UAlbany Great Danes Place 13 on All-Conference Football Team; Bob Ford Named Coach of the Year

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Somerset, N.J. -- University at Albany’s Raphael Nguti and Tom Pandolf lead a group of twelve players who have been named to the 2008 All-Northeast Conference Football Team, as announced on Monday, Dec. 1 by the conference office. The Great Danes, who matched the 2002 squad’s total with eight first-team selections, placed 13 players on the all-conference squad. Bob Ford was voted NEC Coach of the Year after leading the program to its second consecutive conference championship and back-to-back undefeated league records.

Nguti, a senior offensive tackle, and Pandolf, a senior defensive tackle, are first-team all-conference members for the second year in row. Nguti, a 6-foot-7, 330-pound left tackle, blocked for an offense that is ranked 22nd among the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) leaders in rushing at 190.5 yards per game, including a 221.6 average against conference teams. Pandolf leads a defense that has kept five straight teams under 300 total yards and is 23rd nationally in points allowed (19.8 ppg). He has 63 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three pass deflections.

David McCarty, the nation’s third-leading rusher and 2008 team MVP, punter Chris Lynch and safety Dave West each make their second appearance on the all-conference squad. McCarty, who averages 143.7 yards per game, moved up to the first team this season. He established the program’s single-season rushing (1,581) and career rushing (3,082) standards on Nov. 15. McCarty, who has scored a touchdown in 19 straight contests, also eclipsed records for single-season (10) and career (18) 100-yards rushing games. Lynch, who was also a first-team selection two years ago as a sophomore, is averaging 40.6 yards per punt. He has a pair of 70-yard kicks this season. West also worked up to the All-NEC first team this year. He was fourth on the team in tackles (59) and added two forced fumbles, two pass break-ups and one interception.

Free safety Dave Casale, inside linebacker Justin Brancaccio and wide receiver Tim Bush were also voted to this year’s first team. Casale established the program’s FCS single-season record with six interceptions. He also had 73 tackles and six PBUs. Brancaccio led the team in tackles with 83 and anchored a run defense that limited five opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground. Bush hauled in 58 passes for 697 yards and five touchdowns. He broke the single-season receptions mark held by Dan Gmelin since 1997.

Kevin Richards, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound center, is among five players who received second-team All-NEC recognition. Richards, who is on the squad for the second consecutive year, was named along with offensive tackle Jon Leible (6-5, 285) and offensive guard Nik Schultz (6-2, 285). UAlbany’s offensive line, which blocked for a unit that averaged 354.7 yards per game, had four linemen on the all-league team for the third straight season. Defensive end Eddie Delaney, a redshirt freshman who plays without a left hand and takes daily insulin shots to control diabetes, also made the second team. Delaney (6-6, 235) has 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks and is tied for first on the team in PBUs (6). Justin Gannon was chosen as a return specialist. He averaged 81.2 all-purpose yards as a tailback, punt returner and kick returner.

Ford, at age 71, was named the NEC’s top coach for the third time in his career after having previously won the award in 2002 and 2007. Under his direction, the Great Danes captured their fourth conference title. UAlbany became the second team in league history to go undefeated against conference opposition in back-to-back seasons. Ford, who is first among active Division I FCS coaches with 233 career victories, led his team to its second straight Gridiron Classic berth.

UAlbany (8-3, NEC 7-0) hosts Pioneer Football League champion Jacksonville (9-3, PFL 7-1) in the third annual Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 6 at University Field. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. YES Network will televise the postseason game to a regional and national audience.