Albany, NY -- For the first time in seven years, UAlbany will start its schedule at home, as the Great Danes will host Colgate on Sept. 1, 2012. Vice President and Athletic Director Lee McElroy, along with head football coach Bob Ford, announce the team's upcoming fall schedule on Thursday, March 29, 2012. UAlbany will host five games at University Field, while taking on three non-conference opponents.
After kicking off the fall with Colgate, the Great Danes hit the road for three straight contests, visiting conference foe Robert Morris on Sept. 8, before traveling to Youngstown State (Sept. 15) and Maine (Sept. 22). The Black Bears were NCAA Playoff participants last season, finishing 9-4 after falling to Georgia Southern in the quarterfinals. UAlbany will return home on Sept. 29, hosting Northeast Conference opponent Monmouth on Hall of Fame Weekend. The Great Danes will visit Bryant (Oct. 6), to start October before hosting St. Francis (Pa.) at 1 p.m. on Homecoming Weekend.
After a bye week on Oct. 20, the Great Danes wrap up the league slate, visiting Sacred Heart (Oct. 27) and Duquesne (Nov. 10) while hosting Wagner (Nov. 3). UAlbany will close out the season at home, welcoming NEC rival Central Connecticut State to University Field on Nov. 17.
"I think it is a very fair schedule," said Ford, who is entering his 40th varsity season at the helm of the UAlbany program. "We are going to have a bullseye on our back as we defend our conference title. We have a habit of playing national champions, and Youngstown State is a four-time champion. We are playing Colgate for the third straight season, and both of those games have been tight, tough ballgames. We have also built a good rivalry with Maine, so we're looking forward to playing up there. We are looking forward to continuing to build on the successes we've had."