UAlbany Chosen to Win NEC Football Crown; Six Players Named to Preseason All-NEC Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Somerset, N.J. - According to a preseason poll of Northeast Conference head football coaches, the University at Albany is the unanimous favorite to win its third consecutive conference championship. The Great Danes, who became just the second team in NEC history to go undefeated against league opponents in back-to-back seasons, received eight first-place votes. Monmouth, the 2008 conference runner-up, picked up one first-place vote and is second in the poll. The results were announced during the NEC media teleconference on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

"The coaches (in our conference) respect our talent," commented UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose program has won or shared four NEC titles since joining the league in 1999. "If you have talent, you are going to be picked one, two or three. Our defense has depth at most positions and has many returning starters. Our offense has a tailback that has run for nearly 2,000 yards, a quarterback with great numbers and a quality receiver."

UAlbany put together its most celebrated campaign at the NCAA Division I FCS level last year by becoming the first NEC program to be crowned Gridiron Classic champions. The Great Danes capped a 9-3 campaign, the most victories at the Division I FCS level, with a 28-0 triumph over Pioneer Football League champion Jacksonville.

This year's NEC champion will travel to the PFL winner in the fourth annual Gridiron Classic, an exempted postseason football game, on Saturday, Dec. 5. The Northeast Conference receives an automatic NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff berth, beginning in 2010.

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2009 Northeast Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Albany (8), 2. Monmouth (1), 3. Central Connecticut State, 4. Sacred Heart, 5. Robert Morris, 6. Duquesne, 7. Bryant, 8. Wagner, 9. Saint Francis, Pa. ( ) - first-place votes

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Somerset, N.J. - All-America tailback David McCarty leads a group of six UAlbany players who have been chosen to the Northeast Conference preseason all-conference football team, as announced on Tuesday, Aug. 18 by the league office. The Great Danes and Sacred Heart led all NEC teams with six preseason all-league selections. In addition to McCarty, Tim Bush, Kevin Richards, Dave Casale, Justin Brancaccio and Eddie Delaney were named to the squad.

McCarty, a Walter Payton Award candidate, rushed for a school-record 1,852 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. He was named to the Sports Network Division I FCS All-America first team and earned first-team all-conference honors. McCarty ranked second among the nation's FCS rushing leaders at 154.3 yards per game.

Bush, a senior wide receiver, established the program's single-season receptions mark last year when he caught 67 passes for 794 yards and five touchdowns. He was chosen to the All-NEC first team. Richards, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound center, has anchored the offensive line the last two seasons. He twice has been picked to the all-conference second team.

Casale was named to the All-ECAC and All-NEC squads one year ago. From his free safety position, Casale recorded the most interceptions by a UAlbany defender since 1990 with seven. He was second on the team in tackles (74) and first in pass break-ups (7).

Brancaccio, a senior inside linebacker, led the Great Danes in tackles with 91, including 35 unassisted and four for a loss. He spearheaded a unit that ranked 13th in scoring defense and 18th in total defense among the national leaders. Brancaccio is among the program's career FCS tackles leaders with 167. Delaney, a 6-foot-6, 235-pound defensive end, earned second-team All-NEC recognition as a redshirt freshman. He totaled 37 tackles, 1.5 sacks and six pass deflections despite playing without a left hand.