UAlbany Football Announces Complete 2013 Schedule

ALBANY, N.Y. – Entering an exciting new chapter of Great Dane football, the University at Albany has announced the 2013 schedule in its entirety. The slate will feature five home contests at Bob Ford Field – a brand new 8,500 seat stadium -- eight games against Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opponents, and a meeting with a pending Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) adversary.     While the finishing touches are put on UAlbany’s new gridiron, the Great Danes will play the first two weeks of the season on the road, taking on a pair of familiar non-conference opponents in Duquesne and Colgate. UAlbany will play the Dukes of the Northeast Conference (NEC) in Pittsburgh Aug. 31st. The Danes own a 5-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 38-31 road win at Duquesne in 2012.   The following Saturday, the Great Danes have just a short bus trip to Hamilton, N.Y., facing NCAA Playoff participant and reigning Patriot League champion Colgate. UAlbany overcame the Raiders, 40-23, in 2012’s season-opener. Perhaps the most anticipated game of the season takes place on Sept. 14th, as a brand new era of UAlbany football will officially begin on that day. The Great Danes will play their inaugural game at Bob Ford Field, kickoff their first CAA contest as a member of the league, and face Rhode Island for the first time in program history.   Back home again on Sept. 21st, UAlbany hosts another former conference colleague, the NEC’s Central Connecticut State. The meeting will mark the 18th between the two schools with the Great Danes leading the all-time series, 12-5.   For UAlbany’s final non-conference contest of the season, the Danes travel to Norfolk, Va. to battle Old Dominion Sept. 28th. Last season, the Monarchs closed its tenure with the CAA, while reaching the quarterfinals of the FCS Championship. Transitioning to Conference USA for 2015, ODU will compete as an independent for two seasons, as they elevate to the FBS level. Back to battling CAA foes for the remainder of the slate, the Great Danes travel to James Madison on Oct. 5th and Delaware on Oct. 12th, before returning home Oct. 19th to host Towson. UAlbany will then hit the road to battle Richmond, a 2012 CAA co-champion, on Nov. 2nd. The following two weekends, the Great Danes have the home field advantage, welcoming Maine Nov. 9th and 2012 NCAA Tournament participant New Hampshire Nov. 16th to the Capital Region. UAlbany closes the 2013 regular season on Nov. 23rd at rival Stony Brook, who has made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the last two seasons. Like the Great Danes, Stony Brook will also be playing its inaugural CAA Football schedule next fall. The CAA has proven to be one of the strongest and well respected conferences at the FCS level, as nine of the 11 teams competing in 2013 were ranked in the nation's top-25 last season. In addition, CAA Football has produced two national championship teams, four national championship game appearances, eight semifinal appearances and more than 30 postseason wins since 2007. In the past, UAlbany has had success over CAA members, having tallied a 7-5 all-time record. The Great Danes have previously faced Delaware (1-1), Maine (4-2), Towson (2-1) and New Hampshire (0-1), and will also have an opportunity to expand on its rivalry with Stony Brook, having played the Seawolves 15 times in the past (10-5). Wrapping up a 14-year tenure in the Northeast Conference with six championships, including a share of the title in 2012, the Great Danes are just months away from the new CAA era. Football season tickets for 2013 are on sale now! Season tickets are available in three price options, beginning with the premium Gold Club seating. Gold Club is offered to UAlbany Athletic Department donors of $1,000 or more. Those seats are located on the lower level of the stadium between the 30-yard lines and can be purchased for $140 per season ticket plus a deposit on the donation. The second option is the lower level reserved seating, located from the 10- to the 30-yard lines and can be purchased for $100 per season ticket. Lastly, upper level reserved seats are available for $75 per season ticket. Individual game tickets will go on sale Aug. 1, 2013. Ticket prices for individual games will start at $15. Student tickets will remain free to all enrolled UAlbany students, with seating in both the lower and upper levels. Student tickets will be available at the start of the Fall 2013 semester. For more information or to order season tickets, call the UAlbany Athletics Box Office at (518) 442-DANE. 2013 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Aug. 31 @ Duquesne Sept. 7 @ Colgate Sept. 14 vs. Rhode Island* (Fireworks by SEFCU) Sept. 21 vs. CCSU (Hall of Fame Game) Sept. 28 @ Old Dominion Oct. 5 @ James Madison* Oct. 12 @ Delaware* Oct. 19 vs. Towson* (Homecoming) Oct. 26 BYE Nov. 2 @ Richmond* Nov. 9 vs. Maine* Nov. 16 vs. UNH* Nov. 23 @ Stony Brook* The Football Superstore - Shop Now!