The fall season begins

[jimbo]

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

[Dane96]

Really good to know that we seem to have three very capable young QB's (Crook, Sussman, and Brunson).

 

I watched Crook play a few times in high school, and he was pretty talented.

It also goes to show you how big of a jump it is from a great high school career to college (at any level). Shanley led one of the best teams in the country, and Harding was a stud in the State of PA.

Edited August 28, 2015 by Dane96

[jimbo]

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.

[Dane96]

Exactly...that's why I was confused.

[UAFAN]

Gattuso Names Crook As Starting Quarterback

 

ALBANY, N.Y. -- University at Albany head football coach Greg Gattuso announced Friday afternoon that redshirt sophomore DJ Crook will be the Great Danes’ starting quarterback for their season opener at Buffalo on Sept. 5.

“He’s not afraid of contact. He’s kind of built like a linebacker out there and he’s got a good arm,” said Gattuso of Crook. “Right now he’s just trying to absorb the offense. He can run and move to get out of trouble and has the arm strength to make the throws we need him to make.”

Crook, a 6-1, 215 pound native of West Barnstable, Mass., transferred to UAlbany last spring from Penn State. He served as the Nittany Lions’ backup quarterback as a redshirt freshman in 2014. Playing in two games, Crook completed 6-of-9 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown in Penn State’s win over Massachusetts. In UAlbany’s 2015 Spring Game, Crook completed 6-of-8 attempts, totaling 38 passing yards.

Gattuso also noted that freshman Neven Sussman will back up Crook, while redshirt junior Dan Harding, and freshman Will Brunson add depth to a solid regime.

“The difference between DJ and Neven really is just experience,” added Gattuso. “We fully expect to play Neven at times during the year and get him game experience.”

Sussman, a 6-3 true freshman from Sandy Spring, Md., totaled 1,565 passing yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior at Sherwood High School.

Graduating from Carolina Forest High School in South Carolina a semester early, Brunson spent the spring season with the Great Danes, while Harding came to UAlbany in 2014 after stints at the University of Akron and Sierra College.

“Will Brunson is going to be a really good quarterback in time and Dan Harding has really played well this year. We feel pretty good about our whole quarterback situation,” said Gattuso.

Marking the program’s first clash against an FBS opponent, UAlbany’s opener at Buffalo will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN3

[BestDaneSinceHamlet]

So what happened to Steve Shanley? He was so highly touted out of high school (three star recruit, etc). He was redshirted last year. Is he still with the program?

[Dane96]

Still with the program. It's really hard to be a DI player. It's whiskers, and sometimes it's valleys. Everyone was All-Something in high school.

[Eli]

Flying cross country today to Seattle. Gonna be reppin UA the whole way there and back.

 

[Clickclack]

Flying cross country today to Seattle. Gonna be reppin UA the whole way there and back.

 

[MRSGDG]

Great student crowd at the soccer game today!

[MRSGDG]

Students standing and cheers even during the 2nd half. Wow.

[Patch]

Why weren't the concessions open - almost 3,000 in attendance and the Concessions atleast the ones down by the Big screen were closed ???????

[MRSGDG]

Why weren't the concessions open - almost 3,000 in attendance and the Concessions atleast the ones down by the Big screen were closed ???????

I heard Sodexo was told to be open for the game. And Sodexo didn't open them....leadership is looking into it.

[BestDaneSinceHamlet]

Wow. 3000? For soccer ? Was there an event or a giveaway ? Why the big attendance ?

[MRSGDG]

Closer to 2700.

 

 

So many students were there! Bottom was full and a lot in one of the top sections. UA chants, standing up the whole game (at least on the top), they stayed after half time too. I heard they did a lot to advertise this game. This is the first Friday for students on campus so they did a lot to get them there.

 

I also saw the tents up behind the score board for the new Great Dane Game Day. Perm tents up for the whole football season (see first picture you can see them in the background). There will be a buffet, beer garden, seating, a band etc. Should be a great new thing added to the football games.

 

 

EDIT:

 

Saw this posted on Twitter

@UAlbanyMSoccer 11h11 hours ago

150 @UAlbanyMSoccer T-Shirts will be handed out tonight! Get to #BobFordField early to get yours! #UAlbanyFutbol

Edited August 29, 2015 by MsGDG