NEC preseason press conference

[UAalum72]

NEC preseason presser this week. You can email them questions and maybe they'll answer a few, but they ask which coach you want to ask, and mine are more for the commissioner, but I may try anyway.

[Michigan_Dane]

I asked a question about getting scholarships up to the minimum to be a counter. Basically if there were any plans.

 

It annoys me that Stony Brook is playing FBS games but we're barred because we're capped at 40.

[Dane Pound]

Just saw the preseason poll results: Albany picked fourth.

 

CCSU

Bobby Mo

Dukes

Us

Bryant

Monmouth

Wagner

Heart

Francis

[UAalum72]

Kirchner, Delaney, and Layton on the preseason all-conference team

 

NEC release

[danefan]

Being voted 4th is going to prove way off, but I guess I can understand why. We have no proven OLine.

[uafootballLI]

Pre season rankings are just that, pre-season. Use it as motivation and hopefully it lights a little fire under everyone's butt.

[UAalum72]

Wyland reported practice started today. For the first time in many years we have all our practice fields to ourselves.

 

Edit: and the press release comes out after the event.

[danefan]

We have a solid group of running backs and receivers, but we still have to pick a starting quarterback.

 

Wha wha what??.!.!.!

[Dane96]

Yah...I thought the same darn thing. I am shocked that there is still a battle b/w a so-so SR. and an explosive Soph. My only thought....HAS A RS emerged?

[Ruler]

There is not a QB controversy IMHO. They will both play a substantial role with various packages. Fordy needed to send a message that both players will play and not send the "loser" of the competeition into the tank. So this is the way you handle a delicate situation with two kids that really want to play and excel. Or, he is sending a very LOUD message to the incumbent: your not guranteed to be the starter if you do not impriove in camp!!! Danefan our resident QB could add more to this paragraph I am sure.

 

I am encouraged that Coach thinks all the O line needs to do is gel. I rest a little easier knowing that he believes in them.

 

I believe being picked 4th (a slap in the face with the success we have had) will be a very good motivator for our players when the games begin. They SHOULD have a chip on their shoulder after last season. If I am a coach I am drilling the lack of respect the NEC has shown them into their heads.

[danefan]

Fordie has historically left the QB decision until last minute, which I believe he does to do as you said Ruler - keep the #2 in the game throughout camp.

 

I'm not a fan of that philosophy though, having lived through it myself. The QB needs to get his rhthym and the team needs a known leader and needs to get used to a QB's play calling and cadence rhythm. That is also the reason I do not like platooning at all.

 

IMO, the Spring is the time to determine your starter if there is any question.

[danefan]

http://www.northeastconference.org/News/fball/2011/8/9/FB-albpreview-11.asp?path=fball

 

NEC Countdown to Kickoff - Inside the Albany Great Danes

8/9/2011

 

 

UAlbany Great Danes – (2011 Poll Finish – 4th)

2010 Record: 6-5, 4-4

2010 NEC Finish: t-4th

 

There have been two constants through Albany’s tenure as a NEC member – Bob Ford and winning.

 

Albany had not suffered a losing conference record in any of its first 11 seasons as a NEC member. Just when it looked as if that streak was in serious jeopardy last year, redshirt freshmen Dillon Romain (Vernon, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) and Buddy Leathley (Manlius, NY, Fayetteville-Manlius), as well as a number of other youngsters, stepped up. Sitting at 1-4 in league play heading into November, the Great Danes closed the 2010 campaign on a three-game win streak to pull their conference record up to 4-4 and post a winning overall record for the fifth straight season.

 

As for Ford, the late-season surge ran his career win total to 247, the highest amongst all active NCAA FCS head coaches...

 

More at the link

[Clickclack]

So hold the phone for a sec...we went on a three game winning streak to close the season with a ton of youngsters playing and are picked fourth? Oki-doki!

[UAalum72]

Well, the three-game streak was against some of the weaker teams in the league. I don't think picked 4th is as insulting as Bob Ford's interview and questions cut off in the links to the preseason press conference.Soundbite link

 

FWIW Albany is the highest-rated NEC team in Sagarins' starting ranking

[danefan]

4th is low, but based on our inconsistent OLine play last year its not wholly undeserved. We're very unproven on the line and as Fordie said in the article - if you can't run the ball in the NEC you won't be playing in November.