UAlbany FCS Football - 1st Day of Pracitce - Interview With Coach Ford

UAlbany was once again among the Northeast Conference football leaders after finishing second in the league's standings one year ago. The Great Danes, who have won or shared four NEC titles and now compete in a conference with an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision automatic berth, started another fall when preseason camp got underway on Monday, Aug. 9.

"I hope we are playing for the NEC championship and making the NCAA playoffs," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford after putting his team through a two-hour afternoon session in hot and humid conditions. "But that is wishful thinking. We have a long way to go and the next three weeks are critical. They are a lot of questions to be answered."

Ford and his coaching staff are faced with replacing 17 seniors who teamed to win seven or more games in each of the last four campaigns. But UAlbany has a veteran offensive line led by center Andy Sparano and a talented defensive front that includes first-team all-conference defensive tackle Trevor Anderson.

"It's not rebuilding; it's reloading," explained Chris Blais, a senior outside linebacker who is back after missing all of last year with two separate hand injuries. The seniors want to win a championship and get a playoff bid. I am just excited to be putting a helmet on again."

The Great Danes begin the 2010 schedule with Maine (Sept. 2) and NCAA playoff participant Stephen F. Austin (Sept. 11). UAlbany also meets Yale (Oct. 2) for the first time in preparation for the conference schedule.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information