By Edwards Kemedjio | March 31, 2021
The University at Albany’s football program has chosen to forgo the last two games of the spring season. The Great Danes will not finish the shortened schedule that was established after the pandemic postponed their fall season.
“We have concluded that it is in the best interest of our football student-athletes to opt out of the remainder of the season,” said Athletic Director Mark Benson. The Great Danes were scheduled to go on the road this Saturday to face No. 8 Delaware and then return for the season finale against No. 16 Villanova.
This decision is not the result of COVID-19 complications according to the Athletic DirectSor.
“Our student athletes have done a tremendous job following all our health and safety protocols this season, and this decision is not directly related to COVID-19,” said Benson. “It was made based on the extraordinary amount of injuries that have occurred this season and the overall health of the football program.
After starting the season off with a win against New Hampshire, the Great Danes dropped three straight games, as injuries began to affect the roster.
In their latest game against Stony Brook, starting quarterback Jeff Undercuffler was unable to play and all but one wide receiver was able to finish the game without leaving due to injury.
Head football coach Greg Gattuso commented on the decision:
“We are all competitive people and have done everything in our power to play a full spring season,” said Gattuso. “While disappointed we won’t see that happen, we are fully supportive of the decision. It all comes down to the health and safety of our student athletes.”
Gattuso also expressed his pride in his players for following protocols and guidelines dating back to the fall semester.
The team will look to get healthy and return to normalcy by the time the fall season arrives. UAlbany football will return Sept. 4 at North Dakota State.
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