reeder

We need an offensive coordinator.

We have a QB commit

Jeff Undercuffler

http://www.hudl.com/video/3/5390122/58af38b2420fcf17d0fee216

A bit off topic but - I don't know much about lacrosse but it looks like they only have 12.6 scholarships. Thats amazing when you have 45 players on a roster.

Brutus' post was August 2012 - that would have been just before the stadium opened so before they replaced the temporary bleachers.

Would link the post but I don't know how.

Took a few minutes to find but this is what Brutus said

For further reference:

Upper Bowl = 2,056 patrons

Lower Bowl = 2,192 patrons

Berm Seating = 1,692 patrons

East Side Temp Bleachers = Estimated at 2,000 patrons

First, i'll say that i'm not familiar with some of the details but:

1. TN has free community college. The state covers remaining fees after all other options (Pell, scholarships...). They've only had this for a couple of years - i've heard that it's been well received. They're trying to expand it now so it covers not just recent HS grads but older adults as well.

2. I don't see that it'll provide an advantage at SUNY. There are only so many spots available in an incoming class and if they wanted more students, they could just accept more today. What would make a difference is more international and out of state students as they pay higher tuition.

3. From an athletics perspective, it might matter if we were D3 and could recruit instate kids and all they'd have to pay is room and board. But when you're recruiting mostly out of state athletes, i don't see how it'll make a difference.

4. Even if tuition is free, there's still room and board that would need to be paid for so there's still a cost and i'd imagine at a SUNY school, the room and board is probably a lot more than tuition. I'd think that this will still present a barrier for students.

 

 

In the spring practice write up there's no mention of Zee Roberson or Isaiah Clark. Are they still with the program? Maybe just a misinterpretation by me.

Marisa Jacques reported that Roberson is no longer with the team.

 

"The Great Danes will be without their top receiver from last season, Zee Roberson. According to the school, Roberson is no longer with the program. He missed three games due to injury last season but averaged about 38 yards per game through the air. The Great Danes are adding JUCO transfer Jerrod Diggs at receiver and return Jordan Crockett, CBA grad Austin Ellis and Brad Harris."[/size]

That's too bad as he was a definite deep threat. Harris must have got a medical redshirt since he was injured in the second game as I recall.

 

I think Harris was a redshirt Junior last year so he had one year of eligibiity left - even without a medical redshirt.

 

In the spring practice write up there's no mention of Zee Roberson or Isaiah Clark. Are they still with the program? Maybe just a misinterpretation by me.

 

Marisa Jacques reported that Roberson is no longer with the team.

 

"The Great Danes will be without their top receiver from last season, Zee Roberson. According to the school, Roberson is no longer with the program. He missed three games due to injury last season but averaged about 38 yards per game through the air. The Great Danes are adding JUCO transfer Jerrod Diggs at receiver and return Jordan Crockett, CBA grad Austin Ellis and Brad Harris."

 

Don't like to see players leave the team. IMO, it's more about getting ready for the rest of their lives. They're not going to the NFL, so i'd hope that they'd use football to get an education and get ready for the next phase of their lives. Even if he's still in school - football creates structure that a lot of students need so while there's a lot to balance, there's support to get it all done. I think about Croskey, Gontarek and now Roberson (i'm sure there are others, just can't think of them now) - hope they all finish school.

Anyway, i'll get off my soapbox.

I was surprised not to see Ibn Foster on the Spring write up; also, Julian Cox was mentioned more as an afterthought.

IMO, Geno Auriemma didn't look at today as a game vs. UAlbany. I'd guess he saw it a preparation for the later rounds. He wanted his team focused and executing until the last whistle. Don't think he was trying to run up the score or discrespect UA - he just wanted his team to play a perfect game regardless of score. Not something that we as UA fans like but that's who he is and part of the reason they're so good.

Will he play QB? I think the announcement says he's a DB.

Brunson has an unusual release / hitch as well.

I think the coaching staff did a really good job, especially with Barnard and Damico on the last weekend (i'd guess those were the two commits that were commented on). I know that many of us wanted a QB but the coaching staff talked about OL, LB and size on the DL and i think they did that.

We also need to wait to see who signs late, who leaves... Last Spring, they had the LB from Wyoming - Mark S. had an article about how he could make an immediate impact then he disappeared. Also, last year after national signing day, Rodgers, Nick Dillon and Abner Logan signed. A few years ago Jamal Merritt showed up for fall camp... i guess the staff looks at how everyone looks during spring practice and then goes out to fill in gaps.

Will be some interesting position battles at OL, DL and LB.

Laugh at me for that #fail if you want (I will admit that was quite the fail on my end and deserve it lol)...but...who? (I looked at the roster now, my 'who' is more rhetorical to bring light to the situation)

 

That being said, 2016 roster shows Crook as a RJr...so based on that he has another year. Unless he graduated academically and is not going to stay for that 5th year.

I think there was a quote by coach at the end of the year that Crook was graduating and not coming back. I believe he did a PG year and a redshirt so he would have been a 6th year senior - that's a lot of time in school especially if he's not playing much.

For some sneaking suspicion I am getting the feeling that Shane Schuback could be on the fence. But who knows.

 

The Jersey kid is Zac Barnard, a 6'3 230 lb DE from the Peddie School. He had an offer from UCONN (presumably due to Aaron Smith heading to the Huskies). 2nd team All-Mid Atlantic Prep League.

 

He played OLB and RB in H.S., as well.

 

https://twitter.com/ZacBarnard_5?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Hope Schuback is still committed - looked like a good player on film. That said, I never understood how his only two offers were Mississippi State and Albany.

Barnard has the build of an OLB - but I guess in our defense that might mean DE (similar build to Hoskins).

I was told that Dione Alston didn't return this semester - so possibly down one playmaker.

https://twitter.com/marksingelais/status/823961567213580288

Can't figure out how to post the image

Per Mark S. Sept 9th at Morgan State

Wow, big loss for the Danes as Aaron Smith has joined the UConn staff. I know we are going after some of the same recruits, so it will be interesting to see this play out.

 

Great for him...and good luck Coach Smith.

 

He is a former player for the Huskies. He has signed a 1 year deal at a (reported) $145,000 salary.

If that reports salary is accurate, it's more than twice his salary at Albany - earned $60k. No brainier for him and he gets to back to where he played.

I should probably start a new thread for off season news but I heard that we had a running back transfer after last semester. Not sure who it is but heard from someone pretty reliable. Any info?

I saw the last three JMU playoff games and a couple of things struck me:

1. The QB played within himself. A lot of short passes, the few deep ones were away from the defender. In the championship game, he only had about 100 yards passing. And his passes were generally on target.

2. Their corners played tight man / press coverage. They were all over the Sam Houston receivers, they also gave North Dakota headaches.

3. They have athletes everywhere - a lot like an SEC team. Not just the skill players but the linebackers and defensive line as well.

Not sure how many of our players would start but I feel pretty good about what we're doing, just need some improved QB play.

Third team all American

http://www.ualbanysports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15800&ATCLID=211370693

On the last question where it asked for thoughts in general, I gave a list of ideas to improve attendance and expressed concern that the ticket pricing was too high with the GDAC required fees. I did say that I understand the need to increase revenue but there's not enough demand today... I only went to one game this year (St. Francis) - it was a nice night but a pretty small crowd, long lines to get food,,, and the gold section seemed to be mostly people with lanyards so I think they were staff.

Just got it. Poorly designed but I'm glad they asked.

As far as QB, Croons is graduating which leaves us only two on the roster. So look to see at least one if not two QB picked up.

Btw. Did Nicastro graduate. For some reason I thought he had a year of eigibility left

He may have gotten a sixth year of eligibility after the ACL but I assumed he was graduating. Same situation as Nic Ketter and Jack Forster. That's part of the challenge of redshirting freshmen - if they also get a medical redshirt later in their career, then you're asking them to play a sixth year and that's a lot to ask. That said, I assume that none of those three are returning but they could have all gotten a sixth year - don't know.

Ibn Foster was a 300 DT who took a redshirt this year - I remember the coaches being very high on him. There were also a couple of other redshirt DT's this year that were pretty good size who should contribute next year.

My biggest question now is the OL. There are a lot of bodies but the returnees don't have any experience and the newcomers will probably need some development.

If I had to guess I'd away the best RB on this team if Hanks has to take a redshirt is Eli Mencer - but do you change positions again? I ink he came in as a RB and then was moved to LB.

Three new commits - transfers from Lacawanna

Shane Schuback, LB

http://www.hudl.com/video/3/4515675/57d5ce0911fa7f75d8ee2f0f

Justin Walker, LB

http://www.hudl.com/v/13Tqsw

Jerod Diggs, WR

http://www.hudl.com/video/3/7448156/57e16e9cbd7520211c3f851a