UAlbany and Jacksonville Square Off in 2008 Gridiron Classic Bowl at University Field Today

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- UAlbany, the Northeast Conference champion, battles Jacksonville, the Pioneer Football League champion, in the third annual Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 6 at University Field. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.

The game will be televised by YES Network (DirectTV-Channel 631) to a regional and national audience. Pack Network (www.packnetwork.com) will stream audio and video nationwide. Fans can also listen to the game on Fox Sports 980-WOFX AM.

Jacksonville (9-3, PFL 7-1) rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Dayton, 19-14, on Nov. 22 to win its first league championship. Head coach Kerwin Bell, a former NFL and CFL quarterback, is in his second season. QB Josh McGregor, the PFL Offensive Freshman of the Year, has passed for 2,331 yards and 24 touchdowns. RB Rudell Small, a first-team all-league selection, is averaging 109.8 yards on the ground. SS Tremaine Mack has scored three defensive touchdowns this season. He also earned first-team all-conference honors.

UAlbany (8-3, NEC 7-0) wrapped up its second consecutive conference title on Nov. 15 by knocking off Wagner in the regular-season finale. The Great Danes, who are making their second straight Gridiron appearance, have used a strong rushing attack and solid defensive play to reach the postseason. TB David McCarty is the nation’s third-leading rusher with 1,581 yards. QB Vinny Esposito has thrown for 13 touchdowns and rushed for 10 more. Tom Pandolf, a two-time first-team all-conference defensive tackle, has 63 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Bob Ford is first among active NCAA FCS coaches with 233 career victories.

TELEVISION COVERAGE

YES Network (DirectTV-Ch. 631, national; Time Warner Cable-Ch. 67, local) will televise the Gridiron Classic to a regional and national audience. Bob Lorenz will handle the play-by-play and former NFL and Princeton offensive lineman Ross Tucker is the analyst.

INTERNET COVERAGE

Pack Network (www.packnetwork.com) will stream both video and audio to a nationwide audience. New York City radio personality Paul Dottino is the play-by-play announcer, while New York Post sportswriter Paul Schwartz will serve as analyst.

RADIO COVERAGE

Fox Sports 980 (WOFX-AM) will again air the entire University at Albany football schedule. Rodger Wyland, the sports director at WNYT-TV (NewsChannel 13), serves as the WOFX Radio play-by-play announcer with Jon Phelps working as the color analyst.