Introduction to UAlbany Football
The University at Albany football team had one of the toughest assignments in college football last week – going to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium in their season opener. All things considered, the Great Danes held up well.
UAlbany fell 34-7 to the Big Ten Conference power, which isn’t as bad as it sounds, considering the Danes were 38-point underdogs. UAlbany actually led 7-3 in the second quarter, and only trailed by 10 at halftime.
Building on the Iowa Showing
This weekend, the Danes switch gears, taking on a fellow Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team on the road: Delaware State. Head coach Jared Ambrose believes his team’s experience at Iowa could set them up for success moving forward.
"I think these guys now believe in themselves that they can battle for 60 minutes," said Ambrose. "I think we checked a lot of boxes against Iowa. Our first thing offensively is, "Don’t turn the ball over." We didn’t turn the ball over. We generated a turnover on defense. If we go through our 12-game schedule and we don’t turn the ball over, and we create turnovers, I think we’re gonna be pretty successful. That, plus some of the intangibles we’ve really built into our culture, is gonna give us a good shot."
Quarterback Situation
What also came out of Week 1 was some excitement surrounding the Danes’ quarterback situation after senior transfer Jack Shields threw for a touchdown and led the team in rushing yards.
Shields came to UAlbany from Buffalo, but hadn’t started a game since 2023 when he was at Old Dominion. Making his first start in two years in a hostile environment like Kinnick Stadium, Ambrose was certainly encouraged by his field general’s composure.
"The very first play of the game, he’s standing out there behind the team, he’s got a play call he likes, he’s shaking his head [while] hearing the crowd; there was a confidence and belief he was gonna play well," said Ambrose. "If he goes into every game with the notion in his mind that he knows the game plan and he’s gonna play well, he will. I think what everyone learned about Jack in that game is, you know, it’s in there. He can do it at a high level. Now, I just wanna see how high he can take it."
Looking Ahead
While it may have been his first start in two years, Shields is still a veteran quarterback. And like any experienced signal called, he’s always finding ways to improve on past outings.
"There were some good things, some positive things, but, of course, there’s always things to work on," said Shields. "That was obviously a really good opponent, so it was good to get to watch [the tape] and learn from it for sure."
UAlbany and Delaware State are set to get underway from the Hornets’ Alumni Stadium Saturday at 1:00 p.m. EST.
Conclusion
The University at Albany football team is looking to build on their showing against Iowa as they take on Delaware State this weekend. With a strong performance from quarterback Jack Shields and a solid game plan, the Great Danes are hoping to come out on top. With their experience at Iowa under their belt, the team is confident in their ability to battle for 60 minutes and come out victorious.
FAQs
Q: Who is the quarterback for the University at Albany football team?
A: The quarterback for the University at Albany football team is Jack Shields.
Q: Who did the University at Albany football team play in their season opener?
A: The University at Albany football team played the Iowa Hawkeyes in their season opener.
Q: What is the schedule for the University at Albany football team’s next game?
A: The University at Albany football team is set to play Delaware State on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. EST.
Q: What was the final score of the University at Albany football team’s game against Iowa?
A: The final score of the University at Albany football team’s game against Iowa was 34-7.
