reeder

Good news for the program. Interesting as Nick Sanchez was just named co-Defensive Coordinator / Corners Coach a few months ago. So, either he left and that created a position for Barnard or he was let go to create a position.

Agreed, we don't know what happened. That said, in general, i think this team is better when Cremo and Charles are the primary scorers and Nichols stays in "the box" and plays under control. i think that puts Nichols in a tough situation because he was a primary scorer last year.

I think people need to recognize that butts in seats is the culmination of engaging students in the right way while they're still on campus. It's a cultural thing that has been done so poorly for years, and by most accounts, students still think the school is doing a crappy job. This I put on the student affairs staff. They just have the wrong people in leadership positions who then hire people that are equally as weak. The stories that I've heard make my skin crawl. Students are pretty shrewd and they sense when you're feeding them a line of *h*t There isn't a marketing budget big enough to fix that kind of grass roots problem. Obviously I have specific examples. Fixing something after the fact is hard. The culture has to be changed to the point where students are seen as the priority rather than a something that staff has to deal with to get ahead. A better question maybe would be "How do you change an on campus culture?" I think the issue is so much bigger than us. I haven't lived in the Northeast in over 20 years but i'm not aware of any college football programs that draw well in the Northeast - Syracuse, BC, Temple, Rutgers, UNH, Maine, Stony Brook, even Maryland struggle. i guess Penn State would be the exception. I do know that, for the most part, college sports is very different in the south and other parts of the country. I don't think changing marketing is going to work - we had these same conversations when i was a student over 30 years ago.

I'm optimistic that he'll help the offense. He really didn't say anything in the interview - just a lot of coach speak. But he's new, still getting to know the players and hasn't had a practice yet so i'm sure that he's still feeling things out a bit. Will be interesting to see if things are any different in a few weeks when they start spring practice.

My sense is that Benson made a commitment to Coach Gattuso and kept that commitment. Yesterday, at either the NLI press conference or on the radio show, Benson said that he spoke to Gattuso before last season and agreed to revisit his contract after the season. So this was after the 7 win season where we should have made the playoffs. Benson said that they agreed to wait so it didn’t become a distraction. IMO, Benson just kept his commitment. I can’t think of any other reason to justify the timing. I do think the team is headed in the right direction and they should be very good this year especially with a relatively weak schedule.

That's some serious bull$iena. We're the number 2 or 3 team in the country in every poll. During the UNC game, Quint Kessenich called us a mid major about a dozen times. He toned it down a bit in the week afterwards but my guess is that’s the perception regardless of what the polls say.

I think his title is the same as Luvaras (before he left for Robert Morris). So Im not sure if hell have more influence over the offense than Coach Bernard but Im optimistic.

From FootballScoop Albany (FCS – NY): Fordham (FCS – NY) co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach Joe Davis is joining the Albany staff in the same role, sources tell FootballScoop. We understand that Davis had a number of other FCS opportunities as well. Coach Davis previously served as offensive coordinator at Shippensburg (D-II – PA), Wheaton (D-III – IL), North Park (D-III – Chicago, IL), and also helped led Northern Iowa (FCS) to the FCS quarterfinals as offensive coordinator in 2015.

I think it's a good move. Dudzinski was a DC at Maryland and at UMass - I think he lost the job at Maryland when the new coach came in a couple of years ago. Not sure about naming Sanchez an assistant DC - not that it's a bad move, i just wasn't aware that there were many assistant DC's. Maybe they're grooming him...

If Dudzinski is wiling to stay after his son graduates then he would be a great choice. Otherwise, you have to get someone from the outside. I say move Joe Bernard to LB coach (or move people around and he can coach a different position).

I agree about Watson - i think he had an FBS offer that went away at the last minute. Not sure about Klutsey - he's done a good job on Special teams but don't recall him ever playing LB in a game. Also, not sure about Thompson - the only game time he really had last year was when Hatalsky was hurt - that said, he was coming off an ACL and Hatalsky had a great year... I also think Zack Bernard might be in the mix - i believe he played LB in prep school and Coach Gattuso saying he could play several positions. Last thought on Cox leaving - i'm sure it was hard for him to leave. i remember an interview when he said that he didn't have any other offers coming out of HS and how he thanked UA gave him a chance.

Hate to see him leave but I understand. He had that great RS freshman season, struggled as a sophomore, was a key reserve last year and looking at a similar role this year with Mencer and Walker both returning as starters and Metheny looking to get a lot more playing time as a reserve.

Just a guess but some kids are hoping to go to FBS schools so they may be taking a chance on getting an offer before the February siging period. If they don't get an FCS offer, maybe they sign with us or another FCS school

Undercuffler, the next great HOPE! i think Undercuffler plays baseball too so he probably hasn't focused on football in the offseason - i'd guess he has some pretty good upside.

Agreed - I do wonder if he’ll want to be in Albany after his son graduates (I think he’ll be a senior).

Congratulations to Coach Clark. This gives Coach Gattuso a good opportunity to protect his relationships and help the team - make Dudzinski the Defensive Coordinator and slide Coach Bernard into a defensive position coach - maybe give him a special title.

Coach Marr quote from the article: "I think it's couple of years before Fallon will be done,'' he said. My knowledge of turf is limited to when my son was in HS and his school replaced the grass field with turf - that was all done over a summer. Not sure why a turf replacement would take a couple of years.

Maybe Hoskins if he's athletic enough to play OLB?

I posted the message below on the AGS board about their AD. They've been getting into the playoffs for the last 4 or 5 years over teams that have better resumes. It's a total joke. UNH makes 14th straight appearance. Is Marty Scarano the most valuable AD in the FCS? How valuable is it for him to be on the selection committee? Not making a judgement - just an observation.

Agree on all points. I couldn't have said it better.

The St. Joseph's videoboard is the same size as our main videoboard and they have the game video framed by player stats with the score on the bottom.

So over the last few years, they've improved the lighting, sound system, added the video scorers tables and scoreboard. Without making any structural changes, what can they do next?

1. Additional info on EB not coming back? 2. I remember a quote after the New Hampshire win last year where Coach Gattuso said Brunson didn't have an issue arm strength but that he threw a very catchable ball. When you watch enough games, i'm not sure how anyone can conclude that it's not arm strength - maybe an injury but he clearly has an issue with velocity.

Certainly a disappointing season. Lost a lot of close games and at times, looked really good. Defense played well overall but it's tough to keep it up with such little help from the offense. That said, i don't think we're far off from being a playoff contender. 1. At OL, Desir will be back (hopefully), Verdi and Solt will both be RS freshmen and i'd guess all three will be capable of starting 2.QB has at least two new competitors in Testaverde and incoming freshman Undercuffler. 3. Will be tough for Coach Gattuso to bring in a new coordinator as that would mean losing at least one of his buddies and probably more as a new OC would probably bring in his own staff including a new OL coach. That said, i don't see how he has a choice. Maybe the stupulation is that he keep Sweeney?? 4. I think they were trying to get another year for Diggs - would be great if that worked out. He and McDonald are the best playmakers we've had since i can remember. 5. We lose Hoskins, Hatalsky and Robinson on defense but there will be some very good young players available - Metheny is getting a lot of minutes at LB the last few weeks and has looked good, Isaiah Watson was a top recruit last year will be coming off a redshirt year... 6. Will be interesting to see what happens at RB with Mofor and Hanks - i think Mofor has run well when he's had holes... I also think we have the easiest CAA schedule next year so we have that going for us.

In my opinion, the OC is the only one that needs to go. I think Sweeney can coach the offensive line. I just think this line is really young, inexperienced and a few not living up to whatever expectations they had. Probably need to make some changes there in the offseason if they don't think these kids can improve. In my opinion, the OC is the only one that needs to go. I think Sweeney can coach the offensive line. I just think this line is really young, inexperienced and a few not living up to whatever expectations they had. Probably need to make some changes there in the offseason if they don't think these kids can improve. Just curious - what have you seen to make you think Sweeney is doing a good job coaching the offensive line? I'm not saying that he's not but we've never had a good offensive line in the 4 years that this staff has been here. Even last year when we had all the seniors, they struggled. To clarify - they did open holes for Hanks but they had trouble with pass protection.