UAlbany football ushering in new season with LIU

ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — College football returns to the Capital Region Saturday as UAlbany opens up the 2024 season. The question on a lot of people’s mind: “How will the Great Danes follow up the greatest season in program history?” Well, the answer to that question will start to take shape Saturday night.

The Danes welcome in Long Island University – a team out of the Northeast Conference in just its sixth year of FCS competition. The Sharks posted a mediocre 4-7 record last year. But UAlbany is not taking them lightly, especially when there are so many unknowns about both teams heading into the matchup.

Fortunately, the Danes have home-field advantage on their side, opening up the season at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium for the second straight year, and just the second time in the last 10 years.

Playing their season opener at home clearly benefitted UAlbany last season against Fordham. The Danes won that game convincingly, 34-13.

Like that matchup with the Rams, head coach Greg Gattuso believes this game could be a tone-setter for the whole season.

“When you have a young and inexperienced team, you really want to start at home,” said Gattuso. “[But] starting at home doesn’t guarantee anything. I do believe last year the most important game of the year was the Fordham game, ’cause we played well. We played physical. I mean, I thought we dominated the game. Honestly, [I] didn’t see that comin’ out of camp. I knew we had a chance to be a good team, but that…told me who we were gonna be, and I hope that we can play a really good football game Saturday night. Like I said, I think we have great talent, and I think it’s gonna be very interesting.”

And the team will be doing a special tribute this season to the late AJ Simon, who passed away in April following a breakout 2023 campaign with UAlbany.

Before each game, the coaching staff will choose a defensive player to wear Simon’s No. 8, embracing the motto, “Play like AJ.”

For Week 1, that honor has been bestowed upon Shaker High School graduate Ghassan Chehade, who will be making just his second career start Saturday.

“I’m truly honored, and I really have no words,” said Chehade, a junior defensive lineman. “I was not expecting it. I’m really happy that the coaches see me in that light. I knew AJ for the two years he was on the team, and he just came in and worked; never complained. I’m happy they see that I represent that. Now, I really need to do everything I can to play my best, especially with that number on my back. Obviously, I would’ve tried to do it regardless. But especially now that I get to represent someone like AJ, I’m gonna push just that little bit harder.”

Opening kickoff between UAlbany and LIU is set for 7:00 p.m. Tune into FOX 23 and NEWS10 that night for highlights.

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