University of Albany FCS Football's Dave Nicomini Chosen Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2009

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Dave Nicomini has been chosen Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week in football, as announced on Monday, Sept. 28 by the conference office. The Great Danes, who opened NEC play with a 22-9 victory over Sacred Heart on Sept. 26, limited their opponent to 267 total yards, including 71 on the ground, and forced three turnovers.

A senior outside linebacker from Newton, N.J., Nicomini totaled five tackles, one sack, two hits for a loss and a career-high three pass break-ups. He came up big in a pair of first-and-goal situations that held the Pioneers to two field goals. He broke up a first-down pass and added a third-down sack in the second quarter. Nicomini made a first-down tackle for a loss on first-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the final period.

Nicomini missed all of the 2008 season following major reconstructive knee surgery. A first-team All-NEC selection in 2007, he is currently tied for fourth among the Division I FCS leaders in tackles for a loss at 2.0 per game. Nicomini, who has 29 tackles overall, climbed to No. 19 on the school's career tackles list with 198.

Football Notes: The Great Danes set a school record with their 10th consecutive home win, eclipsing a mark that was first established in 1973-74 ... UAlbany has reached the win column 14 straight times against conference opponents, the nation's longest FCS streak ... senior tailback David McCarty is tied for second in career touchdowns (30) and has 21 100-yard rushing games as a collegian ... inside linebacker Justin Brancaccio moved above the 200-career plateau in tackles (204) ... tailback Justin Gannon toppled the 2,000-career mark in all-purpose yards and is 19th on the program's chart with 2,043 ...


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany TB David McCarty & ILB Chris Simpson Earn Northeast Conference Weekly Football Awards - UAlbany Sports 2009

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's David McCarty and Chris Simpson have been selected for weekly Northeast Conference football awards for their performances in last Saturday's upset of nationally-ranked Maine, as announced on Monday, Sept. 21 by the conference office. McCarty was chosen NEC offensive player of the week, while Simpson was named co-defensive player of the week.

McCarty, a senior tailback from Gansevoort, N.Y., scored the winning touchdown on a 24-yard run with 2:02 remaining to complete his team's comeback in the fourth quarter. The Great Danes, who defeated a national top-25 program for the first time since the 2006 season, trailed, 16-3, heading into the final period.

McCarty carried 27 times for 109 yards, a school-record 20th time he has toppled the 100-mark in a game during his career. He moved to second on the program's career scoring chart with 210 points and climbed to third in rushing touchdowns (29). McCarty is currently fourth among the NEC's all-time rushers with 3,567 yards and is tied for eighth in scoring.

Simpson, a senior inside linebacker from Victor, N.Y., forced a turnover that led to the game-winning touchdown in the 20-16 victory. He hit Maine's Mike Brusko and the quarterback fumbled as he ran the option on a third-and-two play at the Black Bears' 28-yard line. Simpson made a career-high 11 tackles with two hits for a loss and one pass break-up. The Great Danes held the nation's 20th-ranked Division I FCS team to 83 of its 267 total yards in the second half.

By overcoming its largest fourth-quarter deficit as a FCS program, UAlbany ended a string of seven straight losses to top-25 teams. The Great Danes begin Northeast Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 26 against Sacred Heart at University Field. Kickoff is 4:00 p.m.

Football Notes: UAlbany last rallied from a 10-plus point deficit in the fourth quarter on Nov. 21, 1998 in the Eastern Football Conference championship game against American International ... the Great Danes last won against a top-25 team when they defeated Delaware (#11) and Central Connecticut State (#23) in consecutive weeks during the 2006 season ... WR Tim Bush (Saratoga Springs) became the third UAlbany receiver to reach the 100-career receptions mark ... Bush has 100 catches for 1,226 receiving yards as a collegian ... sophomore safety Jake Ciccarello was the unsung hero in the Maine victory with an interception and blocked punt in the fourth quarter and the key hit on a goal line stand in the second period.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information