ALBANY >> The University at Albany has apparently found the successor to legendary coach Bob Ford.

The University will announce on Monday that Maryland assistant head coach Greg Gattuso will be named the next head coach of the Great Danes.

Gattuso, who spent the past three seasons on Randy Edsall’s staff with the Terrapins, will be formally introduced as UAlbany’s coach on Tuesday.

Reports of Gattuso’s hiring were made early on Saturday and it was confirmed by multiple sources to The Record, later in the afternoon.

Gattuso was promoted to assistant head coach at Maryland in February 2012, having first worked exclusively as the defensive line coach. A member of the 1982 national championship Penn State squad, Gattuso also worked as an assistant coach at Pittsburgh (2005-10) and the head coach at Duquesne (1993-2004). 

Gattuso emerged from a group of five that included former UAlbany assistant Pete Rossomando, former Delaware coach K.C. Keeler, Holy Cross assistant Antoine Smith and current UAlbany associate head coach Ryan McCarthy.

Ford announced in August that this would be his 44th and final year as coach of the Great Danes. UAlbany finished 1-11 in 2013, in their first season in the Colonial Athletic Association. Ford retired as the winningest active coach in Division I college football, with a final record of 265-190-1.

The Washington Post is reporting that Maryland assistant head coach Greg Gattuso has taken the UAlbany football job.

Gattuso has been at Maryland for three years, before that working at Pitt, and as a head coach at Duquesne for 12 years.

Of course, I'm working on getting this confirmed.

Previously, it was reported that former Delaware coach K.C. Keeler had taken the job and that ended up being a premature report.

The Colonial Athletic Association announced its award winners for the 2013 season on Tuesday.

Here is the full release, with all of the award winners.

The major awards went to Maine's Jack Cosgrove (coach of the year), Towson's Terrance West (offensive player of the year) and James Madison's Stephon Robertson (defensive player of the year).

Tre McBride, of William & Mary, was named special teams player of the year, while Towson's Darius Victor and Maine's Christophe Mulumba were the offensive and defensive rookies of the year.

The University at Albany had three players honored, most notably junior running back Omar Osbourne, who was named to the first team, at the running back position. Osbourne finished third in the league, with 1,206 rushing yards (100.5 per game) and 12 rushing touchdowns.

Osbourne was one of just four CAA running backs to rush for more than 1,000 yards this season.

Two defensive players were named to the third team, in senior defensive lineman Andrew Smith and junior linebacker Christian Dorsey. 

The Great Danes struggled to a 1-11 finish this year, going 0-8 in CAA play, in the final season for legendary coach Bob Ford.

The regular season is over.

Unfortunately, it was one of the worst years in program history for the University at Albany, also the final season for legendary coach Bob Ford. The Great Danes finished the season 1-11, didn't win a game in their new league, the Colonial Athletic Association, and are now in search of a new head coach.

The playoff field is set and the drive to unseat two-time defending champion North Dakota State, is officially underway.

The final FCS Top 25 is out from The Sports Network, as we had to all vote before yesterday's selection show.

Below, is my ballot. The number in the (xx) is where that team is located in the poll, if different from where I have them.

1. North Dakota State
2. Eastern Illinois
3. Eastern Washington
4. Montana
5. Southeastern Louisiana (7)
6. Northern Arizona (8)
7. McNeese State (6)
8. Towson (5)
9. South Dakota State (13)
10. Fordham (9)
Read more »

The football season is coming to an end.

There's not too much action still to be played, as the regular season comes to an end next weekend for Football Championship Subdivision teams.

For the University at Albany, there's one more shot for the program's first Colonial Athletic Association victory, when the Great Danes travel to play Stony Brook.

Below is my ballot for The Sports Network Top 25. Here is the actual poll, with one week to play.

The top three teams continue to distance themselves from the rest of the pack.

The number in the (xx) is if the team is located in a different spot in poll, than on my ballot.

1. North Dakota State
2. Eastern Illinois
3. Eastern Washington
4. Maine
5. Southeast Louisiana (8)
6. Montana (5)
7. Northern Arizona (10)
8. Coastal Carolina (11)
9. McNeese State (6)
10. Towson (7)
Read more »

A wild sports weekend in the Capital District.

In addition to high school state competition, RPI and Union meet in the Dutchman Shoes football game, while also taking the ice for a home-and-home in men's hockey. (Update: RPI won 31-28 to reclaim the Shoes)

Siena is in Philadelphia to take on La Salle, at a soldout arena for homecoming.

The UAlbany basketball team is in Connecticut, to take on Quinnipiac.

Here at home, the UAlbany football team takes on New Hampshire, in coach Bob Ford's final home game.  

In addition to Ford's final home game, it's also Military Appreciation Day at UAlbany and below are the helmets the team will wear. 

The finish line is in sight.

Only two weeks left of the regular season, but still a lot of shake up in this weekend's poll. Eight of the Top 25 teams from last week lost, so the poll looks a little different.

Here is the latest The Sports Network FCS Top 25.

UAlbany continued its losing streak this weekend, but nearly upset newly ranked No. 6 Maine. I have the Black Bears at No. 4, so that would have been quite an upset. 

Below is my ballot. The number in the (xx) is if the team is located in a different spot in the poll, than on my ballot.

1. North Dakota State
2. Eastern Illinois
3. Eastern Washington
4. Maine (6)
5. Fordham
6. Sam Houston State (4)
7. Charleston Southern (13)
8. Southeastern Louisiana (14)
9. Montana (7)
10. Montana State (8)
Read more »

We've reached November.

There are only three weeks left in the regular season. 

The University at Albany continues to struggle in its first season in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Great Danes led early, but fell 27-10 to Richmond, their seventh straight loss.

UAlbany is back home this weekend, when they host No.8 Maine (8-1) at Bob Ford Field, on Bob Ford bobblehead day. (I have Maine ranked No. 5 on my ballot -- the Black Bears only loss is to Northwestern)

Here is the latest The Sports Network FCS Top 25.

Below is my ballot. The number in the (xx) is if the team is different than where the team is in the actual poll.

1. North Dakota State
2. Eastern Illinois
3. Montana State (4)
4. Eastern Washington (3)
5. Maine (8)
6. Fordham (7)
7. Coastal Carolina (5)
8. Sam Houston State (6)
9. Bethune-Cookman (12)
10. Youngstown State (9)
Read more »

The top teams are separating themselves from the pack.

Only one of the Top 10 teams lost this past weekend and the playoff picture is starting to come into focus.

Here is the latest Top 25 poll from The Sports Network.

While I don't have a lot of teams in the exact position, the poll has them, every team I have is within five spots of where they appear in the poll, including William & Mary, which is the third team receiving votes. The biggest difference I have is Southeast Louisiana, which I have at 20 and appears in the poll at 25

As for UAlbany's league, five of the CAA teams are ranked (I ranked six) and three others (for some unknown reason, someone is ranking Stony Brook, which dropped to 3-4, with a loss to New Hampshire) are receiving votes. The Great Danes were off this past week, but travel to Richmond this weekend.

My ballot is located below. The number in the (xx) is if the team is located in a different spot in the poll than I have them on my ballot. 

1. North Dakota State
2. Eastern Illinois
3. Montana State (5)
4. McNeese State
5. Eastern Washington (3)
6. Maine (10)
7. Fordham (9)
8. Coastal Carolina (6)
9. Towson (7)
10. Sam Houston State (8)
Read more »

Things are getting sorted out and the top teams in the FCS are becoming clearer.

Still, no one can get past two-time defending champion North Dakota State, which occupies the No. 1 spot in The Sports Network's Top 25 poll, once again. The Bison received all 156 first-place votes, following the loss Sam Houston's loss and drop from No. 2

Eastern Illinos, the alma mater of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, moved up to No. 2 in the poll. 

The University at Albany continues to struggles in its first season of play in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Great Danes lost to No. 8 Towson, 44-17, on Homecoming weekend at Bob Ford Field.

Below, is my ballot for the Top 25. The number in the (xx) is if a team appears in a different spot in the poll than on my ballot.

1. North Dakota State
2. Eastern Illinois
3. Montana State (5)
4. McNeese State
5. Fordham (9)
6. Maine (11)
7. Coastal Carolina (6)
8. Towson
9. Sam Houston State (7)
10. Bethune-Cookman (14)
11. Eastern Washington (3)
12. Montana (10)
13. Wofford (12)
14. Youngstown State (13)
15. Tennessee State (21)
16. Lehigh (15)
17. James Madison (19)
18. Northern Arizona (16)
19. New Hampshire (20)
20. Samford (22)
21. Central Arkansas (23)
22. Villanova (18)
23. Delaware (NR)
24. Southeastern Louisana (NR)
25. South Dakota (NR)

Raked, but not on my ballot
17. Northern Iowa
24. Georgia Southern
25. South Dakota State

Others receiving votes: Delaware 270, Charleston Southern 226, Southeastern Louisiana 183, Harvard 180, South Carolina State 134, Southern Illinois 76, Jacksonville State 60, William & Mary 42, Chattanooga 35, South Dakota 34, Southern Utah 16, Gardner-Webb 15, Jackson State 15, UT Martin 13, Cal Poly 13, Princeton 10, Stony Brook 5, Alcorn State 5, Sacred Heart 4, Illinois State 4, Sacramento State 3, Butler 3, Duquesne 2

Today's story is about Siena freshman Javion Ogunyemi, who is a Troy High grad.

Here is a link to the story.

J.S. Carras/The Record

In the end, the partial government shutdown will only delay the Liberty League football contest between RPI and Merchant Marine Academy.

The RPI Athletic Department tweeted on Friday afternoon that the Engineers will play the Mariners on Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. 

FB | Makeup game with Merchant Marine finalized for November 2nd in Troy. Kickoff at East Campus Stadium is 1pm. #RPIFB #d3fb #ITH
— RPI Athletics (@RPIAthletics) October 18, 2013

The game was supposed to be played on Oct. 5, on RPI's Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, but the government shutdown postponed the game and Merchant Marine's season.

The Mariners also were inactive last week, when they were supposed to travel to take on Rochester.

The Engineers (0-2, 3-2) play Rochester on Saturday at noon, at East Campus Stadium. 

Things are starting to shake out in the FCS, as the cream rises to the top.

Here is The Sports Network's new poll.

Below is my ballot. The number in the (xx) is where the team is located if it's different than where I have them.

1. North Dakota State
2. Sam Houston State
3. Eastern Illinoi
4. Montana State (5)
5. Fordham (8)
6. McNeese State (9)
7. Maine (14)
8. Coastal Carolina (6)
9. Villanova (12)
10. Towson (7)
11. Bethune-Cookman (17)
12. Eastern Washington (4)
13. Montana (10)
14. Wofford (13)
15. Youngstown State (16)
16. Southern Illinois (NR)
17. Northern Iowa (11)
18. Tennessee State (24)
19. James Madison (20)
20. Lehigh (18)
21. Northern Arizona (19)
22. William & Mary (NR)
23. Samford (22)
24. South Dakota State (15)
25. Central Arkansas (21) 

Ranked, but not on my ballot
23. Georgia Southern
25. New Hampshire

Others receiving votes: Southern Illinois 296, Charleston Southern 237, Delaware 201, William & Mary 112, Southeastern Louisiana 111, South Carolina State 105, Harvard 93, Cal Poly 74, UT Martin 52, Southern Utah 48, Jacksonville State 35, Gardner-Webb 22, Chattanooga 14, Jackson State 7, Stony Brook 4, Illinois State 2, Richmond 1, Alcorn State 1

Things are getting a little clearer in the FCS.

And that is there are a few great teams and then a whole mix of just okay teams.

Below is my ballot. The number in the (xx) is if the team is located in a different position in The Sports Network Top 25.

1. North Dakota State
2. Towson (3)
3. Sam Houston State (2)
4. Eastern Illinois  (5)
5. Montana State (7)
6. Fordham (10)
7. Northern Iowa (4)
8. McNeese State (9)
9. Maine (14)
10. Coastal Carolina (8)
11. Bethune-Cookman (16)
12. Eastern Washington (6)
13. Villanova  (15)
14. Montana (11)
15. Wofford (12)
16. Youngstown State (18)
17. Yale (NR)
18. Tennessee State (NR)
19. Southern Illinois (NR)
20. Delaware (NR)
21. James Madison
22. Northern Arizona (19)
23. Lehigh (17)
24. William & Mary (NR)
25. Samford (23)

Ranked, but not on my ballot
13. South Dakota State
20. Central Arkansas
22. Georgia Southern
24. Jacksonville State
25. New Hampshire

Others receiving votes: Tennessee State 372, Cal Poly 234, Charleston Southern 223, Delaware 220, Yale 201, Gardner-Webb 157, UT Martin 101, South Carolina State 90, William & Mary 88, Harvard 87, Southern Illinois 78, Richmond 66, Southeastern Louisiana 64, Southern Utah 48, Murray State 31, Chattanooga 30, North Dakota 20, Illinois State 14, North Carolina A&T 10, Jackson State 7, Stony Brook 5, Western Illinois 4, Portland State 1, Alcorn State 1, Eastern Kentucky 1

From the Associated Press

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Michael Birdsong passed for 249 yards and three touchdowns as James Madison had no trouble beating UAlbany, 40-13 in a Colonial Athletic Association game on Saturday.

James Madison (1-1, 4-2) rolled up a 26-3 halftime lead as Birdsong hit on touchdown passes of 41 and 12 yards to Daniel Brown (5 catches, 86 yards). Khalid Abdullah added a 38-yard TD run and Dae’Quan Scott pounded one in from three yards.

Albany (0-2, 1-5) dominated the third quarter with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Will Fiacchi to Kevin Chillis, and a safety when Tim Kologrivov sacked Birdsong in the end zone.

Fiacchi finished the day 26 of 43 for 214 yards for the Great Danes.

But the Dukes regained control in the fourth quarter. Scott scored his second touchdown of the day on a 1-yard run, and Birdsong reached Brown for a 2-yard TD pass to cap the scoring.

The University at Albany football team knew that this season would be a battle

The Great Danes are not only trying to navigate a difficult Colonial Athletic Association schedule, but they are trying to stay healthy while do it.

UAlbany will get back junior linebackers Christian Dorsey and Jake Dwyer for this Saturday's game at James Madison, but will be without sophomore snapper and defensive end Cory Connell, due to a mild concussion.

"Everybody knew going in that it would be a battle of attrition, keeping everybody healthy," said junior quarterback Will Fiacchi. "The next guy has to step up and contribute."

The Great Danes are already without junior linebacker Kyle Jordan and senior defensive back Justinian Mason, who have suffered season-ending injuries.

The Dukes, who are ranked No. 21 in the FCS Coaches Top 25 poll, have a big, physical team led by running back Dae'Quan Scott, who is 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds and senior linebacker Stephon Robertson, who is 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds. 

It will certainly be another test for UAlbany.

J.S. Carras/The Record

TROY - There will be no homecoming football game at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this year.
Saturday's Liberty League contest against Merchant Marine Academy has been postponed due to the partial government shutdown.

The Engineers (0-1, 3-1) and Mariners (0-1, 3-1) were supposed to kick off at 1 p.m., from East Campus Stadium, but due to the stemming from the budget impasse in Congress, the game will not be held this weekend.

“Obviously it’s unfortunate and it is something that was truly out of our control," said RPI football coach Ralph Isernia. 

The last time a RPI football game was postponed was Sept. 15, 2001, due to the September 11 terrorist attacks. That game, against Coast Guard, was not rescheduled.

Instead of football, the nationally ranked RPI women's soccer team will face Clarkson at 1 p.m., instead of the regularly scheduled time of 5 p.m.

The football game has been tenatively rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, in Troy.
Here is the school's release.

TROY >> The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute football team is planning to play Saturday afternoon at East Campus Stadium on Homecoming Weekend.

The Engineers may have to make a change of plans.

RPI (0-1, 3-1) is scheduled to host Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday, in a Liberty League contest. However, the government shutdown that went into affect on Tuesday, is threatening the game. As a service academy, Merchant Marine is affected by the changes happening and therefore can’t practice during the shutdown.

While this may eventually change the plans, Engineers coach Ralph Isernia and his team are preparing as if they will play on Saturday, as scheduled.

According to a RPI athletics spokesperson, if this shutdown is not resolved by Thursday, the game could still be played in Troy, on Sunday afternoon.

If no agreement can be made by Thursday, the game will be cancelled. The two teams have another open date, but Merchant Marine can’t play on Saturday, Nov. 2, due to exams at the school.

If the football game is cancelled, the RPI women’s soccer game against Clarkson will serve as the Homecoming game at East Campus Stadium.

Another week in the books and another week of turnover in the FCS.

Five of the Top 10 teams lost this week, causing for some shakeup in the rankings.

Below is my ballot for The Sports Network Top 25. The number in the (xx) is if the team is located in a different place in the poll than where I have them.

1. North Dakota State
2. Sam Houston State
3. Northern Iowa (4)
4. Towson (3)
5. Eastern Illinois
6. Montana State (8)
7. Coastal Carolina (9)
8. Lehigh (13)
9. Northern Arizona (15)
10. Fordham (12)
11. Maine (23)
12. Cal Poly (18)
13. William & Mary (NR)
14. Bethune-Cookman (21)
15. Gardner-Webb (25)
16. South Dakota State (7)
17. Eastern Washington (6)
18. McNeese State (11)
19. Villanova (20)
20. Delaware (24)
21. Montana (10)
22. Wofford (17)
23. Youngstown State (NR)
24. UT Martin (22)
25. Georgia Southern (16)

Ranked, but not on my ballot
14. Central Arkansas
19. New Hampshire

Others receiving votes: Youngstown State 555, James Madison 544, William & Mary 235, Southern Utah 180, North Carolina A&T 126, Richmond 83, Tennessee State 59, Samford 46, Illinois State 45, Charleston Southern 41, Southeastern Louisiana 33, Harvard 31, Jacksonville State 27, Chattanooga 27, Stony Brook 17, Western Illinois 9, South Carolina State 7, Murray State 6, Portland State 6, Liberty 4, Sacred Heart 3

For the first weekend of the season, most of the local college football excitement is happening outside of the Capital District.

Here are the game capsules Union, RPI and the University at Albany.

The Great Danes head south to take on its first ever FBS opponent, in Old Dominion.

Here is a link to live stats for the WPI/RPI game, which is a battle for the coveted Transit Trophy.