10 p.m. All eight sessions are preceded by a morning workout at 8:40 a.m. The other day-night workouts are scheduled for July 28 and 30, plus August 1, 3, 5, 10, 12 and 15. Training camp opens with morning and afternoon practices on July 25 and 26.

The Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants will practice 19 days on the UAlbany campus, including 10 double sessions. As has been the routine in previous camps, the Giants will not practice on the days following preseason games. On the day before a preseason game, the team will hold a one-hour jog-thru session.

Giants training camp all-session parking passes will be available at UAlbany's Athletic Merchandise Store, located in the SEFCU Arena Lobby, beginning Monday, July 7. An all-session parking pass is $15.00. The daily parking fee is $5.00. Dutch (Student Gold) Lot is the primary public parking facility. The Merchandise Store is open Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. For more information, call 518-442-4522. The training camp schedule can be accessed through www.giants.com or www.ualbanysports.com.

UAlbany and the Giants are currrently in the second year of an agreement that has kept the National Football League organization's training camp in the Capital Region. The arrangement also includes the option for a third year in 2009.

The Giants are traveling to UAlbany for the thirteenth consecutive summer, matching the longest period in the team's training camp history. The Giants previously spent thirteen summers at Pace University in Pleasantville, N.Y. from 1975-87. The Giants, who have also trained in the states of Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Oregon, previously worked out at Fairleigh Dickinson University (1988-95) in Madison, New Jersey prior to their arrival on the UAlbany campus.

In the 12 years that the Giants have trained at UAlbany, the preseason camp has averaged 31,032 fans per summer. The all-time mark of 45,040 was established in 2004.

2008 New York Giants Training Camp Schedule

July 25 (Fri.)
Practice #1: 8:40-10:40 a.m.
Practice #2: 3:20-5:20 p.m.
July 26 (Sat.)
Practice #1: 8:40-10:40 a.m.
Practice #2: 3:20-5:20 p.m.
July 27 (Sun.)
No Practice
July 28 (Mon.)
Practice #1: 8:40-10:40 a.m.
Practice #2: 6:10-8:10 p.m.
July 29 (Tues.)
Practice: 2:40-4:50 p.m..
July 30 (Wed.)
Practice #1: 8:40-10:40 a.m.
Practice #2: 6:10-8:10 p.m.
July 31 (Thurs.)
Practice: 2:40-4:50 p.m.
August 1 (Fri.)
Practice #1: 8:40-10:40 a.m.
Practice #2: 6:10-8:10 p.m.
August 2 (Sat.)
No Practice
August 3 (Sun.)
Practice #1: 8:40-10:40 a.m.
Practice #2: 6:10-8:10 p.m.
August 4 (Mon.)
Practice: 2:40-4:50 p.m.
August 5 (Tues.)
Practice #1: 8:40-10:40 a.m.
Practice #2: 6:10-8:10 p.m.
August 6 (Wed.)
Practice: 10:30-11:30 a.m. (Jog-Thru)
August 7 (Thurs.)
NFL Preseason Game @ Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
August 8 (Fri.)
No Practice
August 9 (Sat.)
Practice: 2:40-4:50 p.m.
August 10 (Sun.)
Practice #1: 8:40-10:40 a.m.
Practice #2: 6:10-8:10 p.m.
August 11 (Mon.)
Practice: 2:40-4:50 p.m.
August 12 (Tues.)
Practice #1: 8:40-10:40 a.m.
Practice #2: 6:10-8:10 p.m.
August 13 (Wed.)
No Practice
August 14 (Thurs.)
Practice: 2:40-4:50 p.m.
August 15 (Fri.)
Practice #1: 8:40-10:40 a.m.
Practice #2: 6:10-8:10 p.m.
August 16 (Sat.)
Practice: 2:40-4:50 p.m.
August 17 (Sun.)
Practice: 8:30-10:00 a.m. (Jog-Thru)
Camp Ends

2008 New York Giants Schedule
Preseason

Aug. 7 (Thu.) at Detroit Lions 7:00 p.m. (WNBC)
Aug. 18 (Mon.) Cleveland Browns 8:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Aug. 23 (Sat.) at New York Jets 7:00 p.m. (WCBS)
Aug. 28 (Thu.) New England Patriots 7:00 p.m. (WNBC)

Regular Season

Sept. 4 (Thu.) Washington Redskins 7:00 p.m. (NBC)
Sept. 14 (Sun.) at St. Louis Rams 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Sept. 21 (Sun.) Cincinnati Bengals 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 28 (Sun.) BYE
Oct. 5 (Sun.) Seattle Seahawks 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Oct. 13 (Mon.) at Cleveland Browns 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Oct. 19 (Sun.) San Francisco 49ers 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Oct. 26 (Sun.) at Pittsburgh Steelers 4:15 p.m. (FOX)
Nov. 2 (Sun.) Dallas Cowboys 4:15 p.m. (FOX)
Nov. 9 (Sun.) at Philadelphia Eagles 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Nov. 16 (Sun.) Baltimore Ravens 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 23 (Sun.) at Arizona Cardinals 4:15 p.m. (FOX)
Nov. 30 (Sun.) at Washington Redskins 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Dec. 7 (Sun.) Philadelphia Eagles 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Dec. 14 (Sun.) at Dallas Cowboys 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Dec. 21 (Sun.) Carolina Panthers 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Dec. 28 (Sun.) at Minnesota Vikings 1:00 p.m. (FOX)

Directions to UAlbany Athletic Complex

From the North: Take Interstate 87 (Northway) south to Exit 1E. Off the exit, proceed to Interstate 90 east (Albany/Boston). Take Exit 2 (Washington Avenue) which leads right into the University at Albany campus. Follow University Drive (heading south) 3/4 of mile to Dutch Quad parking lot (public) and one mile to Recreation & Convocation parking lot (Giants/VIP).

From the South: Take Interstate 87 (Thruway) north to Exit 24. After the tollbooths, proceed onto Interstate 90 east towards Boston. Take Exit 2 (Washington Avenue) which leads right into the University at Albany campus. Follow University Drive (heading south) 3/4 of mile to Dutch Quad parking lot (public) and one mile to Recreation & Convocation parking lot (Giants/VIP).

From the East: Take Interstate 90 west towards Buffalo. Leave interstate at Exit 2 (Fuller Road). Turn left at Fuller Road, and then take next left at Washington Avenue. The University at Albany campus is on your right. Upon entering campus, follow University Drive (heading south) 3/4 of mile to Dutch Quad parking lot (public) and one mile to Recreation & Convocation parking lot (Giants/VIP).

From the West: Take Interstate 90 (Thruway) east to Exit 24. After the tollbooths, proceed onto Interstate 90 east towards Boston. Leave interstate at Exit 2 (Washington Avenue) which leads right into the University at Albany campus. Follow University Drive (heading south) 3/4 of mile to Dutch Quad parking lot (public) and one mile to Recreation & Convocation parking lot (Giants/VIP).

University of Albany Offers NY Giants Fans Walking Tours of University Landmarks

The University of Albany invites visitors of the New York Giants Training Camp, in its 13th year at UAlbany, to tour the campus. The five-stop walking tour includes a stroll around the University's prominent academic podium, an architecturally-unique modernist structure featuring 13 academic buildings and two distinctive fountains on a raised platform, where students and visitors socialize, or "podiate."

The campus was designed by renowned architect Edward Durell Stone.
The self-guided tour also highlights other campus landmarks:

Minerva -- Embodying the Strong Foundation of a UAlbany Education. Goddess of wisdom and enduring symbol of the University at Albany. Seven-foot-tall statue has resided at the University since the late 1880s and symbolizes the strong foundation of knowledge offered by the University. Located in the spacious atrium of UAlbany's Science Library.








The Campus Center... Heart of campus life at UAlbany. Serves students, faculty, professional staff, alumni, and guests. Home to the University's Barnes & Noble bookstore.












Academic Podium -- Experience UAlbany's Modern Vision... Built in the 1960s, the UAlbany Uptown Campus was designed by famed modernist architect Edward Durell Stone. Features include the academic podium; the carillon -- a tower located in the fountain pool with an organ at its base; the fountain -- site of UAlbany's Fountain Day; and the University's libraries, which boast more than two million volumes and are ranked among the top 100 academic research libraries in North America.


Performing Arts Center, a jewel in the crown of UAlbany, houses the departments of Theatre and Music.












University Art Museum, one of the Northeasts leading exhibitors of contemporary art, contains three galleries and more than 9,000 square feet of exhibition space to accommodate six to eight exhibitions by renowned artists each year.




University Hall — Where a World of Opportunity Begins. Opened in fall 2006, University Hall is the University's newest structure and welcome center. Designed as "a sculpture," adorned externally with 3,500 glass panels. Inside is a diverse array of artwork from University Art Museum collections of contemporary art.
University Hall is also home to the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Walking tour brochures are available online.

UAlbany's Steve Ammann Chosen America East Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Steve Ammann has been chosen America East Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in men’s lacrosse for the 2008-09 academic year, as announced on Tuesday, July 22 by the conference office. He has a 3.83 cumulative grade point average in business administration with a concentration in finance and marketing.

Ammann, a senior from Putnam Valley, N.Y., recently was named to the ESPN The Magazine District I All-Academic Men’s At-Large Team. He earned UAlbany’s Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award as the senior male athlete with the highest GPA and received the President’s Award for Leadership. Ammann was a member of the conference all-academic squad for the second straight year and the America East Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll.

A second-team all-conference midfielder for the second year in a row, Ammann ranked fourth on the UAlbany team in scoring with 15 goals and 12 assists. He made 65 appearances and accounted for 36 goals, 35 assists and 80 ground balls as a collegian. He helped lead the Great Danes to a pair of America East championships and two NCAA berths in 2005 and 2007.

Ammann, who played alongside his brother, Mike, on the team’s second midfield line, has been active in the community with Habitat for Humanity, Walk for Juvenile Diabetes and Adopt-A-Family. Prior to graduation last May, he served internships with Morgan Stanley and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.

UAlbany & New York Giants Announce Capital District Student Scholarship Recipient

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Monday, July 21 that Guy Robichaud will receive the Capital District Student Scholarship, sponsored by New York Giants Football, Inc. and UAlbany. Robichaud will be recognized as part of a welcome program at Giants Media Day on Wednesday, July 23.

The Giants Media Day program is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on the UAlbany campus' Dutch Quad Field. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin will meet with the media and then be part of a welcome event.

Robichaud, who will attend UAlbany in the fall and play football for head coach Bob Ford, was a consensus first-team All-Area selection by the Albany Times Union, Daily Gazette and Troy Record. Robichaud, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman from Rensselaer, N.Y., was named first-team All-Liberty Division. He made 67 tackles from his defensive line position as a senior. LaSalle Institute won its second Section II, Class AA championship in the last three years with a 9-2 record.

Robichaud plans to study sports medicine or sports management. His parents are Guy and Kathleen Robichaud. He has one brother, Patrick. His mother serves as Judge of the Rensselaer City Court.

The Capital District Student Scholarship provides Robichaud with a monetary award equivalent to the tuition costs of four years at the University at Albany. The Giants are training on the UAlbany campus for a record-setting 13th consecutive summer. The first practice sessions will be held on Friday, July 25 and continue through Sunday, August 17.

TRAINING CAMP NOTES: The Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants have announced several special training camp events ... Player Autograph Night is scheduled for Monday, July 28 following the camp's first evening practice ... Giants Youth Day is Monday, Aug. 11 and Giants Albany Idol is Tuesday, Aug. 12 ... Giants training camp all-session parking passes are available through the University at Albany Athletic Ticket Office (PE 135) ... An all-session parking pass is $15.00, while the daily parking fee is $5.00 ... Dutch (Student Gold) Lot is the primary public parking facility ... For more information, call 518-442-4683 or 518-442-4522 ... The 2008 New York Giants training camp schedule can be accessed through www.giants.com or www.ualbanysports.com.

University of Albany Alum Merrick Thomson Remains Goal Scoring Leader of Major League Lacrosse

University of Albany Alum Merrick Thomson Remains Goal Scoring Leader of Major League Lacrosse after posting three more goals last night against Rochester Rattlers. Thomson added two assists in the game, boosting him to
4th among major league lacrosse's points leaders. UAlbany alum and MLL Rookie Jordan Levine saw plenty of action as well.

With the Long Island Lizards of the MLL, UAlbany legend Frank Resetarits has scored 21 goals on the season.

UAlbany’s Center for Technology in Government Holds the 2008 iGov Research Institute in Manchester, UK

The University of Albany - SUNY’s Center for Technology in Government (CTG) is holding its second annual iGov Research Institute (iGov 2008) in Manchester, United Kingdom. Twenty doctoral students from around the world will attend the week-long program focused on ways to advance, study, and understand digital government research in an international context.

iGov 2008 is organized around the theme of “The City” as a coherent unit of government that operates within a larger world. The institute’s academic program will cover cross-cultural and interdisciplinary research strategies and digital government research frameworks. The practical focus for 2008 will emphasize urban regeneration and citizen engagement in government decision making. It includes academic activities and practical field visits to venues that demonstrate the use of information and communication technology, along with innovative public management and community involvement, to address these issues. Students will take part in site visits to the Gorton Monastery, the Manchester Digital Development Agency, the EastServe Community Development Project, Manchester Town Hall, and the Centre for the Urban Built Environment.

“The overall goal is to help young scholars develop an appreciation for the global impact of information and communication technologies on the public sector,” said Sharon Dawes iGov Institute director. “Students take advantage of a selected theme and venue to compare research methods and results; develop a deeper mutual understanding of the multi-disciplinary and international nature of the problems addressed by DG research; and begin to form international professional relationships that will continue throughout their careers.”

Students from Argentina, Australia, Brunei, Finland, Germany, Greece, Libya, Netherlands, Nigeria, People’s Republic of China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uganda, United States and Venezuela will attend the Institute. They represent multiple academic disciplines and are studying at 13 different universities in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

The faculty team comprises internationally known digital government researchers and senior government officials:

-Sharon Dawes (Institute Director), senior fellow, Center for Technology in Government (CTG) and associate professor, public administration and policy, University at Albany
-Valerie Gregg (Institute co-Director), government fellow, Center for Technology in Government (CTG), University at Albany
-Alan Borning, professor of computer science and engineering and an adjunct professor in the Information School at the University of Washington
-Steven Curwell, professor of sustainable urban development (SUD) in the School for the Built and Human Environment at the University of Salford, UKDave Carter, head, Manchester Digital Development Agency, Manchester City Council
-Andy Hamilton, director of the virtual planning research group in the Research Institute in the School for the Built and Human Environment at the University of Salford, UK
-Stephen Coleman, professor of political communication and co-director of the Centre for Digital Citizenship at the Institute of Communications Studies at the University of Leeds
-Ian Cooper, partner in Eclipse Research Consultants, and founding co-director of the University's cross-disciplinary Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures

The Institute is hosted by CTG and supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of a larger four year $1.4 million grant to build and sustain an international digital government research community. Other major activities included in the grant are a reconnaissance study describing the current status of international digital government (DG) research and a framework for supporting several international working groups.

The Center for Technology in Government is an applied research center devoted to improving government and public services through policy, management, and technology innovation. The Center, located at the University at Albany, works with government to develop well-informed information strategies that foster innovation and enhances the quality and coordination of public services.

Abbey Wexel Joins UAlbany Volleyball Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - Abbey Wexel has signed with the UAlbany volleyball team, as announced by interim head coach MJ Engstrom on Tuesday afternoon.

Wexel, a 5-foot-6 setter, hails from Virginia Beach, Va., and was a first-team all-state honoree as a senior captain. She helped to lead Frank W. Cox to the state championship title as a freshman, followed by three straight state semifinal appearances. In 2007, Wexel also earned first-team all-Tidewater honors, along with first-team Eastern Region and first-team Beach District accolades.

Wexel led the Falcons to four consecutive Beach District and Eastern Region championships, from 2004-07. Frank W. Cox posted a 27-1 record in 2007. Wexel was also a four-year member of the tennis team, leading the Falcons to state championships as a freshman and sophomore. She was a member of four consecutive district and regional championship tennis teams and was a state doubles finalist in 2007.

A member of the National Honor Society and Key Club, Wexel intends on majoring in biology at UAlbany.

University of Albany Recruit Resetarits Impresses at Under Armour All America Classic

A fast and furious first fifteen minutes slowed to a standstill quickly at the Boys Under Armour All America game Saturday evening. Seven different players scored as the South claimed an early 5-2 lead in the first quarter at Towson University.

Then suddenly, the Johnny Unitas Stadium turf may as well have been quicksand for the second quarter. But as quickly as the game slowed, it picked up following the break when the North took its first lead of the game, going on a 5-1 run through the period. The South rallied, but were unable to come back, falling, 13-12.

Only four goals were scored in the second quarter. The South’s Roy Lang (Mill Valley, Calif.), who is headed to Cornell, notched his second with a minute remaining in the period to give his side a 7-4 lead. The North called a timeout with 38 seconds left to draw up a final play, but the plan fell through as the South squelched the scoring opportunity to maintain the three-goal advantage.

“There was definitely a lull in the second quarter, but after that, it was a track meet,” South head coach Scott “Booker” Corrigan said. “There were a lot of athletes in this game and that was as important as anything.”

The North opened the scoring in the second half, tallying the first three goals and tying the game on Joe Resetarits’s second goal of the game off a pass from Michael Shakespeare (The Governor’s Academy, Mass.). Albany signee, Restetarits (Hamburg, N.Y.) came only 11 seconds after Michael Chanenchuk (St. Anthony’s, N.Y.) netted his second goal while taking a beating in an attempt to break down the middle of the defense.

Less than seven minutes later, Chanenchuk received a pass at midfield, holding off two South defenders on his heels and ripped a high-hard right-handed shot between goalie Andrew Wascavage’s left ear and stick to give the North their first lead of the game.

Hunter Rodgers (Brophy College Prep, Ariz.), a Hopkins signee, tied the game a minute later at eight on a left handed shot from eight yards out.

Resetarits drilled his third goal of the game from the left wing and a difficult angle to open the fourth quarter and pad the North’s lead.

A pair of unassisted goals from Georgetown commit Colby Wilson (Western Reserve Academy, Ohio) and Princeton commit Alex Capretta (St. Ignatius Prep, Calif.), the South tied up the score at 10 with less than 10 minutes to play.

Robert Rotanz (Fairfield Prep, Conn.), who is headed to Duke, buried his second goal of the game on a rifled right handed rip from 15 yards out to retake the lead, 11-10. Wilson responded with a score of his own, slicing to the left side of the net, his second of the game.

After picking up a groundball following a North turnover, Shakespeare fed Jeffrey Cohen (Syosset, N.Y.) on the doorstep who bounced in the go ahead score.
Down 13-12, the North had one last chance to tie the game, but PSU signee Steven Rastivo (Ward Melville, N.Y.) stoned the shot from close range to preserve the lead.

Player of the Game: Steven Rastivo – Inheriting a three-goal deficit when he entered the game to begin the second half, Rastivo held the South to just one goal in the third quarter and the North claimed a one-goal lead. On the game, he made nine saves including a denial of the South’s final chance from point blank range with less than 40 seconds remaining in the game.

Goal of the Game: Michael Chanenchuk – With 9:11 to play in the second quarter, the Princeton signee broke down the middle of the defense and was hit hard by several South defenseman. He flipped the ball toward the goal and as South goalie Andrew Wascavage came out for the ball that looked more like a dying bird falling to the Earth, it took a bounce and rolled slowly into the net. Chanenchuk assured us that he was indeed trying to shoot.
“It just tried to get it toward the net,” he said. “I got up and looked in time to see it roll in.”

Quote of the Game: South head coach Scott “Booker” Corrigan – “I had a chance to talk to the players Thursday when they got here and I told them from much is given, much is expected. There is so much talent on these teams and those players are going to be playing on a lot of Memorial Day weekends. After coaching them you can’t help but know that they are the next in line to be NCAA All Americans and NCAA Champions.”

by Geoff Shannon

University of Albany, Albany Med to collaborate on Institute for Biomedical Education and Research

One of the nation’s oldest medical schools in Albany is turning to academia for help in its fight against cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease, and a new biomedical research facility at the University at Albany’s East Campus will serve as the staging ground for that collaboration.

Officials from Albany Medical Center and UAlbany announced today a partnership that will combine their research and educational operations in a physical location for the first time in the history of the 169-year-old hospital and 164-year-old school.

Combined, Albany Med and UAlbany expect to garner more National Institute of Health grants for research. Albany Med also plans to broaden its medical doctorate offerings by pairing them with professional doctorate, master’s and bachelor’s degree programs.

“Today marks the beginning of the collaboration,” Albany Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer James Barb said at a news conference at the Gen*NY*sis Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics. Gen*NY*sis is the East Campus’ newest 113,000-square-foot facility, which opened in 2005.

The two institutions on Friday entered a memorandum of understanding, which said they will work together to bring the 110,000-square-foot Institute for Biomedical Education and Research at UAlbany’s East Campus.

“This is going to be world class in every way,” state Sen. Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, said at the news conference.

Bruno called the biomedical institute “a done deal,” with $42 million in capital funding already set aside for the East Campus project in the state’s current fiscal year budget. Hospital and university officials could neither specify how many jobs the new facility would host nor when it would open.

However, Barba said the biomedical institute would be an economic driver and likened it to the Georgia Research Alliance, a partnership between research universities, businesses and state government that has helped attract 90 startup companies and create 40,000 technology sector jobs since its founding in 1990.

The biomedical institute will continue the East Campus’ 12-year-old transformation from a pharmaceutical research complex abandoned by the Sterling Winthrop Co. The 87-acre campus now also houses 20 public and private entities and employs 1,000.

By James Schlett
Gazette Reporter

IBM expected to announce expansion plans at the University of Albany

The state's top leaders will attend a press conference July 15 to announce an expected expansion of IBM Corp.'s presence in the Albany, N.Y., region and at the University at Albany.

The 10 a.m. announcement will be made at University at Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

Gov. David Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver are scheduled to speak at the event.

A spokeswoman for state Sen. Joseph Bruno confirmed that the event involves IBM (NYSE: IBM), which the state has been negotiating with for months.

The state has been seeking to expand IBM's presence in the region in a deal that could trade tax credits and state incentives for hundreds of new jobs.

An IBM spokesman declined to comment.

IBM is one of at least 16 companies involed in Sematech Inc., an Austin, Texas, consortium of manufacturers that make computer microchips.

A subsidiary of that company, called International Sematech, is in the process of moving its headquarters to Albany. International Sematech is also adding 450 jobs, in addition to the 250 employees currently working on UAlbany's campus.

The company has had a research operation at UAlbany since 2002.

The Business Review (Albany) - by Adam Sichko

UAlbany’s Antione Johnson on Knicks’ summer-league team

The New York Knicks announced their 15-man roster for the Vegas Summer League next week, and it includes former University of Albany guard Antione Johnson.

Johnson, a 6-1 guard from Lathrup Village, Mich., was on UAlbany’s first Division I team and scored a total of 1,157 points during his career from 1999 to 2003.

Johnson also played for the CBA’s Albany Patroons in 2005-06, when he averaged 8.7 points and 2.3 assists per game. He’s had a few foreign stops, including a stint in Turkey.

The Knicks’ summer entry begins play against the Cleveland Cavaliers next Monday at 4p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of Nevada-Las Vegas. The Knicks will play five games in Las Vegas.

The Vegas Summer League consists mostly of rookies and veteran free agents trying to hook on with a team.

Courtesy: Mark S.

University of Albany Men's Basketball Announces Non-Conference Schedule for 2008-09 Season

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Lee McElroy announced on Friday, July 11 the school's men's basketball non-conference schedule for the 2008-09 season. The list of opponents include defending national champions Kansas and Big East Conference members Villanova and DePaul. Perennial Ivy League power Pennsylvania comes to SEFCU Arena on Nov. 29.

The Great Danes meet Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, a 16,300-seat facility, in Lawrence, Kan. on Tuesday, Dec. 30. The Jayhawks won their third NCAA championship last April with a 75-68 overtime win against Memphis. Sherron Collins returns for the Big 12 Conference champions. UAlbany will be playing the defending national champion for the first time and its second-ever Big 12 opponent.

UAlbany opens its schedule with a pair of Big East teams in Villanova (Nov. 14) and DePaul (Nov. 17). Villanova has made three regional semifinals and one Elite Eight appearance in the the last four years under head coach Jay Wright. The Wildcats, who finished 22-13 one year ago and lost to Kansas in the Mideast Regional semifinals, met UAlbany for the first time on Dec. 22, 2004. Scottie Reynolds, a second-team All-Big East selection, is the top performer. DePaul and UAlbany will battle for the first time at Allstate Arena (18,500) in Rosemont, Ill. Jerry Wainwright is in his fourth season as the Blue Demons' coach and has two Big East all-rookie players back in Dar Tucker and Mac Koshwal.

Pennsylvania is among four non-league opponents that will play at SEFCU Arena. The Quakers, who have made 23 NCAA appearances, including five of the last seven seasons, travel to the Capital Region on Saturday, Nov. 29. The Great Danes will also host Central Connecticut State (Nov. 22), Bryant (Dec. 1) and Canisius (Dec. 13). Bryant is making the transition to Division I and becomes a member of the Northeast Conference in 2012.

In addition, the Great Danes will tangle with Siena in the crosstown-rivalry's 48th meeting on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Times Union Center. The series has averaged 10,833 fans since the two programs renewed the rivalry in 2001. UAlbany also meets Columbia, Sacred Heart, Bryant, St. Francis, N.Y. and Lehigh in non-league road games.

In 2007-08, UAlbany tied for second in the America East Conference regular-season standings before dropping an overtime battle in the postseason tournament's quarterfinal round. Senior forward Brian Connelly, who averaged 10.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, is among six returning letterwinners.

2008-09 University at Albany Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule

Date, Day, Opponent, Site

Nov. 14, Friday, at Villanova, Villanova, Pa.

Nov. 17, Monday, at DePaul, Rosemont, Ill.

Nov. 19, Wednesday, at Bryant, Smithfield, R.I.

Nov. 22, Saturday, Central Connecticut State, SEFCU Arena

Nov. 25, Tuesday, at Columbia, New York, N.Y.

Nov. 29, Saturday, Pennsylvania, SEFCU Arena

Dec. 1, Monday, Bryant, SEFCU Arena

Dec. 6 Saturday at Siena Albany, N.Y.

Dec. 8, Monday, at Lehigh, Bethlehem, Pa.

Dec. 13, Saturday, Canisius, SEFCU Arena

Dec. 19, Friday, at Sacred Heart, Fairfield, Conn.

Dec. 22, Monday, at St. Francis, N.Y., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dec. 30, Tuesday, at Kansas, Lawrence, Kan.

From Division II to Dolphins, Sparano's rise impressive

It's 10:30 a.m. on a brilliant New England morning in late June, and 10 members of the Sparano family have been at the dining room table for at least two hours.

Sparano in the East Haven, Conn., home where his parents, Tony Jr. and Marie, live.
Ever since they arrived at Ellis Island from Italy in the 1800s, the Sparano men have been preparing lavish breakfasts. Today's spread features four different meats, scrambled eggs and a choice of chocolate chip or banana-nut pancakes.

For generations, important discussions have taken place at this table, which on this day is occupied by Tony Sparano, his parents, his two younger sisters, wife, daughter, two nephews and a niece.

At this table, the title "head coach of the Miami Dolphins" holds little weight, and that's why Sparano is drawn here. The only sign of Sparano's recent promotion is the replica of a Dolphins helmet hanging above the door of the three-bedroom, white frame home that his parents, Tony Jr. (better known as "Poppy") and Marie, share with their daughter Kim's family in East Haven.

In the high-powered world of the NFL, it's rare to run across a man without pretense, but the 46-year-old Sparano might be the exception. As family members take turns telling stories about him, he lowers his head and rubs his temple as if he's in pain.

Sparano grew up in this house in a blue-collar neighborhood in New Haven, Conn.
About three miles west, just off Interstate 91, Sparano grew up in the shadows of one of the world's elite universities. But living within walking distance of the Yale campus didn't put him any closer to privilege.

He shared a green-and-white, three-story row house with both sets of grandparents and his parents in an Irish and Italian neighborhood. Families like Anthony Sparano Sr.'s kept immaculate homes, and they worked and socialized together. The neighborhood has fallen on hard times now, but during Sparano's youth, it was an idyllic setting for a kid who never wanted to come inside.

His father upholstered furniture and his mother worked a sewing machine. Years later, Sparano would help his father land a job in the maintenance department at the University of New Haven, where Tony Jr. retired after 17 years in 2002.

Just down the street, Sparano pitched and played outfield at Amvets Park, where, according to his former coach/dad, he still holds the season home-run record with 17. His mother made pizzas in the concession stand, and the Sparanos closed down the park each evening.

How this former Division II coach went from relative obscurity to the highest level of pro football in less than a decade might seem baffling to anyone but Sparano, who set this goal decades ago.

The no-nonsense Sparano was a stickler for details at the University of New Haven, a Division II school where he was head coach from 1994 to 1998. Under Bill Parcells in Dallas, Sparano was a valued assistant coach.

Tony Sparano hasn't taken much time to admire his cavernous office in Davie, Fla., in part because no one has turned on the lights. In fact, one must adjust one's eyes to see Sparano's shadowy figure behind an enormous mahogany desk.

On the second day of minicamp, he's carved 15 minutes from his precious schedule to discuss one of his least favorite topics: himself. He's had today's practice planned since March -- right down to the number of minutes it will take for the players to walk from the locker room to the practice field.

It's one of the traits Dolphins executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells noticed right away when he hired Sparano to coach tight ends for the Cowboys in 2003. Sparano had coached the same position on Tom Coughlin's Jacksonville staff in 2002, but he became available when Coughlin was fired.

"Tom told me that Tony was one of the two best assistants he'd ever had," said Parcells, Cowboys head coach from 2003 to 2006. "And it didn't take long to figure out what he was talking about."

Parcells promoted Sparano to offensive line coach following the 2004 season. He had been an offensive line coach at his alma mater, the University of New Haven, and then Boston University before eventually landing a similar role with the Cleveland Browns in 2000. When Sean Payton left Dallas to take the head coaching job in New Orleans after the 2005 season, he wanted Sparano to be his offensive coordinator.

But despite the better title and opportunity to make more money, Parcells blocked the move because he didn't want to lose Sparano. At the time, Sparano was devastated.

He knew how small the window could be for advancement in the league. And Parcells, not a man given to subtlety, didn't exactly soften the blow.

"He told me, 'Sparano, you don't know nothing!' and that was pretty much it," said the new Dolphins coach.

The Little College on the Hill

This wasn't the first major setback in Sparano's coaching career.

Sparano was the offensive line coach at New Haven in 1985 when head coach Larry McElreavy was hired at Columbia. McElreavy chose not to take Sparano to New York with him.

"I remember that very clearly," said Debbie Chin, a highly successful volleyball coach at New Haven who became the athletic director in 1993. "I don't know what Larry may have been thinking, but Tony was absolutely devastated. In disguise, it may have been the best thing that could've happened."

New Haven hired future Cleveland Browns coach Chris Palmer to replace McElreavy, and the athletic director at the time put in a good word for Sparano. Palmer not only retained Sparano, but gave him his first full-time coaching job. "Chris Palmer didn't know me from Adam," Sparano said. "I owe a great deal of this to him."


Quote: "Tony actually reminds me of Coach (Don) Shula," said Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning, "with just the way he goes about everything and how organized he is."

Before that, Sparano had been making $2,000 a year as a part-time assistant at the school. His wife, Jeanette, whom he met and started dating when she was 13 (he was 16), worked as a legal assistant and in a dentist's office to make ends meet. According to friends and family members, she's played a huge role in her husband's success. Attractive and more outgoing than her husband, Jeanette is much more comfortable operating behind the scenes.

"Whether she was talking to the president of the United States or the third-string guard's wife, she's going to treat everyone the same," said Pete Rossomando, who played and coached under Sparano at New Haven. "She's just a really, really special woman."

Jeanette says Tony was her first and only boyfriend. They went on their first date 30 years ago -- he took her to see "The Boys From Brazil" with Gregory Peck and Laurence Olivier -- and have been going steady since. He arranged to propose to her during a Central Park carriage ride, but she became ill.

As the two drove toward a party on Christmas Eve in 1983, Jeanette was upset about being sick during the holidays and also not having something new to wear. As usual, Sparano had a plan.

"I have something beautiful for you to wear," he said as he slipped an engagement ring on her finger.

When they married a year later, Jeanette remembers her mother saying, "I love him. Don't screw it up!"

In 1988, Sparano followed Palmer to Boston University, where he served as offensive coordinator from 1989 to 1993, when the team went 11-0. When Chin was promoted to athletic director, her first order of business was replacing head football coach Mark Whipple, who later became the quarterbacks coach in Pittsburgh when Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a Super Bowl title.

"I'd just gotten home from the NCAA tournament, and I had to make the most important hire of my professional career," Chin said. "Word got out that Tony was interested, so I said, 'He's my man.'"

Sparano made only subtle changes to the program -- something he regretted almost immediately.

"Tony said he'd never do that again," Rossomando said. "It was his way or the highway."

A defining moment in Sparano's tenure at New Haven came in the fall of 1997. During a one-on-one drill, a talented 6-6, 290-pound offensive tackle had been beaten twice by a defensive lineman. The player became so frustrated that he took off his helmet and swung it at the lineman. The assistant coaches wanted to give the kid another chance, but Sparano wouldn't budge.

" 'We're gonna let this kid go,' " Rossomando recalled Sparano saying. "There was no wavering at all. He thought it was the right thing to do, and it made a huge impression on our players."

The team advanced to the Division II national championship game that season.

The no-nonsense Sparano left nothing to chance when he was at New Haven. When Jeanette forgot to pick up his coaching outfit on the Friday before a road game in New Jersey, he was beside himself. After her suggestion of wearing another outfit was rebuffed, she talked the owner of the cleaners into meeting her at 6:30 on the morning of the game.


Sparano was so detail-oriented that he worried what condiments were being used on sandwiches. If he arrived for a pregame meal and saw what he referred to as "soupy sauces," he would have them removed from the buffet. (Rossomando defined "soupy sauces" as beef stew or beef stroganoff.)

"He's incredibly organized," Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said recently. "He's just the type of person who doesn't leave a stone unturned. It was pretty obvious he had some of the characteristics that a head coach needs."

Sparano takes the same approach at home. During family vacations, he would wake his sons, Tony and Andy, at 7 a.m. for workouts at whatever gym they could find in the area. When they were playing football at Grapevine (Texas) High School, Sparano would sit in the upper right-hand corner of the 9,100-seat stadium, away from all the parents.

"He wanted it to be about us," Tony said. "He was very, very careful never to infringe on our coaches because he knows how tough a job it is."

Sparano, running drills with the Dolphins, reminds Dan Henning of former Miami coach Don Shula because of his organizational skills.
At least once or twice a game, the boys would locate their father in the stands. If he thought they needed to play with more motor, he would give them a thumbs-up. If Tony was having trouble getting to the quarterback from his nose-tackle position, his father would signal for a swim technique.

After games, he would always say something encouraging. If the boys wanted constructive criticism, they'd knock on his bedroom door later in the evening. In the summers, he brought tapes home of Cowboys offensive linemen Andre Gurode and Larry Allen for his sons to watch.

Tony and Andy now play for the University of Albany, and their younger sister, Ryan, is a talented high school softball player. Before each football game, Sparano sends his sons text messages that say something like "play fast and physical."

It's one of several things that Sparano took from his time with Coughlin and Parcells. They both love inspirational phrases. Parcells had them plastered on the walls of the Cowboys' practice facility, and Coughlin puts them on T-shirts for the Giants.

For years, Sparano recited Vince Lombardi's famous "No. 1" speech in front of his college players. To some, it might be hokey to hear a football coach rant about how a second-place bowl game is a "game for losers," but in Sparano's mind, it's the gospel.

If you've served under Marty Schottenheimer (Redskins), Coughlin and Parcells, it's hard to avoid the "taskmaster" label.

But Sparano, who signed a four-year, $11 million contract with the Dolphins, isn't an easy man to label. When he has moved his family to a new city, one of the first priorities is finding the best ice cream shop. On a recent Saturday night, he led a delegation of Sparanos to Wentworth's Homemade Ice Cream in Hamden, Conn. After quickly finishing off a double scoop of coconut mounds, Sparano entertained his nieces and nephews by using his tongue to tie cherry stems into knots.

You wonder if it's sunk in yet that he's a head coach in the NFL. And you sort of hope it never does.

Matt Mosley covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

Sparano Timeline
Tony Sparano's rise to prominence in the NFL took some winding roads:

1979-82: Sparano was a four-year letterman on the offensive line at the University of New Haven.

Quote: "Everyone on campus knew who he was," said New Haven athletic director Debbie Chin. "He was just as serious then as he is now."

1984-88: Sparano was the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater.

Quote: "I was making $2,000 and my wife was supporting our family," Sparano said.

1988-93: Followed Chris Palmer to Boston University, where he eventually became the offensive coordinator.

Quote: "That's where I first heard him perform the Vince Lombardi speech," said former player Pete Rossomando, who went on to coach for Sparano at the University of New Haven.

1994-98: Was head coach at his alma mater, the University of New Haven.

Quote: "In the summers, we would play nine holes at 6 a.m. and he'd be sitting at his desk by 9 a.m.," said Rossomando.

1999-2000: Browns head coach Chris Palmer hired Sparano to be his offensive quality control coach. In 2000, he was promoted to offensive line coach.

Quote: "I owe a lot of this to Chris Palmer," Sparano said. "He gave me a shot."

2001: Redskins tight ends coach.

Quote: "Marty Schottenheimer was another coach who taught me a lot about how to prepare," Sparano said.

2002: Jacksonville tight ends coach.

Quote: "Chris Palmer told me about Tony," said former Jags coach Tom Coughlin. "We had an opening at that position and it seemed like a good fit."

2003-2007: Cowboys tight ends coach, offensive line coach, playcaller and assistant head coach.

Quote: "Tony and Jeff [Ireland] are like guys who were supposed to be born 30 or 40 years earlier," said Bill Parcells. "They remind me a lot of the people I came up with in the league."

2008: Head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

University of Albany: Resetarits brothers similar in lacrosse success

It is pretty typical that a younger sibling follow in the older’s footsteps. Joe Resetarits has followed big brother Frank’s blueprint in lacrosse to a tee, thus far.

So it was no surprise that Joe asked for and was given Frank’s jersey number five as he readies himself for a freshman season at Albany University where big brother ranks second all-time with 241 career points.

Joe wore Frank’s same No. 5 when breaking the all-time Western New York single season goals mark in 2008, the same record Frank had set, also as a senior, five years earlier.

In fact, that number has been waiting for Joe since Frank graduated last year with Albany hoping that the little brother would follow the path of his older sibling.

With seemingly limitless potential to once again one-up his big brother during his college career, Joe can now also use Frank in aspiring to an even higher level.

Frank has made it the professional lacrosse ranks, playing in his second season in Major League Outdoor Lacrosse for the Long Island Lizard after finishing up his rookie year in the National Indoor Lacrosse League as a San Jose Stealth.

“They have a classic older brother, younger brother relationship with Joe looking up to his older brother, and Frank has done a good job as an influence,” their father, also a Frank Resetarits, said.
Since he was very young, Joe said he remembers being very in-tune to Frank’s teachings and guidance.
He would work with Joe on his stick handling and shooting skills and taught him how to be mentally tough on the field. Joe believed watching his big brother play was like a clinic in itself.

“That’s where I learned everything,” said Joe, who was selected as an Under Armour All-American and will play in the All-America game for the North team on July 12 in Baltimore. “I would always look up to him and watch him play. He’d come home and we’d shoot around and he’d teach me how to shoot and work on improving my skills. He’s probably the biggest influence in my life, sports-wise.”

Now, Frank can see much of himself in his younger brother. He is in awe of Joe’s great game sense and how his brother can be so unselfish but then suddenly take over a game.

Frank wanted to see Joe follow him along to Albany, where he helped take the lacrosse program to new heights, but wanted Joe to properly weigh his options.

After showing interest in several of the many schools zeroing in on him, Joe decided an emerging lacrosse program, appealing campus and the fact that he knew the head coach, Scott Marr, and some of the players on the team, made Albany the most appealing.

“I told him not to just go there because I did,” said Frank, a first team All-American as a senior at Albany and finalist for the 2007 Tewaaraton Trophy, awarded to the “Most Outstanding” collegiate lacrosse player in the nation. “I told him to pick the best school for you and I think he did. He’s lucky that some of my friends are still there and could help him adjust.”

Joe also liked the idea of building a Resetarits legacy of success at Albany.

“Their success of late kind of got me wanting to go there and I feel like they’ll be good for a while,” Joe said. “Everyone seems to love to play for this coach and I already knew people there. I felt like I would be at home.”

Though the two’s play and paths mirror each other, each maintain parts of their game and idiosyncrasies which make them who they are as individuals.

Hamburg High School head coach Jerry Severino has seen both play and believes Frank is more of a finisher who knows exactly where to be on the field to make a play, while Joe is more apt to bring the ball up into the offensive zone to help create the “magical” movements around him.

“What Joe gained from Frank is something that few siblings can say they have gotten,” said Severino, who coached Joe all five years at the varsity level. “Joe willed himself to be as close to Frank’s ability as possible. They’re both dynamic athletes but different players.”

The creation of phenoms

As young boys, the Resetarits brothers could not get enough of playing sports.

Though the two would love to pass around the lacrosse ball, it would not be a surprise to see either of them on the football or baseball field, swimming, wrestling or playing basketball.

Either brother could have played almost any sport at a very competitive level, but both decided to take on lacrosse exclusively during some point in their high school careers.

“They were the kind of kids that just liked to play sports but as they grew older they weened away from some of the sports,” their father said. “Through a process of elimination, lacrosse became the sport that they most enjoyed playing.”

Though there is a trend toward high school athletes specializing in one or two sports, there is still a lure for many of the finest to remain three-sport stars.

However, Frank and Joe appreciated lacrosse too much to risk injury in another sport. Frank actually would have been the starting quarterback for the football team had a separated shoulder during the fall of his junior season not changed his mind about playing more than one sport.

“I know in Joe’s case there wasn’t a sport he wouldn’t have mastered. He’s that good of an athlete,” Severino said. “Like his brother, Joe plays lacrosse for 12 months. You just aren’t able to do the things he does by playing three months in a year.”

Parents integral to success

The brothers’ father, Frank, said it was always the hope of he and his wife, Madonna, that their sons were given the opportunity to excel in athletics, but more importantly, to be surrounded by positive influences.

So the two parents were always willing to go out of their way, making those long drives or giving up their own personal time to get them to games, camps and clinics that would enrich their sons’ lives and help them to be more confident athletes.

Frank believes sports and being around committed athletes and mentors has been a big help in creating values and a system of hard work and commitment.

“They’re too preoccupied with sports and being healthy so they were less apt to gravitate toward the bad things in life,” their father, a union representative by trade, said. “To this day, sports has given them a positive outlook on life and positive direction.”

Both brothers realize the sacrifices their parents made and continue to be very grateful to this day.
Their parents even went as far as to put up a net in the backyard so that Frank and Joe could get in practice at home.

“Both our parents have been instrumental in our success,” older brother, Frank, said. “They’ve done a ton of driving around and they spared no expense to let us play against the best competition. They expended so much effort so that we could be the best possible.”

Joe excels in Hamburg, Frank, a star at Albany

While Joe began his career with the high school program as just an eighth grader, older brother, Frank, ascended to the collegiate ranks with the Great Danes.

Frank had left big shoes for his younger brother to fill, coming off a Western New York record-setting 88-goal senior season and continuing to help build a program at Hamburg that was still without a Section VI title.

After both saw their games continually improving over the first few years of playing at a new level, there was great anticipation for the 2007 season.

That year, Joe led Hamburg to its long-awaited, first-ever sectional crown behind four goals in the championship game and Frank scored 57 goals and handed out 23 assists in guiding Albany to a trip to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament in a season in which the Great Danes were ranked as high as No. 2 nationally.

“They’re both two highly competitive players who have the ability to zero in and be intense in big situations,” their father, Frank, said. “Coaches have always marveled that they’re two kids that not only look good on the practice field but translated that into what they did in games.”

As a senior, Frank was nationally ranked third in points per game and second in goals per game and named America East Conference Player of the Year.

“It’s tough for guys at smaller schools to get noticed but the program at Albany started turning heads nationally,” Frank said. “Ultimately, that has helped me get to where I am now.”

In 2008, Joe finished off an accolade-filled high school career by being part of another Section VI championship team and helping Hamburg to a Far West Regional victory and first-ever trip the state’s final four.

He also became the second Resetarits to re-write the all-time scoring record, putting up 98 goals to eclipse Frank’s mark.

‘It’s been exciting to see how much the program has come along and been able to accomplish what Hamburg has never done,” Joe said.

Frank got to be a small part of that history at Hamburg. When he was home and on break from playing, Frank stopped by practices to help institute some plays for the team’s odd-man situational units, then got out to some of the team’s playoff games.

Severino said he humbled himself, took a step back and just let Frank provide him and the players with the world of experience and knowledge that could only come from a two-time collegiate All-American and continually improving communicator.

“The kids had heard enough from me, so what they were looking for was what could Frank show us,” said Severino, who noted that when Frank works at any type of local clinics, the attendance doubles. “His help was critical to our team. The kids’ eyes get wide-open when he’s out there on the field.”

What’s ahead for brothers

Frank was drafted in 2007 by the Washington Bayhawks in the third round (22nd overall) of the MLL entry draft, then traded to Long Island where as a rookie he scored 12 goals and added six assists. He was then picked in the first round (fifth overall) in the NLL entry draft and began his career during the 2007-08 season.

His San Jose squad finished atop the NLL’s West Division and Frank notched 17 goals and 17 assists in 17 games, including four points in an opening round playoff loss. In his second year of the MLL, Frank has notched 18 goals in eight games this season and the team is tied for first place in the East Division at 5-3.

“For the time being, it’s great to make a living from lacrosse, but I would do it whether I got paid or not,” said Frank, who lives in the area during the outdoor season and flies back and forth for practices and games which usually occupy a long weekend.

He said the fact that he did make it to this level is a testament to all of the influential coaches in his life, including former Hamburg High head man and program founder, Ed Van Tine.
Joe got an opportunity to see his older brother play when San Jose traveled for an indoor game to take on Philadelphia.

“It was really awesome to see Frank play against that type of competition,” said Joe, who is now playing juniors in Canada, competing against some of the best talent 21-years-and-younger, as his brother also once did.

Joe is also preparing for the new challenges ahead at the school he was being groomed to attend as just a fifth grader when he was first noticed as his older sibling began to be recruited, according to his father.

“Maybe in high school I was able to break his records, but it is going to be difficult to live up to what Frank has done in college and is doing now,” Joe said.

With the leadership skills both have already shown, Severino said he wouldn’t be surprised if either wound up being a coach. But first, Frank has got a career to tend to and Joe has more large imprints in the ground to attempt to fit into.

“I’ve been lucky to have made it this far and wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Frank said. “I know a lot of guys who would love to trade places with me. It’s definitely a dream come true.”

“It’s my dream to play a pro sport,” Joe said. “If I have a chance, I will work as hard as I can to do it.”

By Michael J. Petro