haggyland

Thank you...saw that.

Also Griffin Woodell named among the 22 finalists for the 2023 Jerry Rice Award (FCS national freshman of the year); 3 total from CAA.

https://caasports.com/news/2023/11/20/three-caa-football-freshmen-chosen-as-finalists-for-jerry-rice-award.aspx

Reese Poffenbarger named among the 30 finalists for the 2023 Walter Payton Award (FCS national offensive player of the year); 5 total from CAA.

https://caasports.com/news/2023/11/21/football-caa-places-five-on-list-of-finalists-for-2023-payton-award.aspx

Dylan Kelly and Anton Juncaj both named among the 30 finalists for the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award (FCS national defensive player of the year); 4 total from CAA.

https://caasports.com/news/2023/11/21/four-caa-football-standouts-named-finalists-for-buchanan-award.aspx

4th ever December game in program history, 2nd at home, 1st at Casey:

2007, 12/1: 21-42 L @ Dayton in the Gridiron Classic (NEC champions vs Pioneer Champions)

2008, 12/6: 28-0 W against Jacksonville in the Gridiron Classic.  As I remember it the game was played with brutal December winds and Jacksonville wished they never came to upstate NY in December.

2019, 12/7: 21-47 L @ #5 Montana State. 2nd round of the FCS playoffs.  UAlbany opened the scoring with a long sideline route pass.

Win the first game and UAlbany will play the latest in the season they have ever played.

2 hours ago, cwdickens said:

This year's phase has been whittled down to "Mentality".

I heard that next year DK and Cr. Benson have opted for simply "MENTAL!".

6 hours ago, godanesgo99 said:

Obviously my language was chosen purposely in the moment, but you do want aggression and not coming out flat. You need blood pumping. Even this year the team has played poorly for periods of the first half in almost every game. They were losing to Union at the half. They tend to play better in the second halfs. You can't have the team tentative to attack.

 I make no comment on how you bring that out as a coach. Context of what I posted, and what happened is important.

When other teams go on a run and you call time out, that's when you need to to keep them calm, collected, and together ... stop the bleeding.  Starting at the halfway mark of the second half of the LCC gane through the first 10 minutes of the St. Joe's game, the team just couldn't get a stop or a basket. Team took too long to stop playing isolation sets and pressing too hard. Pressing plus frustration doesn't mix.

They have looked pretty strong in every game if 5-10 minutes of each game could be erased.

I get what you were saying.  That part is good. 

What's not good is that a head coach 5 games into his tenure might have slapped a kid to get him to play angry. 

Also,  here's my ax to grind: 

He is a Benson hire. Benson is outmatched and outclassed at his job. He sets the culture of the program and performance is down while scandals and lawsuits are up.  He is unfit to be an athletic director...there is more to the job than fundraising. 

You,  however? I like your analysis. 

23 hours ago, godanesgo99 said:

St. Joe's was really physical in the first few minutes and the team started playing angry.

You want your team to play with a little anger, but that's to get you going.

Are there any suggestions you could give to the head coach to help the team play with more anger?

😬

13 hours ago, statefan said:

I assume they will spend the offseason lobbying Immaculata & Skidmore to add football

Very well done indeed. 

FYI, I have always considered him Gutless Gattuso because of his aversion to risk in his play calling and his complete avoidance of shouldering any of the blame for his failures.  On a physical level Gutless is definitely not the most appropriate descriptor. 

Benson and cretin just seem to go together like peas and carrots. 

1 hour ago, tnehurley said:

Final 27-3. Our QB sacked 7 times. Spent the entire game running for his life.

Will spend the entire winter break running from Gutless Gattuso and the cretin Benson.

22 hours ago, Dane96 said:

Just once, I'd like to see him say-- "We have the talent, it is my job to harness it and I have failed to do so.".  

 

Just once....

Just once, I'd like to see him say-- "Sorry I lost so often and set the program back. I'm quitting, taking my losing ass out of Albany,  and I'm taking the clueless,  uninvested cretin Benson with me. ".

Just once....

19 minutes ago, jimbo said:

How about now?

Sitting outside on a fall day watching football used to be such a fun afternoon. 

18 minutes ago, jimbo said:

Alas....another week and another loss. The curse of BensonGattuso continues. 3-15 for 21 and 22. So glad I didn’t buy tickets this year. 

 

At this pace he’ll be extending GG another three years. 

I don't know about you but even if they pulled off the win I wouldn't be shouting from the rooftop about the nailbiter win over Fordham.

Expectations for these programs need to be raised across the board.

12 minutes ago, cwdickens said:

UAlbany Offense ... three and out ... sacks ... smell like last week .. early

When you have one clueless and disengaged loser (Benson) extending another clueless and disengaged loser (Gattuso) expect more misery than success.

I still chuckle at my previous belief that the new stadium would grow the program.  But the tone at the top is toxic and the department continues to regress.

On 8/11/2022 at 9:17 AM, UAalum72 said:

UAlbany football rolled out 'red carpet' to get Tyler Pastula

Punter transfer from Delaware also had a trip to Oregon.

Makes sense.

With the program being led by GG and Benson the punter is BY FAR the most important player on the team.

This is not in response to the announcement of this game (frankly, I find it to be very humorous), but all revenues for this game should go directly to the buyout fund for both Benson and Gattuso.

4 hours ago, HOF2013 said:

Two great kickers now, Kick-off - field goal kid  and now a good punter

I know you don't want the negativity, but we know the team is definitely going to be kicking the ball next year.

Kerr-Ooty?

Doh-Liss?

Oy they, those really aren't difficult names to pronounce.

 Here's something that I would like to believe about myself: That if I worked somewhere and I was seriously under-performing, and they told me to fire my best friend while signing me to a multi-year extension, that I would realize that it was too uncomfortable to stay. 

But,  hey,  maybe the cost of GG'S loyalty is only an extra million. 

I'm proud to NOT call him a friend. 

🤣😂

.

2 hours ago, jimbo said:

Either he doesn’t or he doesn’t care. Probably the latter. This situation has really left me gutted. Can’t wait for the next call from a student athlete asking for $. 

Crappy Holidays!

Thanks a lot,  Benson!

😂🤣😂

16 minutes ago, jimbo said:

Every Albany football fan and player got coal in their stocking this year. Benson is an utter joke. Union College is a shorter drive for me ...and they actually have a good coach and a winning program.  

I was actually going to ask where I should go for good football. 

Syracuse?... at least the opponents will be good. 

Army?... great stadium but no personal connection. 

Boston College?... I have reservations for personal reasons. 

UConn? UMass? Dregs.

Maybe I'll stick to other things. 

25 minutes ago, Clickclack said:

Mark Benson is more interested in "keeping his word" than fixing a burned to the ground program. Now you know why so many programs have taken a step back under his leadership. I think we found a bigger loser than Greg Gattuso. Apparently his job as AD isn't to, you know, run a respectable program...it's to keep funneling money into the pocket of guy who shamelessly keeps taking it. Greg Gattuso apparently has zero professional pride and just here for a paycheck. How can you ever expect any winning from a guy who ALWAYS pins the blame on everyone around him but never takes any of it himself beyond a token "buck stops with me" while in the same breath hitting you with a but.....

He couldn't wait to fire Brown...absolutely could not wait. In light of what he just did by not pulling that contract extension, it's absolutely crystal clear that the situation with Brown was personal (regardless if it was a right move or not). 

I'm past the point of anger I think moving on to pure comedy. I can't wait for the disaster this is going to be. Again, Mark Benson actually thinks Gattuso's career here is redeemable. LOL...amazing.  

But according to GG' himself, he has ALMOST succeeded in doing his job. (Always cites the close LOSSES.)

Isn't that enough?

🤣😂🤣

34 minutes ago, Dane96 said:

Mark did a great job.  Singelais that is....

That's effing gold right there.

Maybe Benson's skillset is limited to fundraising, and personnel management is outside of his capabilities. 

Come to think of it,  though,  his fundraising hasn't been too noticeable since leaving ODU.

I never have an idea what he is thinking.  Has he ever held a presser?  The last big announcement was at the football game a few years ago where he asked us to stay in our seats at halftime for a HUGE announcement... that turned out to be getting a new vendor for the uniforms. 

Holy hell.  😂🤣

8 minutes ago, nysteve661 said:

If this is true, there is only one explaination.  Maybe a few years ago, Gattuso walked into Benson's office without knocking and caught him in a compromising position with a woman who is not his wife, lol.  On the way back out, Gattuso told him you will keep extending me and my lips will be sealed.  😝😝😝

How else can it be explained?

Incompetence and stupidity could also be at play.