reeder

At one point I would have vehemently argued this with you... Lately I've started to come around. As a group, this collection of schools are a great fit. This commissioner seems to be a smart/talented lady... Let's see where this league goes in the next 3-5 years. Many of the schools have nice or new facilities, two more are on the drawing board (UVM and umbc)... We don't need to needlessly spend our money, what little we have of it flying or busing out to Ohio or Indiana to chase an upgrade in affiliation that wouldn't be earth shattering. At this point I'd much rather spend our money on facilities and keep growing the program. Few know this but... There are conversations to gut sefcu and build basically a new state of the art facility 5k+ seats. In line with what sbu and bing have. Let's focus our energy and funds there for the time being. In an interview with Benson a couple of weeks ago, he said short term goals would be more seatbacks and video board and long term more permanent seating (I think the context to more permanent seating was major renovation but don't remember anything more specific). Would be great if the renovation happened sooner but my sense from his comments was that it was a later phase.

I don't think that you would ordinarily have that many especially when you only have 63 scholarships - assuming they all have scholarships, that's 10% at one position (obviously the most important position). Listening to the replay of the press conference yesterday and some of Coach's comments in the year end review - none of the returning players have distinguished themselves and in this offense, the QB has a lot of latitude (according to Coach's comments) so he wants to have the right player there. He was asked about the Penn State transfer yesterday and said he had a very good chance at winning the job but then he walked it back and said that everyone had a chance. Also, if a freshman or redshirt freshman wins the job and has success, there will be attrition.

1. The most impactful newcomers last year were all signed much later than National Signing day. Gontarek was a late qualifier and his signing was announced in May, Neverdon was also announced in May and he returned some kickoffs and had a blocked punt and I don't think there was never an announcement about Patrick Toole - think he just arrived I the summer. (Don't think there were any national signing day newcomers that had an impact last year) 2. IMO, the defensive line was our biggest challenge last year. A couple of new defensive ends will help (if they don't redshirt) but I was hoping for a FBS transfer because I think we need help right away. That said, there are a few freshman that redshirted last year that will probably help - I'd guess the coaches are pretty high on them given we didn't get any transfers. 3. I've read a lot of good stuff about Mencer. He may help a lot immediately - big and fast. 4. Will be interesting to see what happens with the QB's. We have a lot of them. 5. Also felt like we had depth issues at ILB and we didn't get any help there. Maybe some of the returning players bulk ap a bit and the using sophomore from Good Counsel (forget his name) may help there but I would like to have seen a transfer there as well. Will there be a press conference like last year?

Donte Terry. DB Commit https://twitter.com/ozoneinq/status/558370360199233536

Not sure who else offered but the way recruiting works, you get noticed as a junior and at camps between junior and senior year. He may have been under the radar because he was a QB as a junior and I don't know if he did any camps. At our level, these are the layers that you have to find. We need RB depth. I think we only have two returning scholarship RB's. Andre Martin hasn't had the chance to establish himself because he's played behind Omar the last 2 years. Croskey seems to have speed and a lot of potential but you just don't know. I think One of the new signees - Alston is also a RB but given his size, I don't see him being an every down back (in the short term anyway)

Running Back Commit Eli Mencer https://twitter.com/wpial_insider/status/554094893002674176

Another QB - a Penn State transfer. At this rate, we're going to have more QB's than linemen. DJ Crook https://twitter.com/juicebucket21/status/553326608166436864 http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/dj_crook_843472.html http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2015/01/penn_state_football_qb_dj_croo.html

Also, seems like there are a lot of road games - (5 home and 10 away).

I remember watching the playoff game - think it was against Notre Dame when we lost every face off (so it seemed). Did we add a face off specialist?

In the last coaches corner video with Zach Bye, Gattuso talks about QB's for next year. Mentions Sweeney and Harding, says that Ryan Smith hasn't decided if he wants to return and mentions Shanley almost as an afterthought. Also said that they will have some new kids and they already have some activities in the Spring to see who will lead the team. Will be interesting.

I think Coach Bernard was his HS coach in 2013.

From Footballscoop Albany (FCS – NY): Per sources, linebackers coach / assistant head coach Bernard Clark is being promoted to defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator Joe Bernard will add the assistant head coach title, and tight ends coach Gabe Luvara will add the title of c0-offensive coordinator.

More from Footballscoop Penn: Per source, Albany defensive coordinator / defensive backs coach Bob Benson will be named associate head coach / defensive coordinator at Penn.

I would generally agree. Our endowment is around $30 million. Endowments at Maine and UNH are around $250 million,UVM is over $400 million, Stony Brook is $150 million, Buffalo is over $600 million, Binghamton is over $80 million, JMU is almost $80 million. Not sure why ours is so low - low giving from alumni. Low returns on investments... We just don't have much money. I would also guess this is part of the reason why McElroy is no longer AD. there was a new stadium and a push for all sports to go to the CAA leak with an announcement about to come, rumor about an announcement to expand the stadium. All of this while SEFCU and baseball need upgrades. If Benson can raise a lot of money and show that it's sustainable, I can see a push to move to a higher profile conference or all sports to the CAA. Until that happens, I think it's not a good financial decision. While I love our athletics program and want to see us grow, the truth is we as a community don't do a good job financially supporting the school or athletic program. That said, I think there is opportunity to raise $ and use that to raise the athletic profile.

Per Footballscoop Albany (FCS NY): Per source, head coach Greg Gattuso has made some changes. We are told that quarterbacks coach Ryan McCarthy and outside linebackers / special teams coordinator Matt Scott will not return. On the offensive side, we hear tight ends coach Gabe Luvara is expected to move to quarterbacks. Will update

This is obviously great for the players and the school. 1. I think Gontarek should have made one of the all conference teams in addition to offensive rookie of the year 2. Impressive that Malloy would make an all conference team - converted tight end playing tackle and his listed weight was 260. 3. Happy for Toole, bad HS injury and then several stops before walking on here. Hope he gets a scholarship for next year Future is bright - let's hit the recruiting trail hard.

Wouldn't worry that it was 2/3 attended. I believe that it was invitation only and a lot of the people live out of town. Also, there wasn't a lot of notice. Did he say anything newsworthy?

Rewatched game to look closer at defense and saw their left tackle just manhandled our d linemen. He was literally throwing them to the ground - in the beginning of the game he was throwing Forster around primarily, then Forster left the game and I don't think he returned. Wasn't just their left tackle, it was their entire line just moving us off the ball. The only way we stopped them (on any down) was when they ran into a blitzing linebacker.

Taped both the football and basketball games and watched them this morning. 1. Fiacchi had a great game passing. He plays well when he stays within himself. 2. I think Villanova scored on every drive except the fumble that Nicastro recovered and one punt late in the game. 3. Defense with another tough outing. I think it's more than just tackling, there were huge holes and it's been this way since the Columba game. I think some of it is size on the DL and I don't know if there is a fix for that next year. 4. What's up with Ngachie? I know he was hurt but he's come into the last few games as a reserve, he started the year as a reserve MLB and then started as OLB but yesterday Christian Harris started at one OLB and Malachi Hoskins at the other. He did play as a reserve but wonder why he didn't start and get more playing time. 5. Brad Harris and Gontarek and going to be very good for the next three years. Think the season has played out better than expected - let's beat Stony Brook.

Listened to our part of the CAA conference call and Coach Gattuso was very open about Fiacchi. To paraphrase, on two of the interceptions, the primary receiver was open and Fiacchi instead tried to make a big play and that's something he's not done most of the season. Went on to say that he needs to take what the defense gives him but he's a competitor, wanted to keep us in the game... The initial tone of the comment seemed to be frustration but he turned it into a positive. Said that he talked with him about it during the game and there was improvement. Also, wanted the right decisions made because there are three tough games left.

Not sure if everyone is aware but the CAA has a weekly press conference. Its Interesting to listen to the coaches comments. http://www.caasports.com/sports/2014/7/31/caafbpressbox14.aspx?id=44&

I believe the answer is yes. I spoke to someone in the athletics department at The Holy Cross game and a lot of the freshmen (including Shanley) are officially red shirting - they were standing on the sideline during the game in street clothes (UA polos and khakis). There are also some freshmen that dress for the games and they can still redshirt if they don't play (Croskey, Ritter and a few others) they are backups that will play if needed during the season.

First, I've only seen 3 full games and part of a fourth so I'm not as close as the rest of you are. But, thought that I'd give some impressions and ask for impressions at the half way point of the season. 1. I think Fiacchi is playing really well. Seems to be scrambling better and is more accurate overall. Still seems to struggle on the deep ball. 2. Overall, I think the offense is playing well. If Fiacchi can continue to make the passes, it will help give Osbourne more space. 2. Defense started off strong but seem to have struggled since the Columbia game. I think the Columbia game was deceiving. We didn't play defense well then and have struggles since then, they had turnovers and dropped passes. Not sure what the difference is but I think that's when I first noticed Kologrivov with the cast on his arm. Also, we seem to have trouble tackling in space - that's an issue with very athletic teams. 3. Very happy with the coaching. I think the defense has some work to do but there are constraints - undersized at LB and we don't have the overall athleticism to defend teams like JMU and Richmond well but it seems like forcing turnovers and a lot of movement is helping. I didn't see the Richmond game but not sure why Osbourne didn't run more. He's run when we were down against JMU, URI and Holy Cross... Also think it's interesting to look at the recruiting. None of the newcomers that have contributed significantly were part of the announced class on national signing day. Not sure what this says about the process but it's good that we can get contributors late in the process. Gontarek - he was a late signee. From some of the articles, he qualified late and was going to a D2 school before coming to Albany Toole - I think this is his third school in as many years. Didn't even know he was in the team until the season started. Jamal Merritt - didn't know he was on the team until the season started either and he's in the rotation at safety. Neverdon - late signee and he blocked a punt (maybe a field goal) against JMU. Not to get too far ahead of myself, but we lose all the skill players for next year - Osbourne, Parker, Fiacchi and King..

Griffin Clancy - OL from Saratoga was one of the commits yesterday

Watched the streaming video last night and was happy with how the team performed. No moral victories but I was impressed that they' were able to battle especially when they went down 14 points 1. Fiacchi seemed to be running for his life but played a great game - a lot of clutch passes especially on third and fourth down. He had a couple of fumbles but we recovered both of them. 2. Gontarek seems to find a way to get open and make big plays. A couple of drops but had another great game. 3. Brad Harris is emerging as a very good wide receiver. He is getting open, making the catch and running for a lot of yards after the catch. 4. Rayshan Clark is a very good cover corner but it looked like he was in position and just missed a tackle on Vad Lee on the long touchdown run and missed another tackle on a touchdown pass. Didn't see a replay but he appeared to be in good position for both tackles 5. I've never seen a goal line play quite like the 4th and goal where the fullback dives over the top. I guess the thought is the defensive line would go low thinking Omar was getting the ball and that would create space for Andre Martin. 6. Brian Parker finds a way to catch the ball no matter how well he's defended. 7. Kologrivov had a cast or something on his arm. Wonder if that impacted his play. 8. Omar ran hard and almost never has negative yards. 9. Linebackers did a great job at getting to the ball. I think there were a couple of personal fouls but they were making plays overall. 10. I think the defensive had their hands full. JMU was big on the offensive line and it's difficult to defend Vad Lee. Anyway, Richmond is next. Let's hope we have a good crowd at homecoming.