jimbo

http://www.inforum.com/sports/3829971-schnepf-ndsu-should-not-join-coastal-carolina-moving-next-level-football Interesting article. I am one of those who would rather UA stay in FCS for a long time…WAY too early to even think of of a jump.

Alum73: The key word there is "younger"…LOL. I once drove back to the area from Michigan by myself…non stop…in my younger days. Honestly, if it wasn't on TV, I would have figured something out. The seats at UB Stadium are well away from the field due to the track so the ESPN3 view should be better.

Buffalo is stretching it for a day trip…at least for me. It's close to 4 1/2 hours for me. Getting there is not the problem, but driving back east mostly in the dark….after a long day, is no fun. I didn't book ahead so the rooms out there are outrageous tight now. Labor Day weekend and all.

Decided to watch UB game from home….costs to stay, etc were getting to be too much. Looking to the Holy Cross game….1pm start….easy drive to/from. Alumni Assoc……UA Athletic Dept…how about a bus trip?? Could have done the UB game, definitely can do the Holy Cross game. If the cost to go to the UB game was maybe $75-$80 with ticket, it's better than $200-$250 for transportation, tickets, lodging, etc.

I notice that both Madaras brothers are missing too. Ngachie was really good as a Freshman, then was seen less last year and now not on the depth chart. You can think of that in a couple of ways and the preferred is that the competition and talent has risen. Not at all surprising that Shanley is off the team and Sweeney has gone on to Hobart. There's only so many years for these guys to play college ball and they could read the tea leaves when Crook, Sussman and Brunson came in. Coach said there was going to be an open competition and apparently there were winners and losers.

Also strange since we really didn't have a traditional FB last year. According to what I read, Brian Parker's little bro is the FB. Only time will tell.

Weirder yet is that the RT's are listed as defensive linemen in the roster…???

While in a SEFCU branch this morning I saw on their video screens an Ad for U Albany football season fix, $10 off special offer…through today. So they're in bank branches now!

It could go either way. I honestly think our defense will be better, special teams should be the same, offense will depend on how quick the QBs are up to speed. After reading things again, it appears Sussman, not Brunson, is indeed the back-up QB. Sussman appears to be a good runner so it could be he's a 1-2 punch with Crook (UB Board says UA is starting a "criminal" at QB). The O-Line should be better with another year under their belts. Omar and Parker are hard to replace as is Cole King. BUT, they've got a heck of a crew of receivers. We always look at "levels" of play, NEC (33s scholarships) vs CAA (65) vs MAC (85). I think the lower tier teams in the MAC are a lot closer to the CAA than they are to the top levels of D1-A. Last year, Duquesne took UB to the 4th 1/4 and had a lead before UB finally scored 2 TDs to put them away…and the Dukes are 33 scholarships. Speaking of the NEC, in 2014 Bryant beat Stony Brook and Maine, CCSU beat Towson and RI and Sacred Heart beat Delaware. There was not a huge gap. I doubt UA will beat UB, but they may be able to compete for a while before the superior quality depth takes over. Hope I am wrong of course! Forgot that UB has the new coaching staff from Wisc-WW. Pretty much a D3 staff with a stellar record at that level. So yes, that's all new.

The odd thing is that Parker does not appear on the SD depth chart. Paulsen did…so I guess that's a good thing. Paulsen caught 3 of 4 for 16 yards against Seattle while Parker was 0 for 1 target. So he must be getting it done in other ways…blocking, special teams, etc. Go Brian!

You know you're getting old when the incoming freshman look like they're in Junior High. Groan….

I guess the players like them, but they leave me underwhelmed. Guess we'll have to change the forum to "Big Grey Fans."

I see an article from CBS6 that was from about a week ago. It says it was a question of whether Sussman or Crook would be the starter. But then it goes on to say how Sussman graduated early to be able to participate in spring practice. I think the reporter got Sussman and Brunson confused since it was Brunson that graduated early. So I think #2 would be Brunson. I wonder who might run the wildcat this year, if they continue it. There's certainly an abundance of talented receivers and that would be a way to get more of them involved.

http://www.cbs6albany.com/sports/features/sports/stories/ualbany-names-starting-qb-unveils-new-uniforms-3400.shtml

Did you listen to the FOX-980 podcast? Basically he was joking that he might be looking for a substitute coach for the second half against Kentucky if things were real ugly by half-time. Trying to get one of the two guys on the radio to volunteer.

I got my football fix and parking passes. Same welcome packet.

It better be purple….

There are quite a few athletic sites out there that look basically the same and are light years ahead of UA's. So there must be some off the shelf web design for college sports. Is UA reinventing the wheel here? I agree, it looks bad. Even AMTRAK updated their site LOL.

Did anyone figure out where the "Albany" section is going to be at UB Stadium?

Nothing against Starke, but hitting 65 yard FGs off a tee in practice is like hitting straight drives at the range. An edge rush and a couple of 6-6 guys jumping in front of you changes everything. Still, 65 yards in practice is a good leg. Oh yes…I remember that kicker in 2013….a laugh a minute.

Not me!

LOL. My wife of 32 years still says "Albany State" and gets PO'd when I correct her. On the other hand, she is an Oneonta graduate so perhaps we should attend this game. There's so many Oneonta grads around here that they could get a good crowd. Doesn't UB still play Buff State from time to time?

UA66, forgot about the rain but sort of recall it was a lousy day weather wise. I do recall that neither team could get much done. There must have been a mixed extra point by Alfred but not sure how that came about.

It's good to hear that there's some dedicated younger fans. The old field was nice (the grass was nice and it had a good crown) but the fan experience was lousy. Little elevation from the field and a LONG ways from the action. We had some good times during the first few years and I can recall some great games. The Alfred game during the 9-0 season was a gem. If memory serves, UA won the toss and Ford (surprise!) deferred. Windy day. Long kickoff….Alfred return man gets blasted and coughs up the ball. UA has the ball deep in Alfred territory….one of the first plays, the backup QB is in as a tailback and tosses an option pass out of the Wishbone for a TD…add an extra point. Albany won 7-6. And Alfred was good back then. If anyone has a different recollection please correct me. All that being said, I much prefer the new field and have yet to miss a home game.

I had the same reaction…Oneonta??? This will be a throwback…there were some great games in the SUNYAC days of the 70s. But really, that needs an explanation….