Author Topic: 2013 Stony Brook Seawolves football pre-season: News, Predictions, discussion  (Read 4385 times)

BigFatFan

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nice comments about SB from today's media day

In the FCS Huddle: Albany, Stony Brook jump into CAA grind

By Craig Haley, FCS Executive Director/Senior Editor

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Face bulldozing running back Marcus Coker enough times in practice and you might think a Stony Brook defensive player would begin to turn in the opposite direction.

"Not at all," linebacker Jawara Dudley says with a smile. "When we see somebody who's as good as him, we take the challenge."

There are many ahead.

Joining CAA Football is just that for Stony Brook as well as the University of Albany. Both programs are about to take the Nestea plunge into an entirely higher level of competition on a weekly basis.

There should be a learning curve despite all of their excitement. Stony Brook, which is coming off four straight titles in the Big South Conference, appears better prepared for the move and it shows in the Seawolves being picked seventh out of 11 teams in the CAA preseason poll on Wednesday. Albany, which ended its run in the Northeast Conference with two straight titles, was ahead of only Rhode Island and neither newcomer had a player named to the preseason all- conference team.

"We welcome you to the grind," CAA commissioner Tom Yeager said appropriately as he greeted Albany and Stony Brook on media day.

The two newcomers join the CAA in a way that is similar to the teams they have replaced this year. Two years ago, Albany, like Georgia State, basically has its collective hand up in a signal of halt, feeling the transition at hand. Stony Brook, like Old Dominion, is waving on the competition, expecting to be a title contender.

"Obviously, it's a step above what we're used to as a team, as a program," said Albany quarterback Will Fiacchi. "This is awesome for us. Since the program entered into a new conference, obviously we're all really excited. Not only a new conference, but we have a new (8,500-seat) stadium this year as well. There's a lot of excitement throughout the program, throughout the city of Albany. We're ready to get going.

"I think our athleticism will surprise people a lot more than they might have thought."

Bob Ford, who will turn 76 in September and is in his 41st season as the only head football coach at Albany, has held off on retirement to guide the Great Danes into the CAA. His squads have defeated several CAA members in recent years, including a win at Delaware in 2006 when the Blue Hens had a certain quarterback named Joe Flacco.

The problem facing the Great Danes, who finished 9-2 last season, is that they have gone from only 35 full scholarships to 54, and the difference is mostly in freshmen who will redshirt this year. They will rely heavily on veterans such as Fiacchi, left tackle Kadeem Williams, and defensive linemen Andrew Smith and Tim Kologrivov.

"We will be challenged tremendously. I just hope we can live up to the challenge," said Ford, whose words to the media are decidedly different from what he will tell his players - that he expects to exceed expectations.

"People have said, 'What's the difference between the NEC and the CAA?' Not so much the style on each team, because Monmouth University had a kid by the name of Miles Austin - pretty good receiver. He's be a good receiver at any school. But the fifth kid on this level is much better. The 10th kid is much better. And when you peel off the veneer and look at the second string, (it's) bigger, stronger, faster, more talented. And I think, if I've assessed the league right, we will need the depth of second-stringers more than we ever have in the past."

Stony Brook enters the CAA with depth. The Seawolves, who were 10-3 last season, are in their fourth season of giving the FCS maximum of 63 full scholarships. Plus, coach Chuck Priore has done well with gaining FBS transfers, including Coker, the former Iowa standout who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season while being in the shadow of Walter Payton Award runner-up Miguel Maysonet.

Stony Brook beat Albany in the 2011 FCS playoffs and did even better last year in defeating CAA automatic qualifier Villanova, which is the favorite in this year's preseason poll. The Seawolves also nearly upset national runner-up Sam Houston State two years ago and then won at Army last season for its first victory over an FBS opponent.

"We've played enough of those games over the past couple years, where we had to go and get prepared," Priore said. "You don't win every one of them, but we've competed in them. I think my expectation from that perspective, is I know why three, four, five (CAA) teams make the playoffs each year."

The CAA will grow to 12 teams next year when Elon arrives from the Southern Conference. It's a conference that had five of its alumni on the roster of the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens this past season and about 30 other players on NFL rosters.

Chrissy D.

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 I don't pay attention to preseason polls, I think they are garbage. I will say that unless Villanova has Brian Westbrook coming back I did not see a lot of talent as we were knocking them around last year.

BigFatFan

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I love this statement from the article:

The two newcomers join the CAA in a way that is similar to the teams they have replaced this year. Two years ago, Albany, like Georgia State, basically has its collective hand up in a signal of halt, feeling the transition at hand. Stony Brook, like Old Dominion, is waving on the competition, expecting to be a title contender.

Seawolf97

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And a contender  we will be !

sbufan

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Anyone know when Stony Brook will release the 2013 media guide?

ecasadoSBU

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Everything a Stony Brook Fan Needs:

SBU FANS Message Board - http://sbufan.createaforum.com/index.php

BROOK LAND:
https://brook.land/

WUSB.FM Radio & Sports Blog: http://sbradiosports.blogspot.com/

Official Site: http://www.stonybrookathletics.com/

Seawolf97

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Another step in the right direction.   Tough on our guys though at WUSB enjoyed their broadcasts.

ecasadoSBU

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Yeah. its bittersweet. I've been listening to the Sports Section and Football/Basketball/lacrosse/Baseball for the past seasons in WUSB. These guys love SBU sports and they really know a lot about our Seawolves. It will be hard not having them on the air. Jeff and company do a great job and they will be missed.

But the program has to continue to grow and missing out on this opportunity to be associated with ESPN would be a shame.

Hopefully the WUSB guys can join the ESPN Radio team from time to time. No one knows more about Seawolves history than these guys.
Everything a Stony Brook Fan Needs:

SBU FANS Message Board - http://sbufan.createaforum.com/index.php

BROOK LAND:
https://brook.land/

WUSB.FM Radio & Sports Blog: http://sbradiosports.blogspot.com/

Official Site: http://www.stonybrookathletics.com/

BigFatFan

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Fall Camp starts Sunday??

BigFatFan

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does anyone know the practice schedule for Fall training camp?  will anyone be able to stop by and check things out?  I understand that the boys are basically doing something "football" all day long for the next three weeks or so, at least until classes start. ??? ???

Hammertime

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BFF. I'll take ride over to the stadium on Monday to see if I can get some information on the Fall practise ...

Chrissy D.

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 They will hold an intra squad scrimmage on Sat Aug 10th at Sachem H.S. in Ronkonkoma. I believe start time is 2 pm. I went last year and you really do not get a chance to see a whole lot. They do a 7 on 7 with the 1st string and then 11 on 11 with the backups. Also early word from the ticket office is that the Penn scrimmage will be held the same way. This is nothing more than watching practice.

BigFatFan

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chrissy, thanks for the info.  that BC cancellation really hurt us.  we replaced a FBS game with a 7 on 7 practice >:( 

I am still surprised that Coach P and the AD were unable to line up a game with one of the Patriot league teams for that first weekend of the year.

ecasadoSBU

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I don't think I'll make the trip for such scrimmage. its just not worth the travel. I'll have to wait the three weeks
Everything a Stony Brook Fan Needs:

SBU FANS Message Board - http://sbufan.createaforum.com/index.php

BROOK LAND:
https://brook.land/

WUSB.FM Radio & Sports Blog: http://sbradiosports.blogspot.com/

Official Site: http://www.stonybrookathletics.com/

Seawolf97

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From what I read on other boards Lehigh had this date open  but did not want to play a 12 game season.  Lehigh scrimmages Columbia  on 8/31.  That would have been a great home and way  with them .