Virtual Tour of the UAlbany Stadium Plans

Virtual tour showcasing the University at Albany's plans to provide a New Multi-Sports Stadium Complex on campus.

University at Albany Stadium from Max Wave Media on Vimeo.

UAlbany FCS Football's Trevor Anderson Leads Group of Five on Phil Steele's Preseason All-NEC Football Team

Cleveland, Ohio - University at Albany's Trevor Anderson and Eddie Delaney are among five Great Danes named to Phil Steele Publication's preseason All-Northeast Conference football squad. Anderson and Delaney were first-team selections. Andy Sparano, Ross Bertrand and Herb Glass made the second team.

Anderson, a 6-foot-2, 295-pound defensive tackle from Warnersville, N.Y., earned first-team all-conference honors as a junior, when he accounted for 36 tackles and 3.0 sacks. Delaney, a 6-foot-6, 245-pound defensive end from Holtsville, N.Y., totaled 33 tackles, including 6.0 for a loss, last season. Both players were key figures on a defensive unit that ranked first in rushing yards allowed (118.3 ypg) and second in scoring defense (18.3 ppg) among the NEC leaders.

Sparano (5-11, 270) will move from guard to center on the offensive line this season. A senior from Colleyville, Texas, Sparano is one of four returning starters in the trenches. He has made 29 career appearances and shared the team's 2009 top offensive lineman award. Bertrand, who hails from Stamford, Conn., is expected to start at cornerback for the third year in a row. He has 105 career tackles and eight pass break-ups. Glass, a junior placekicker from Miller Place, N.Y., led last year's team in scoring with 61 points. He made 12 field goals, the third-best single-season total in program history, and connected on 25-of-27 point-after attempts.

Paw Prints:
UAlbany was picked second by The Sporting News and third by Lindy's Sports in the national publications' preseason Northeast Conference rankings ... the Great Danes begin preseason camp on Monday, Aug. 9 with an afternoon practice ... UAlbany opens its schedule on Thursday, Sept. 2 at Maine (7:00 p.m.) ... the Black Bears are ranked in the Athlon Sports preseason national top 25 poll ... the Great Danes have won seven or more games in four consecutive seasons for the second time since the program became a varsity sport in 1973 ... the Northeast Conference champion receives an automatic NCAA FCS playoff berth for the first time in 2010.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany Vice President & Athletic Director Lee McElroy Selected to MOAA Board of Directors

Westlake, Ohio - University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy has been selected to the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association Board of Directors. The MOAA, a non-profit organization formed in 2000 that holds its annual convention in conjunction with NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics), provides opportunities to exchange ideas, and advocate increased participation and administrative opportunities for minorities in athletics.

McElroy, who served as NACDA's president in 2006-07, is in his eleventh year as UAlbany's athletic director. He provides leadership for the school's NCAA Division I 19-sports intercollegiate program for men and women. During his tenure, UAlbany has won 41 conference championships, three IC4A track titles and 15 teams have made NCAA appearances. UAlbany student-athletes have earned All-America recognition on 37 occasions, while 12 have been named to ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America squads.

McElroy, who currently serves on the America East Conference Executive Committee, was awarded the Under Armour Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Northeast Region Athletic Director of the Year in 2008-09. He was honored with the 2004 General Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award by the All-American Football Foundation. McElroy has had roles with professional organizations and NCAA committees, including a three-year term on the NCAA Division I Management Council.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Klein on NGCA All-American Scholar Squad; UAlbany Earns Team Academic Honors

Coral Springs, Fla. - University at Albany's Stephanie Klein was named a National Golf Coaches' Association Division I All-American Scholar, while UAlbany earned an NGCA team honor, as announced by the organization. Klein, a sophomore from Thornhill, Ontario, was one of 504 student-athletes recognized nationally, while the Great Danes posted the 19th-best team grade point average across Division I.

Klein, who is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and UAlbany Athletic Director's Honor Roll, posted a 4.00 cumulative GPA as a pre-medicine major. Klein's top finish was at the MAAC Championships, where she shot a three-round total of 254 to finish tied for 15th individually. To be chosen by the NGCA for an individual honor, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA and must have competed in at least 50 percent of the team's regularly scheduled competitive rounds.

As a five-member team, UAlbany recorded a 3.56 cumulative GPA. Indianapolis took the team award with a 3.75 GPA, while the Great Danes finished ahead of such teams as Arkansas and Stanford. UAlbany was the only MAAC team honored by the NGCA with a team academic award.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Walk-On Tryouts for UAlbany Women's Soccer to Take Place on August 11-12

Head coach Mary-Frances Monroe has announced that walk-on tryouts for the University at Albany women's soccer program will be held August 11-12. There will be a total of three training sessions over the two days for interested students to participate in.
Open try-out dates/times are as follows:

August 11th
Morning session: 7am - 9am
Afternoon session: 2pm - 4pm

August 12th
Morning session: 7am - 9am

Anyone wishing to try out MUST complete the following tasks prior to being cleared to practice:
1. Enroll in at least 12 credits for the Fall 2010 semester.
2. Obtain a signature from the coach on the walk-on form.
3. Present athletic trainers proof of personal health insurance, an approved physical within the past six months and receive sickle cell education/waiver.
4. Meet with compliance after receiving signatures from the coach AND athletic trainers.

The link for the NCAA compliance form is
https://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/84224.doc?SPSID=82359&SPID=7966&DB_OEM_ID=15800

Students should come physically prepared to take part in fitness assessments, small- and large-sided games. Participants should bring their running shoes, cleats and shin guards to all three sessions.

If interested, please contact assistant women's soccer coach Kristin Shaw by Saturday, July 31 by either phone or email to ensure housing arrangements.

Email: kshaw@uamail.albany.edu
Phone: 518-591-8653

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany Announces 2010 Volleyball Schedule; Will Play in Clemson & Florida Tournaments

Albany, N.Y. - Four NCAA Tournament participants highlight the 2010 University at Albany volleyball schedule, as head coach MJ Engstrom announced today. The Great Danes, who won last year's America East Conference regular-season crown, will have eight home matches at University Gymnasium and compete in four tournaments on the road.

UAlbany kicks off the season with four consecutive in-season tournaments. The Great Danes first participate at Clemson's Big Orange Bash (Aug. 27-28), taking on the host Tigers, a 2009 NCAA participant, Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville. The following weekend, the Great Danes take on NCAA tournament teams Florida and Colorado State, along with Bowling Green, at the Gators' Campus USA Credit Union Invitational. NCAA participant Middle Tennessee State will host UAlbany and Arkansas in an invitational on Sept. 10 and 11 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Great Danes conclude tournament play at Lamar on Sept. 17-18, as UAlbany squares off against Louisiana-Lafayette, McNeese State and the host Cardinals. UAlbany closes out a 13-match road stretch on Sept. 24 at Yale, before hosting the Bulldogs on Sept. 25 to open up the home slate.

UAlbany begins America East Conference play on Oct. 1, visiting UMBC before hosting new league opponent Providence (Oct. 8) followed by New Hampshire (Oct. 10). The Great Danes have home and home dates with the remaining conference foes, including Stony Brook, Hartford and Binghamton. The rival Bearcats, the defending America East tournament champion, visit University Gymnasium on Oct. 22, while the Seawolves come to the Capital Region on Nov. 14. UAlbany will also host non-conference opponents Colgate (Oct. 6) and visit Virginia Commonwealth (Nov. 26).

In 2009, Engstrom was named the conference's coach of the year after guiding UAlbany to a 22-9 overall record and a second consecutive undefeated conference slate. The Great Danes were the lone undefeated team in the conference and earned the right to host the America East Conference Volleyball Championship for the second straight year.

-agate-

2010 University at Albany Volleyball Schedule

August - 27 (Fri.) Tennessee Tech+, 4 p.m.; 28 (Sat.) Jacksonville+, 12 p.m.; Clemson+, 6 p.m.

September - 3 (Fri.) Florida^, 12:30 p.m.; Colorado State^, 5 p.m.; 4 (Sat.) Bowling Green^, 4 p.m.; 10 (Fri.) UAB<, 4:30 p.m.; 11 (Sat.) Arkansas<, 1 p.m.; Middle Tennessee State<, 5 p.m.; 17 (Fri.) Louisiana-Lafayette#, 5 p.m.; 18 (Sat.) McNeese State#, 11 a.m.; Lamar#, 8 p.m.; 24 (Fri.) at Yale, 7 p.m.; 25 (Sat.) Yale, 7 p.m.

October - 1 (Fri.) at UMBC*, 7 p.m.; 6 (Wed.) Colgate, 7 p.m.; 8 (Fri.) Providence*, 7 p.m.; 10 (Sun.) New Hampshire*, 1 p.m.; 15 (Fri.) at Stony Brook*, 7 p.m.; 17 (Sun.) at Hartford*, 1 p.m.; 22 (Fri.) Binghamton*, 7 p.m.; 24 (Sun.) at Binghamton*, 5 p.m.; 31 (Sun.) UMBC*, 1 p.m.

November - 5 (Fri.) at New Hampshire*, 7 p.m.; 6 (Sat.) at Providence*, 5 p.m.; 12 (Fri.) Hartford*, 7 p.m.; 14 (Sun.) Stony Brook*, 1 p.m.; 26 (Fri.) at Virginia Commonwealth, 2 p.m.

* America East Conference Opponent All Times Eastern

+ Big Orange Bash (Clemson, S.C.)

^ Campus USA Credit Union Invitational (Gainesville, Fla.)

< Middle Tennessee Invitational (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)

# Lamar Tournament (Beaumont, Texas)

Former UAlbany Standout Corey Small Plays for Team Canada at FIL World Championships

Albany, N.Y. - Former University at Albany attackman Corey Small will play for Team Canada at the 2010 FIL World Championships (Federation of International Lacrosse) in Manchester, England. Canada, the defending champion after winning the world title in 2006, begins divisional play on Friday, July 16 against Japan. Small, who was added to the Canadian roster 10 days ago, currently plays for Major League Lacrosse's Toronto Nationals and National League Lacrosse's Edmonton Rush.

A native of St. Catharines, Ontario, Small was chosen in the first round of the 2009 NLL Entry Draft by Edmonton and taken in the third round of the MLL Collegiate Draft. The 23-year old accounted for 17 goals and 22 assists during the indoor season in leading Edmonton to the NLL West Division final. He was a member of last year's MLL champion Toronto squad.

As a collegian, Small was picked to the All-America East Conference second team for the second consecutive year as a senior in the spring of 2009. He led the conference in goals at 3.1 per game and was second in points (3.6 pg). He totaled 31 goals and five assists despite playing in just 10 games due to mid-season leg surgery. His rehabilitation was assisted by a VAC (Vacuum Assisted Closure) device that assisted the healing process.

Small, who was one of the top scorers on the 2007 squad that reached the NCAA quarterfinals, finished his UAlbany career ranked sixth on the school's all-time list with 109 goals. He scored at least one point in 27 consecutive games. Small, a left-handed sharpshooter, compiled 137 career points.

The FIL World Championship's medal round begins on July 22. The championship final is scheduled for Saturday, July 24 at 11:00 a.m. (ET) and will be televised live by ESPNU.

UAlbany Men's & Women's Track & Field Programs Sign 11 Student-Athletes to National Letters of Intent

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany's Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Roberto Vives announced on Wednesday, July 14 that 11 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to join the men's and women's programs for the 2010-11 academic year. The class, which consists of six women and five men, includes three national champions, seven all-state honorees and three student-athletes from Capital Region high schools.

Chris Burke (Tully, N.Y./Tully/SUNY Delhi), a transfer student who was recently named SUNY Delhi's 2009-10 Male Athlete of the Year, will compete in middle distance and distance events and run on the Great Danes' cross country team. On the track, he was a seven-time All-American and five-time national champion at the junior college level. Burke won the 1,500-meter run twice as well as the 800-meters once at the NJCAA Division III national championships. He also anchored the first-place 4x800-meter relay each year, including the 2010 squad which broke the national meet record (7:44.33). Burke, who has relay splits of 1:52 at 800-meters and 4:09 at 1,600-meters, also garnered All-America honors this spring by placing second in the 5,000. Indoors, the transfer anchored the second-place distance medley relay at the national meet. In addition, Burke was a two-time All-American and national champion in cross country, helping the Broncos win the national team title each year. The squad's 22 points last fall was the lowest total in the history of the NJCAA Division III championship event. His personal bests of 3:54.22 in the 1,500 and 14:45.37 in the 5,000 are school records.

Brianne Bellon (Greenfield, N.Y./Saratoga Springs), an Albany Times Union All-Star in the 800-meters and 4x800-meter relay, headlines the list of women's signees. Bellon has been crowned a national champion as a member of several relay squads and has a split of 2:08.57 at 800-meters. She recently ran on the winning 4xMile relay that hit the tape in 20:04.34 at New Balance Nationals on June 19. After winning the Class A title in the 800, Bellon broke the school record with a winning time of 2:09.93 at the state qualifier before placing eighth at states. The standard of 2:10.74 was previously established by U.S. Olympian Cheri Goddard in 1988. She also anchored the third-place 4x800 relay (8:50.70) at the state meet. Indoors, the middle distance competitor won the 1,000-meters in a personal-best time of 2:55.90 at the state qualifier. Bellon, who has career-best marks of 4:39.40 in the 1,500 and 4:58.14 in the mile, will also compete as a member of the cross country program after leading the Thunder to four Section II, Class AA titles. She garnered Albany Times Union first team all-star recognition and earned a place on the New York State Sportswriters Association's all-state third team as a harrier.

Sprinter Kareem Morris (Albany, N.Y./Albany) was recently crowned the Albany Times Union Male Athlete of the Month in addition to being named a first-team all-star by the publication in the 100- and 200-meter dashes as well as the 4x100 relay that qualified for states. In May, Morris won four events at the Colonie Relays, three events at the Eddy Meet and capped off the month with four victories at the Section II, Class A competition. The sprinter posted wins in the 100, 200 and 4x100 at the Class A and state qualifier meets. He finished second in the 200-meters at states, improving on his eighth-place performance at the meet from the previous season. Morris' personal-best marks are 10.97 seconds in the 100 and 21.76 in the 200.

Multi-eventer Kelsey Hanson (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) rounds out the list of Section II standouts who will wear the purple and gold. Before battling injuries throughout the spring, she ended her indoor career on a high note by placing third in the pentathlon with 3,262 points at Nike Indoor Nationals to garner All-America laurels. Hanson registered top-eight finishes with personal-best marks of 30-feet, 3-inches in the shot put, 16-10.25 in the long jump and 2:31.93 in the 800 to better her eighth-place finish in the pentathlon the previous year at the national meet in Boston.

Donald Williams (Springfield Gardens, N.Y./Midwood) is the fastest short sprinter to ever sign with the UAlbany men's program out of high school. An outstanding student and member of his school's highly competitive Gifted/Medical Science program, Williams was the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) champion in the 100-meters, the State Federation champion as a member of the 4x100-meter relay and the State Federation runner-up in the 100. His personal-best time of 10.56 in the 100-meters mirrors the school record at UAlbany, while he has also been timed at 6.40 in the 55m and 22.18 in the 200m.
Kathryn Fanning (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius), a distance competitor, was a member of a cross country program that won its fourth straight national championship at Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) last fall. She placed 10th overall as her squad ran away with the Section III, Class AA title in 2009 by boasting eight of the top-10 finishers. On the track, the incoming freshman was crowned a national champion as a member of the winning 4x800-meter relay (9:02.80) at Nike Indoor Nationals. An All-Central New York honoree by the Syracuse Post Standard, Fanning's personal bests include 2:15.42 in the 800, 4:44.09 in the 1,500 and 10:21 in the 3,000. She also earned three varsity awards in soccer.

Hurdler Joseph Elijah Pardo (Huntington Station, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) and middle distance runner Patrick Murphy (Smithtown, N.Y./St. Anthony's) round out the list of men's signees. Pardo earned All-America honors in the shuttle hurdle relay by running the leadoff leg for the seventh-place squad at Nike Indoor Nationals. He was also an all-state selection for his second-place performance in the 110-meter high hurdles at states during the outdoor season and also placed third in the 55-hurdles at the meet during the indoor season. His personal-best times in the events are 7.53 and 14.66. Murphy, who will also run cross country, has career-best marks of 1:56.87 in the 800 and 2:38.61 in the 1,000.

Completing the group of women's newcomers are high jumper Ashley Grant (Highland Mills, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) and hurdler Renee Lewis (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood), who were both all-state selections this past year on the scholastic level, as well as middle distance runner Jonelle White (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood). Grant, who has a personal-best mark of 5-6.50, closed out her senior year by finishing fifth in her premier event at the indoor and outdoor state meets. She was a first-place finisher at both the indoor and outdoor state qualifiers and also competed at Nike Indoor Nationals. Lewis' top performances this past year included placing third at the PSAL City Championship and seventh at states in the 100m-hurdles as well as fourth in the 55-hurdles at the PSAL meet. She also ran at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships and has personal bests of 8.53 in the 55-hurdles and 14.64 in the 100-hurdles. White, who has finished as high as third in the 800-meters at the PSAL City Championship, owns career-best middle distance marks of 2:17.68 in the 800 and 3:02.49 in the 1,000.

"We are very excited about this incoming class of high quality student-athletes," said Vives, whose men's and women's programs have combined to win 19 America East titles and have produced five All-Americans at the NCAA Division I level. "They will be able to contribute to our tradition of winning championships and help propel us to our goal of becoming a national level program."

*********

2010-11 University at Albany Women's Track & Field Signings
Name, Events, Hometown (High School/Previous College)
*Brianne Bellon, Middle Distance, Greenfield, N.Y./Saratoga Springs
*Kathryn Fanning, Distance, Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius
Ashley Grant, High Jump, Highland Mills, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury
Kelsey Hanson, Multis, Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa
Renee Lewis, Hurdles, Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood
Jonelle White, Middle Distance, Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood
2010-11 University at Albany Men's Track & Field Signings
Name, Events, Hometown (High School/Previous College)
*Chris Burke, Middle Distance, Tully, N.Y./Tully/SUNY Delhi
Kareem Morris, Sprints, Albany, N.Y./Albany
*Patrick Murphy, Middle Distance, Smithtown, N.Y./St. Anthony's
Joseph Elijah Pardo, Hurdles, Huntington Station, N.Y./St. John the Baptist
Donald Williams, Sprints, Springfield Gardens, N.Y./Midwood

*Cross Country


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Valete Graham & Olivia Jarem Named America East Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Valete Graham and Olivia Jarem were chosen America East Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year in the sports of men's outdoor track & field and women's lacrosse, respectively, as announced on Tuesday, July 13 by the conference office. Graham earned the academic award for the second consecutive year.

Graham, who graduated with a 3.70 cumulative grade point average as a psychology major, was voted to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America national third team. He was honored as UAlbany's 2009-10 Co-Male Athlete of the Year. Graham made the 2008 and 2009 USTFCCCA Division I Men's All-Academic Track and Field Team and was named the 2009 America East Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in outdoor track and the 2010 America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year in indoor track. A member of five America East all-academic teams, Graham was a 2010 ECAC Merit Medal winner as the school's top senior male student-athlete and a recipient of the Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete Award.

Graham won his third straight long jump title at the America East outdoor championship by leaping 24-feet, 7.75-inches, becoming just the second athlete to accomplish the feat in league history. The indoor and outdoor team MVP also placed fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 47-8. Graham was eighth in the long jump (23-9.50) at the IC4A Championship. His mark of 24-9.25 in the long jump at the 2009 America East championship is a school record.

A senior from Bronx, N.Y., Graham also had a fine indoor campaign, accumulating 18 points at the America East championship. He garnered all-conference laurels twice by winning the long jump with a leap of 23-6 and placing second in the triple jump with a mark of 47-10. He led the Great Danes to their second consecutive title at the IC4A Championship by registering a fourth-place mark of 23-2.75 in the long jump. In addition, Graham broke the program standard in the long jump by leaping 24-6.50 at the Great Dane Classic.

Jarem recently graduated with a 4.00 cumulative grade point average in psychology and a minor in education. She was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America At-Large national second team. In 2009-10, Jarem received a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, one of 13 females honored nationwide, and plans to study sports psychology as a graduate student at Ithaca College. Jarem was the recipient of UAlbany's Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award as the school's top senior female student-athlete and the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. She was chosen to both the District I Women's At-Large and America East Conference Women's Lacrosse all-academic squads.

A senior from Clifton Park, N.Y., Jarem totaled 31 goals and four assists for the nation's second-ranked scoring offense. The midfielder was 10th among the conference leaders in goals. She led the Great Danes to their first-ever top-20 national ranking, a school-record 13-3 campaign and the program's first America East Conference regular-season title. Jarem tallied two or more goals in 11 contests and posted a .534 shot percentage.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany's SEFCU Arena Home to World Team Tennis' N.Y. Buzz for Second Straight Summer

Albany, N.Y. - The New York Buzz -- led by former women's No. 1 Martina Hingis -- return to UAlbany this July for the 2010 World TeamTennis (WTT) season. This year the Buzz welcome current No. 1 women's player in the world, Serena Williams, and seven-time major winner and tennis legend John McEnroe.

SEFCU Arena will host six N.Y. Buzz home matches in 2010, highlighted by the July 13th showdown between McEnroe's N.Y. Sportimes and Hingis's Buzz squad. McEnroe and Hingis may find each other on opposite sides of the net if each competes for their team in the mixed doubles event. Each match gets underway at 7:30 p.m.

"The University at Albany and SEFCU Arena are proud to host World Team Tennis and the New York Buzz for the second consecutive summer," said UAlbany Vice President for Athletic Administration and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee McElroy. "Martina Hingis's presence on the team, as a former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion, heightens the experience for area tennis fans. UAlbany's relationship with New York Buzz is another positive and successful Capital Region partnership."

The Buzz, who captured their first WTT Championship in 2008, are one of 11 teams in the U.S. and compete in the WTT Pro League's Eastern Conference. This year's NY Buzz team includes Hingis, Alex Domijan of Gainesville, Fla., Sarah Borwell of Middlesbrough, England, and Scoville Jenkins of Atlanta, Ga.

The first professional league where men and women have equal roles, WTT is known for introducing innovative elements to tennis including instant replay, cumulative and no-ad scoring, on-court coaching, Supertiebreakers, multi-colored courts and player names on back of their shirts.

The unique gender-balanced team concept for WTT was created in the early 1970s by league co-founders Billie Jean King and Larry King. Each match consists of five sets, with one set each of men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles.

Hingis's showdown against Williams of the Washington Kastles will be at the Glens Falls Civic Center on July 9. (courtesy UAlbany media relations)

New York Buzz 2010 Home Schedule

July 5, 7:30 p.m., Philadelphia Freedoms (SEFCU Arena)
July 6, 7:30 p.m., New York Sportimes (SEFCU Arena)
July 9, 7:30 p.m., Washington Kastles (Glens Falls Civic Center)
July 13, 7:30 p.m., New York Sportimes (SEFCU Arena)
July 14, 7:30 p.m., Boston Lobsters (SEFCU Arena)
July 16, 7:30 p.m., Philadelphia Freedoms (SEFCU Arena)
July 20, 7:30 p.m., Boston Lobsters (SEFCU Arena)


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany & Georgia Tech Will Meet in Atlanta Regional Round of 4th Annual Legends Classic

Princeton, N.J. - UAlbany will meet Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Georgia Tech in the Atlanta Regional Round of the fourth annual Legends Classic on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Syracuse, Michigan, Georgia Tech and UTEP will host Regional Round games of the 2010 Legends Classic, which has fast become one of the nation's premier early-season college basketball events.

Each institution will host two Regional Round games before heading to historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., for the Championship Rounds on Nov. 26-27.

Matchups, game times, and television details for the Championship Rounds at Boardwalk Hall and the Subregional Rounds at Detroit and William & Mary will be announced at a later date.

In 2009-10, Georgia Tech posted a 23-13 record and advanced to the championship game of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Yellow Jackets' NCAA trip was the 16th in school history and the 24th postseason bid. Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt returns 12 players, including junior guard Iman Shumpert, who averaged 10.0 points and a team-high 4.0 assists a game. Sophomore forward Brian Oliver tallied 7.1 points per game.

The Great Danes return eight lettermen and three starters from last year's squad. Tim Ambrose, a 6-foot senior who has tallied 1,000 career points, is top the returning scorer at 12.4 points per game. Head coach Will Brown also has sophomore guard Mike Black, who averaged 7.2 points and 2.4 assists as a member of the America East Conference all-rookie team.

The Legends Classic is produced by The Gazelle Group in Princeton, N.J. The Gazelle Group is a sports marketing firm specializing in event production and management, client representation, and sponsorship consulting. Gazelle produces numerous nationally-recognized events, such as the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic, and the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). For more information on The Gazelle Group, please visit www.gazellegroup.com.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany Alum Andre Coleman Joins Edmonton Esks In the Canadian Football League

(Andre Coleman during Eskimos rookie training camp at Clarke Stadium in Edmonton. Photograph by: Ryan Jackson)

While most fans are aware of the physical torture and pain football players put their bodies through, the majority are oblivious to the mental anguish and strain they experience when they leave their families behind to pursue their careers.

Andre Coleman is very much a family man, having left his wife Sali and three children — Cameron, 7; Claire, 3; and Keaton, four months — back in California to continue his dream of a career in the game he loves.

“It’s going to be hard,” said Coleman, 25, a defensive tackle signed by San Diego as an undrafted free agent in 2007 and released by the National Football League Chargers last year.

“When I first told my wife about going to Canada, she said she wanted to go. I told her it’s six months and it was probably best not to have to move the entire family, just yet.

“I was kind of depressed knowing that I would, every night, go to sleep without hearing her voice or being able to see her. She was still a little upset, but she understands this is my dream, this is my passion and she’s completely behind me, which I’m totally thankful for, for the support of family.”

Coleman himself did not receive that kind of support as a child from his father, who left the family behind in Buffalo. Coleman, the youngest of four children, was just one when his dad decided to split.

“I never had a relationship with my father. I’ve been anxious to find him — not to build a relationship with him, but to see whether I have other brothers and sisters. His abandoning me at such a young age is not the fault of my brothers and sisters,” said Coleman.

“I’m not sure why he left and I really don’t care. I’m just blessed to have a loving family. My mother was my mother and my dad, and I was blessed to have someone as strong as she was,” he said of Barbara Williams, who still lives in the Buffalo area and just earned a criminal justice degree from Hobart College at the age of 58.

“Even now, I can call her and talk to her about manly things and not be embarrassed.”

Nicole Davis, Coleman’s older sister, also acts as a second mother.

“I can always call her and talk to her as well. You need that positive feedback. If I’m wrong about something, they’ll tell me,” he said.

The six-foot-three, 300-pounder has a strong feeling he’s right about moving north. After three years of limited playing time in San Diego, the University of Albany product — who has a degree in African studies and wants to work on his master’s — knew he was at a crossroads.

“I didn’t want to go through all that again. I felt like my time there was up,” Coleman admitted. “I had my three years there. I felt like I hadn’t played that much (he played in only two games in 2009), so it was time to go elsewhere and experience a different opportunity.”

Edmonton had his Canadian Football League rights and, after a discussion with agent Mark Maren, he chose the Eskimos.

“I had an opportunity to ask Andre, ‘What do you want to do?’ ’’ said Maren. “ ‘There are a couple of NFL teams that want to fly you up for a tryout, or do you want to work and play and be an every-down player for 18 games, get your film and maybe go back down south again?’

“That was Andre’s biggest issue with NFL teams. They liked his athleticism, but they didn’t have enough solid game film on him. We thought this would be a good opportunity for Andre if he can go up, play a year, get his game film and market him back down again.”


“It was a big transition for him to leave the San Diego area, but for his career he needed to make this move,” Maren said of Coleman.

“If you’re coming to the CFL, as far as facilities are concerned, nothing beats Edmonton. Being a pro player in Edmonton rivals the NFL in all those aspects.

“Hopefully, for Andre’s sake, he gets an opportunity to get up to the NFL again. If not, I think Edmonton and Andre will be extremely happy together. He’s even talked about moving his family up there after a year.”

Coleman totalled 110 tackles, 35 for losses, and 14 quarterback sacks in his collegiate career.

“What I bring is speed and quickness, and my ability to put pressure on the quarterback,” said Coleman, who will have to concentrate on performing on the field but will be preoccupied with the separation from his family while off it.

“It’s tough. My four-month old is a wonderful baby. Wonderful. Doesn’t cry much. Has a great disposition. He sits back and observes and has this wonderful head full of hair,” said Coleman, who spends time with his family every day through the Internet and Skype.

“This is building me as a stronger person — my relationship with my wife and making me a stronger father. It’s tough, but I’m going to get through it.”

By Mario Annicchiarico, Canwest News Service

UAlbany Grad Rowland Signs With MLB's Atlanta Braves

Former UAlbany star Brendan Rowland is now a member of the Atlanta Braves organization. He signed as a free agent today and will report to the Braves Gulf Coast league team on Wednesday. The Gulf Coast Braves play their games at the Walt Disney World complex.

Rowland, an all-America East selection this past season, led the Danes in hitting (.330), doubles (11), home runs (7), RBI's (39) and slugging percentage (.521)

He was signed after his performance at the Braves try-out camp at Belizzi Field on June 12th. Former Albany High baseball coach Joey DiPiazza is an associate scout with the Braves.

Courtesy: Fox News 23