University of Albany, Northeast Conference & Gridiron Champions, Begin Spring Football Practice on March 21 - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – UAlbany will begin spring football practice on Saturday, March 21. The first workout is from 10:00 a.m.-12 noon. The 15 NCAA-allowed practices run through April 18. In addition, wide receiver Tim Bush has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Bush, a first-team All-Northeast Conference selection, received a medical hardship waiver based on an injury suffered when he was a member of the Hudson Valley Community College program. In 2008, Bush set UAlbany’s single-season record with 67 receptions for 794 yards and five touchdowns. Outside linebacker Dave Nicomini, who is playing lacrosse this spring, previously was awarded a sixth year after missing all of last season with a severe knee injury. The Great Danes are coming off their second consecutive Northeast Conference championship and a Gridiron Classic title.



2009 SPRING PREVIEW

UAlbany put together its most celebrated season at the NCAA Division I FCS level by winning its second consecutive Northeast Conference championship and becoming the first NEC program to be crowned Gridiron Classic champions. The Great Danes will try to build on that momentum with 14 starters returning.

Head coach Bob Ford, the active FCS leader with 234 career victories, has 48 letterwinners back from last year's 9-3 squad. Spring practice will provide the coaching staff with the ability to evaluate personnel.

"The spring will allow us to work on being more physical and our mental toughness," offers Ford, who was named NEC coach of the year for the third time last season. "We need to look at our offensive line, but I think we have enough talent to get the job done. We will look at personnel and try packages for different players."

Ford continues, "On defense, we need to solidify our defensive tackle situation and who our fourth cornerback will be. On special teams, I want to take a look at field goals and identify another punt returner."

The Great Danes will conduct 15 NCAA-allowed spring practices. The schedule runs through April 18.



OFFENSE: All-America tailback David McCarty leads an offensive unit that averaged more than 26 points and 363 yards per game. McCarty, who was named to the Sports Network All-America squad for the second year in a row, rushed for a school-record 1,852 yards and 13 touchdowns. McCarty set another standard with eleven 100-yard efforts, including 271 on the ground in the Gridiron Classic win against Jacksonville. Justin Gannon, a second-team All-NEC kick returner, accounted for 973 all-purpose yards last season. Gannon, a senior who works behind McCarty, ran for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Vinny Esposito continued to improve in his second season as a starter. He passed for 1,934 yards, the second-best figure in program history, and 13 touchdowns and upped his accuracy to a 60.3 completion percentage. Esposito also ran for 148 yards and 10 scores.

The Great Danes will have to reconfigure their offensive line following the graduation of one All-American and two all-league performers. Center Kevin Richards (6-2, 270) made his second straight appearance on the second-team All-NEC unit. Andrew Stevens (6-4, 275) was solid in his first year starting at left guard for a rushing offense that ranked 16th nationally.

UAlbany's Tim Bush returns after being granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. The first-team all-conference receiver caught 67 passes, a school record, for 794 yards and five touchdowns. Jason Poore grabbed 15 passes for 146 yards and one TD. The Great Danes will also need to examine the tight end position. Fullbacks Justin Petersen and Chris Kenneally were reliable as H-backs, as the pair combined for 16 receptions.



DEFENSE: The Great Danes were dominant at times on defense last season, as evidenced in the shutout of Pioneer League champion Jacksonville. The final six opponents were all held under 300 total yards.

Trevor Anderson (6-2, 285) is ready to step in for All-America defensive tackle Tom Pandolf. The junior had 37 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Mike Kelly (52 tackles) and Tony Sparano, who had 18 hits despite playing half the season due to injury, were productive defensive ends. Eddie Delaney (6-6, 235) earned a spot on the all-league second team as a redshirt freshman. Delaney, who plays with one hand, totaled 37 tackles and six pass deflections.

UAlbany allowed 14.9 points per game in conference play. Justin Brancaccio (6-0, 230), a first-team All-NEC inside linebacker, was one reason why. He led the team with 91 tackles. Chris Simpson, who moved back inside last year, added 38 tackles.

The Great Danes appear to be loaded at outside linebacker. Emerson Kinsey (6-1, 215), who may experiment at safety in the spring after making 25 tackles, and Rich Duff (46 tackles) were last year's starters. Dave Nicomini (6-3, 230) missed all of last season with a knee injury. He earned first-team All-NEC honors in 2007. Chris Blais saw his first time on the outside and made 31 tackles.

UAlbany's secondary is led by All-ECAC standout Dave Casale, who recorded the most interceptions by a UA defender since 1990 with seven. Casale, a fierce hitter, was second on the team with 74 tackles. Ross Bertrand (36 tackles, 4 PBUs) and Jean Juste (27 tackles, 3 PBUs) are proven cornerbacks. Sophomore Daniel Avery totaled 17 tackles, four pass break-ups and two interceptions.

KICKING GAME: Sophomore Herb Glass was third on the squad in scoring with 51 points. He made 33 of 36 PATs and 6 of 13 field goals and handled kickoffs. UAlbany will have to replace a record-setting punter.