Albany Great Danes The Albany Great Danes are the intercollegiate athletic programs of the University at Albany , SUNY . The University ' s intercollegiate athletics date back to the late 1890s , but its development was hampered for several decades by inadequate facilities , uncertain financial support , and the relatively small number of male students in an institution designed to develop elementary school teachers . Tennis remained a constant from 1898 onward along with men ’ s basketball from 1909 , but attempts to field teams in football ( 1922 ) , baseball ( 1896 – 1901 ) , swimming , and hockey were aborted . Expansion into men ’ s and women ’ s sports increased after World War II and then expanded greatly in the 1960s ( men ’ s sports of lacrosse , track & field , cross - country and swimming moved from club to varsity status , and women ’ s tennis , softball , field hockey , basketball and swimming were introduced ) , as a direct result of the introduction of the new Uptown Campus and its expanded athletic facilities . A nickname change also occurred , the Pedagogues becoming the Great Danes - making Albany the only American college or university with that mascot . All athletics are run by the University at Albany Department of Athletics and Recreation . After the 1972 NCAA restructuring , the university competed in Division III until the 1995 – 96 school year , when it moved to Division II . The university would remain in Division II until 1999 . The school currently has 19 varsity sports ( 8 men , 11 women ) competing at the Division I level . The school ' s sports teams have participated in the America East Conference since 2001 . Football participates in the Football Championship Subdivision ( former Division I - AA ) as an associate member of the Colonial Athletic Association . After the 2008 - 09 school year , Women ' s Golf was discontinued in the America East . Along with Boston University and University of Hartford , the program began competing in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference ( MAAC ) starting in the 2009 - 10 school year . The football program moved to the CAA from the Northeast Conference after the 2012 season . In addition to varsity sports , Albany ' s intercollegiate club sports include Men ' s Ice Hockey , Men ' s & Women ' s rugby , and Men ' s & Women ' s Crew . However , these teams are not affiliated with the Department of Athletics and Recreation and are instead funded by the Student Association . Competition in these sports is at the club - level except for Crew which competes , almost exclusively , alongside NCAA ( varsity level ) opponents . Championships ( Since 2001 ) . America East Conference . As an athletic department , UAlbany won the 2004 – 05 Stuart P . Haskell , Jr . Commissioner ’ s Cup . The Commissioner ’ s Cup annually recognizes the strongest athletic program in America East as determined by a scoring system which rewards a school for success both during the regular season and at championship competition in the conference ’ s 22 sports . Northeast Conference - Football . ° – Football . One of the most well known coaches at the university is football coach Bob Ford . The architect of the University at Albany ' s football program , Ford has been Albany ' s only head coach since the program was reinstated after a 46 - year absence . Ford joined the program in 1970 when it was a club . After only three seasons at the club level , the program was upgraded to varsity status in 1973 , and finished with a 7 – 2 record . In 1974 , the team finished 9 – 0 , the school ' s only undefeated season . Ford has put together a record of 246 - 156 with the Great Danes , while his 256 career victories rank first among active NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision ( FCS ) head coaches . His UAlbany teams own a 80 - 52 mark for a . 606 winning percentage as a Division I FCS program . ( records as of end of 2011 season ) . Ford recorded his 250th career win with a 38 - 10 victory against Duquesne on October 8 , 2011 . At his time with Albany , Ford has led the Great Danes to one ECAC North Championships ( D - III ) , one Division - III Playoff appearance , two East Football Conference Championships and three Northeast Conference Championships ( two Co - Championship ) . Ford ' s knowledge has also created a " coaching factory scenario " at the university . More than 100 coaches , who have started their careers under Ford , are currently employed with 60 different high schools , colleges , and professional teams from around the world . 1999 – 2010 : Start of Division I Football . The Great Danes have been successful in football since its first season on the Division I - AA level . In the 1999 season the Great Danes compiled a 7 – 2 overall record , finishing 6 – 1 in - conference , which was good for second in the NEC . In 2002 , Ford ' s team had its first big successful season at the Division I level . The Great Danes , led by running - back Gary Jones , would win the program ' s first - ever Northeast Conference title . They would go on to defeat unbeaten Duquesne in the 2002 ECAC Bowl . Jones would set the single - season rushing record mark with and scoring a program record 22 rushing touchdowns . Jones would break his own single - season mark the following season , rushing for . He would also become the programs all - time leading rusher with in only two seasons with the Great Danes . Success for Ford ' s program continued during the 2006 season . The Great Danes would defeat # 11 FCS ranked University of Delaware ( a full - scholarship program ) 17 – 10 in front of just over 22 , 000 people on September 16 . Two weeks later , for the first time in the program ’ s history , the team would be ranked in both The Sports Network and College Sporting News Division I - AA national polls , ranked at No . 23 in both national rankings . The Great Danes would finish the season 7 – 4 . The 2006 season also marked a major change in recruitment of athletes for the football program . The program , which had played non - scholarship football since being established , had begun offering scholarships to part of its roster players , joining other Northeast Conference programs in the expansion of the conferences football teams . Despite starting the season 1 – 3 , including loses to # 19 Hofstra and # 2 University of Montana , the Great Danes in 2007 would run through the NEC Conference , going 6 – 0 , to win their second conference championship . In what was deemed the ' NEC Championship Game ' , UAlbany defeated Central Connecticut State University 49 – 14 in the final regular season game . The Great Danes became the fifth team in NEC history to go undefeated in conference play . The victory also gave them a postseason appearance against the University of Dayton of the Pioneer League in the Gridiron Classic in Dayton , Ohio . UAlbany continued its run during the 2008 season despite playing an un - orthodox schedule to start the season . The Great Danes would play their first five games of the season on the road , three against Top 25 ranked FCS opponents , and eight consecutive road games from the 2007 to the 2008 season . UAlbany would be the lone Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision team to not play at home in August or September of the 2008 season . Led by running - back David McCarty , who would break Gary Jones single season and career rushing record during the season , the Great Danes would go 7 – 0 to win their second consecutive NEC Championship . The undefeated season marked a 13 conference game winning streak , second longest in NEC History , and the second time in conference history a team won back - to - back championships . The Great Danes defeated the Jacksonville University Dolphins in their second consecutive appearance in the Gridiron Classic on December 6 , 2008 by a score of 28 – 0 . 2011 Season . Prior to the 2008 season , the NCAA Board of Directors ' approved the expansion of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision post - season bracket , allowing the Northeast Conference to gain automatic access into the Division I Football Championship beginning in 2010 . The NEC ’ s automatic access could come sooner than 2010 if its champion meets specified criteria of the Football Championship Committee for an at - large spot . In 2011 , after 39 years of running the program , Ford ' s program would reach a major accomplishment . The Great Danes would finish the season 8 - 3 ( 7 - 1 in conference ) , despite starting the season 0 - 2 . The team would finish the season as co - champions with Duquesne . However , because of a 38 - 10 victory against the Dukes earlier in the season , the Great Danes would win their first ever trip to the NCAA Division I Football Championship . They would play former NEC opponent and Big South Champions , the Stony Brook Seawolves in the first round of the tournament . They would lose 31 - 28 , as the Seawolves came up with an interception at the goal - line with under a minute to play . Stony Brook coach Chuck Priore graduated from Albany , played for Bob Ford and was running back coach for Albany from 1983 - 85 . The Great Danes would have strong leaders on the 2011 team . Senior quarterback , Dan Di Lella would lead an offense that averaged 34 . 2 point per game . Di Lella would set a school record for most touchdowns passes in a single season . On defense , senior captain defensive - end Eddie Delaney would set a single season school record for sacks . Delaney would also get national recognition for his success on the field despite being a diabetic and having been born without a left hand . Bob Ford Field and move to CAA . On April 17 , 2012 , the university broke ground on a new multi - sport complex that would be available for use beginning in Fall 2013 . Along with a complex that will be the new home for football and soccer , a new track will be created on the current football field , University Field . The plans to build the stadium were revealed in the summer of 2011 . The new stadium , which the field will be named Bob Ford Field , will hold initially 6 , 000 . However , the stadium will be built so future expansion can take place upwards to 10 , 000 to 15 , 000 . It was announced on August 7 , 2012 that beginning in 2013 , the football program would accept an increase in scholarships and move out of the Northeast Conference and into the Colonial Athletic Association . Stony Brook , a former Northeast Conference rival , would also be making the move with them . On November 17 , 2012 , the Great Danes played their final NEC Conference game and final game at University Field against Central Connecticut State . UAlbany defeated the Blue Devils 63 - 34 , finishing 78 - 24 all - time against NEC opponents and 127 - 65 at University Field . The Great Danes also clinched a share of the NEC Championship . However , they did not win the NEC automatic bid do to a loss against Wagner ( one of only two loses on the 2012 season ) and finishing in a tie with the Seahawks . UAlbany and the NFL . The UAlbany football program continues to grow under Ford ' s leadership , leading to connections between the program and the National Football League . Rudy Vido , who graduated in 1974 as a fullback and defensive end , became the first player in school history to try - out for an NFL team . He tried out for the New England Patriots , but never played in the league . In 2005 , Kurt Campbell became the first player in the program ' s history to be drafted into the NFL . Campbell was selected in the 7th round by the Green Bay Packers . In the 2007 NFL Draft , Rashad Barksdale , who made the game winning interception against Delaware in 2006 , became the second player in school history to be drafted . He was selected in the 6th round by the Philadelphia Eagles . Barksdale was cut however at the end of training camp , but was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs , and became the first player in school history placed on an NFL 53 - man roster . Barksdale made his National Football League debut on October 7 , 2007 against the Jacksonville Jaguars . It marked the first time a UAlbany player had appeared in an NFL regular - season game when he took the field on special teams . He also played on the punt cover and punt return units and recorded his first career tackle in the fourth - quarter . Barksdale was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs on August 31 , 2008 . However , he would sign with the New York Giants as a member of the practice squad for the 2008 season . On December 30 , 2008 , Barksdale would become the first UA stand - out to make an NFL Playoff Roster after the Giants signed him to replace corner Sam Madison , who went down with an ankle injury . The Great Danes have sent multiple players to try - outs and NFL training camps as un - drafted free agents . In addition to the NFL , multiple alumni have participated in the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League . Many former coaching staff members have also coached in the NFL , including former NFL head coach Dave Campo . From 2006 - 2010 , Tony and Andy Sparano would be key figures on the Great Danes roster . At the same time their father , Tony Sparano , would be head coach of the Miami Dolphins . The strongest connection to the NFL is the university hosting the New York Giants Summer Training Camp . Since 1996 , the university ' s practice fields are handed over to the Giants , bringing fans and media from around New York and the United States to Albany . In 2007 , the school dedicated the University ’ s football practice field in honor of Wellington Mara and Preston Robert Tisch , the late co - owners of the Giants . Mara and Tisch were instrumental in making the University at Albany home to the Giants ’ summer training camp . Men ' s basketball . Sauers Era . The second longest serving coach in UAlbany history belongs to Richard “ Doc ” Sauers . Sauers served as Great Danes men ' s basketball coach from 1955 – 1997 . Little known to many , Sauers is one of the most victorious coaches in the history of college basketball with 702 victories . He led the program to eleven NCAA and four NAIA post - season tournament appearances in his tenure . Sauers joined the program when the school was known as the State College for Teachers , and helped in the transition from the College Division into Division III and then Division II basketball . From 1975 to 1995 , Sauers led the team to 10 NCAA Tournaments , 2 ECAC Championships ( 1978 and 1989 ) , ten 20 - win seasons and 26 17 - win seasons . Sauers finished his career with a 702 – 330 record in 41 seasons . Sauers achieved the prestigious 700 - win mark on Feb . 8 , 1997 in an 89 – 71 victory over the University of Bridgeport . He would retire one month later . A banner is flown in the rafters of the SEFCU Arena honoring Sauers accomplishment of 702 wins . The college is planning on naming the court at SEFCU Arena in his name in the near future . Sauers still coaches for UAlbany , now leading the Women ' s Golf program , in which he led the Great Danes to the 2004 and 2008 America East Championship . He also was head coach for men ' s golf from 1962 – 79 . He was inducted into the university ' s Hall of Fame in 2004 . Division I . The process to become a Division I program was slow . From the 1999 – 00 season , the first year in Division I , to the end of the 2004 – 05 season , UAlbany recorded a 48 – 118 record . The team finished with over 10 victories in only two seasons . However , in the 2005 – 06 campaign , the Great Danes compiled a 21 – 11 season . In that season , the Great Danes would take on both the eventual national champion Florida Gators and UCLA Bruins , both of which would play each other for the National Championship . " Why Not Us ? : The 2005 – 06 Season " . On March 11 , 2006 , the men ' s basketball team won the America East conference tournament , earning the school ( and the SUNY system ) its first ever berth to the NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Tournament , defeating the University of Vermont 80 – 67 in a sold out RACC . The Great Danes were seeded # 16 in the Washington , D . C . region and were matched up against top - seeded UConn . Despite the # 16 seed being 0 – 87 before Albany took the floor , head coach Will Brown believed that his team had a chance to beat UConn in the tournament . With that , the team took the motto , " Why Not Us ? " . Fans and alumni wore shirts with the motto . On March 17 , 2006 , the Danes nearly became the first # 16 seed to defeat a # 1 seed in the Division I tournament . The Danes , down only 1 at the half , went on a 13 – 0 run early in the second half to take a double - digit lead over the Huskies . With the game televised on CBS , the Danes led 50 – 38 with just over 11 minutes left in the game . However , a late run by the Huskies ' stifling defense stopped the Danes ' offense , and the Huskies averted the upset , winning 72 – 59 . The play against UConn gave the program instant notoriety . 2006 – Present . In the 2006 – 07 season , the Great Danes faced a much stronger America East conference . The Great Danes would accomplish a 20 – 9 regular season , but be the # 2 seed in the conference tournament . This forced the Great Danes to travel to Vermont , who was the # 1 seed for the conference championship , where they were previously 0 – 7 . The Great Danes , considered underdogs , would not falter . On March 10 , 2007 , the men ' s basketball team won their second consecutive America East title , beating Vermont 60 – 59 in the conference final on a last second steal by Carl Ross and Brent Wilson . The Great Danes would be seeded 13th in the South Division of the 2007 NCAA Division I Tournament , and lost to the 4th seed Virginia Cavaliers 84 – 57 in the first round in Columbus , Ohio . Prior to the conclusion of the 2006 – 2007 season , the men ' s basketball program retired the number 31 of player Jamar Wilson . Wilson finished his career as the school ’ s all - time scorer with 2 , 164 points , plus ranked second in assists with 488 . Wilson became the first player in school history to score 500 points or more in three different seasons . He also shattered the school standard with 620 points in a season , breaking a record set by Jason Graber in 1993 – 94 . He would also win two America East Player of the Year Awards , something only three other people in conference history had achieved . Many believed that his commitment to the university was part of the early Division I success of UAlbany ' s men ' s basketball program . No athlete in the program ' s history has had their number retired prior . The program has participated in ESPN ' s BraketBuster series in 2005 – 06 at Virginia Commonwealth , 2006 – 07 at Boise State , both of which were shown on one of ESPN ' s family of networks . Early in the 2007 – 08 season the Great Danes played a nationally televised game against the Duke Blue Devils , losing by a score of 111 – 70 . In 2009 , the University at Albany played host to its first America East Men ’ s Basketball Championship at the 4 , 538 - seat SEFCU Arena on campus . The America East will bring the conference tournament back to SEFCU in March 2013 . Men ' s Lacrosse . The program began in 1970 with a 3 – 7 record competing in Division III . In 1975 , the program would reach the ECAC Division III Tournament under coach Dave Armstrong . From 1975 to 1997 , the Great Danes would reach two more ECAC Division III Tournaments . In 1997 the Great Danes would reach the finals of the ECAC Division II Tournament . 2000 – 2006 . In 2000 , the Great Danes began play in the America East at the Division I level . In 2001 , Scott Marr was given the reigns of the program . Even though the Great Danes finished with a 3 – 8 record in 2001 , the Great Danes compiled an 8 – 6 regular season to take the regular season conference championship in the America East in 2002 . They would reach the championship game but lose to the Stony Brook Seawolves 8 – 6 . Led by a new crop of recruits , some of the first lacrosse players in school history to be on scholarship , such as Kevin Rae and Luke Daquino , the Great Danes would start making a mark on college lacrosse in 2003 . The Great Danes would go 8 – 6 and seek revenge against Stony Brook in the America East semifinals 11 – 5 to move on to face the University of Hartford for the America East Championship . On May 3 , 2003 , Albany would defeat Hartford 7 – 5 to win their first ever America East Championship . They would go on to face and lose to Princeton University in the first round on the NCAA Tournament . The success for the Great Danes would not stop after 2003 . With incoming recruits and a strong core of returning players , the Great Danes would continue their championship ways . In 2004 , including an upset against the University of Massachusetts Amherst , the Great Danes would go on to win another America East Championship . They would play Syracuse University in the first round and lose 21 – 13 . The surge would continue into 2005 as the Great Danes defeated Stony Brook 16 – 7 to win their third straight America East Championship . However , the first round NCAA Tournament jinx would continue as the Great Danes were demolished by the University of Virginia 23 – 9 . 2006 would be an off year for the Great Danes . With all - time career points leader at the time Luke Daquino and career saves leader Kevin Rae graduated , the team was young and over matched . The Great Danes would sneak into the America East Tournament , but lose 19 – 10 to UMBC . However , it would be soon that the Great Danes would go back to their winning ways . Despite a season of struggles in 2006 , the program took one major stride during the season . In the fall of 2005 , John Fallon Field was completed and became the new home of the Great Danes . An all - weather facility , Albany finally had a place to call home . In previous seasons the team would play home games at University Field . However , do to harsh winters and wet springs , the field was usually not in playing condition come lacrosse season . This forced many home games to be played at local high schools and community colleges . With John Fallon Field , Albany now had one of the premier outdoor lacrosse fields in the Northeast . 2007 season . In the 2007 season , the lacrosse team would be ranked in the top - 25 in both USILA and Nike / Inside Lacrosse polls and reached a high of # 2 in the USILA poll . Notable wins were against # 1 ranked Johns Hopkins Blue Jays and # 10 Delaware . On May 13 , 2007 , the men ' s lacrosse team became the first team at the Division I level to advance / win a match in the NCAA Tournament , defeating Loyola College in Maryland 19 – 10 in front of nearly 3 , 000 people at John Fallon Field . One week later , the Great Danes were defeated by undefeated Cornell University 12 – 11 in the NCAA Quarterfinals at Princeton University . The team finished ranked # 4 in the Nike / Inside Lacrosse poll , the highest ranking for any team in school history . Head Coach Scott Marr was awarded the USILA Division I National Lacrosse Coach of the Year to cap the amazing season . One of the big stars for the lacrosse team in 2007 was senior attackman Frank Resetarits . He would become the first Great Dane in school history to earn first - team All - American honors as he was selected to the 2007 USILA All - America Team . Resetarits was also named a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy . Resetarits would also become the first lacrosse player in school history to be drafted into the Major League Lacrosse , selected by the Washington Bayhawks , but being traded and making his debut with the Long Island Lizards . Resetarits would also join the National Lacrosse League , drafted # 5 overall by the San Jose Stealth in 2007 NLL Draft . Resetarits was joined in the pros by UAlbany elite goal scorer Merrick Thomson . Thomson would sign a free agent contract with the New Jersey Pride on the MLL , and then drafted # 2 overall by the Philadelphia Wings in the 2007 NLL Draft . Both Thomson and Resetarits are ranked one and two in career points at Albany . Thomson is also the all - time leading scorer in Great Danes history . Defender Liam Gleason was also signed by the New Jersey Pride shorty after the 2007 Major League Lacrosse draft . Two other pieces of the championship team were drafted in the 2008 Major League Lacrosse draft . Midfielder Jordan Levine was selected 10th Overall by the New Jersey Pride , re - uniting him with Thomson and Gleason . Star goaltender Brett Queener was selected 48th Overall by the Rochester Rattlers making him the 5th UAlbany graduate to play professionally in Major League Lacrosse . Rivalries . Siena . UAlbany ' s biggest rival is Siena College located in Loudonville , NY . Both schools are separated by and both fan bases have strong hatred for one another . While teams do not participate in the same conference , teams from multiple sports will face each other annually , with the strongest part of the rivalry lying with men ' s basketball . Both teams met for the 50th time in 2010 . The first match - up was February 23 , 1957 in which Siena defeated Albany 75 – 66 at Albany . After nearly twenty years , the series ended on February 3 , 1977 with a 62 – 49 Albany victory . All games since 2001 have taken place in the Times Union Center , officially making it a home game for Siena . Since 2001 , the game has averaged an attendance over 10 , 000 for the annual match - up , with attendance being below 10 , 000 only three times . While the women ' s basketball match - up receives less fan fare then the men ' s game , it is part of the Albany Cup battle . Their first match - up was in the 1975 – 76 season . While both the men ' s and women ' s basketball games battle for the Albany Cup , the rivalry has been dubbed the " Crosstown Showdown " by sportscasters in the Capital Region . Stony Brook . Stony Brook University is UAlbany ' s biggest SUNY rival and has had intense competition in sports like men ' s basketball and lacrosse is recent years . From 2000 - 2012 , in men ' s lacrosse , Stony Brook has met UAlbany in the America East Tournament nine out of eleven years . Four of these meets had been in the America East Championship game ( 2002 , 2005 , 2010 , 2012 ) , which Stony Brook has held in three out of four occasions . Overall , Albany has a 5 - 4 record in the AE lacrosse tournament against Stony Brook . In Men ' s basketball , it has been a similar situation . While Albany has had more historical success overall in the NCAA ' s since 2000 , they have lost to Stony Brook in three straight America East Tournament games ( 2010 , 2011 , 2012 ) . Baseball has also seen some good moments . UAlbany eliminated Stony Brook in the 2011 AE Tournament , even though Stony Brook swept them in four straight games of the regular season . In 2010 , Stony Brook defeated UAlbany in the America East Championship . In 2012 , Stony Brook defeated the Great Danes in three out of four regular season match - ups in their memorable run to the College World Series . However , the biggest part of the rivalry is played out on the gridiron . From 1999 - 2006 , the two programs were both associate members of the Northeast Conference . During that time , UAlbany went 5 - 3 against the Seawolves . Stony Brook would leave the NEC in 2007 to become independent and joined the Big South Conference in 2008 . The two teams would meet in 2006 in a non - league game at University Field , in which the Great Danes defeated Stony Brook 24 - 23 . The two teams would not meet again until November 26 , 2011 . However , this meeting would be different . The two teams each won their respected conference titles and were meeting in the First Round of the FCS Playoffs . For both programs , it was their first time being in the FCS Playoffs since joining Division I athletics . The match - up also had the story line that Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore was a 1982 UAlbany graduate who started three seasons at fullback , then served for three years as UAlbany ' s running backs and strength coach for head coach Bob Ford . UAlbany would have a 28 - 10 third quarter lead , but the Seawolves answered with 21 points to take the lead . However , UAlbany would have a chance to win the game at the goal - line with under a minute to play . On second - and - goal from the Stony Brook 3 - yard line , Dan Di Lella had a pass intercepted in the end zone by free safety Dominick Reyes with 47 . 4 seconds left as the Seawolves held on for a 31 - 28 victory before 8 , 286 fans at La Valle Stadium and advance to the Second Round . The rivalry was rejuvenated in August 2012 , when it was announced the Great Danes and Stony Brook would become associate football members in the Colonial Athletic Association starting in 2013 . The teams will meet for the first time as CAA rivals on November 23 , 2013 on Long Island . Binghamton . A notable rivalry exists between the Great Danes and the Binghamton University Bearcats . Both teams joined the America East conference around the same time , when they were relatively new to Division I sports . Their SUNY connection as well as geographic proximity has fostered the rivalry and generated the name , " " The I - 88 Rivalry " ( Interstate 88 ( east ) ) . " Both teams post the largest away crowds at either school ' s athletic events . While Siena is sometimes viewed as Albany ' s top rival , Albany is largely considered Binghamton ' s biggest rival . Vermont . The athletic rivalry between Albany and the University of Vermont is mainly focused on basketball . The rivalry has been based around the success the two programs had from 2003 - 2007 , in which the two teams combined for five America East Titles . In that time frame , UAlbany and UVM met twice met in the America East Tournament finals with the Great Danes winning both games . The first win came in 2006 at home and the second came in 2007 at Vermont ( Albany ' s first - ever win at Vermont ) . Annual Sporting Events . The Department of Athletics annually host two major sporting events . The first event is the Homecoming Football Game . The University ’ s first Homecoming Weekend was held October 31 , 1953 and it featured a soccer game , punch party , and a dance . This first Homecoming appears to have been organized by the Senior Class , reuniting the Classes of 1951 , 1952 , and 1953 . Every fall since then , the UAlbany campus becomes a hub of activity during Homecoming / Family Weekend . One highlight of the Weekend is checking out Great Dane Athletics . The highest level of tail - gaiting takes place during this weekend while the University hosts the Homecoming Touchdown Tailgate . During Homecoming Weekend , the Athletic Department also enshrines players , coaches and administration from the past into the UAlbany Athletic Hall of Fame . The most recent inductees can be found at the UAlbany Athletic Website . The Big Purple Growl is the annual winter homecoming . The Ferocious Feast kicks off the festivities with lots of great food and fun . The Growl usually features a doubleheader with both the women ’ s and men ’ s basketball teams playing home at the SEFCU Arena . Beginning in 1997 , this annual event is an exciting fun - filled , spirited day for all members of the University community . The University also hosts an annual Cross Country Meet ( UAlbany Invitational ) , Track and Field ( UAlbany Classic ) and other events . Media coverage . UAlbany Football and Men ' s Basketball games air on Fox Sports Radio WOFX AM 980 in Albany , NY . It was announced that WCDB 90 . 9 FM , the UAlbany Student Radio Station , would be broadcasting games at the start of the 2012 - 13 school year . However , half - way through the 2012 Football Season , the university once again began broadcasting games on WOFX . Roger Wyland has been the voice of the Great Danes since 1994 . Select athletic events also air on TW3 ( Albany , NY ) Television . TW3 has broadcast rights to select football , America East Conference Network ( usually involving UAlbany teams ) and men ' s and women ' s basketball games . The station has also aired select Lacrosse and Women ' s Volleyball games . WCDB has done select athletic events in past years . The station was at one point the exclusive home of UAlbany Women ' s Basketball , Men ' s Lacrosse and Women ' s Volleyball , doing select games every year . In 2007 , the university began streaming live video coverage of selected events on the University Athletic Website . The America East Website also live streams selected events . Fight song . " Purple and gold , < br > your colors shining through < br > Hear as the carillons < br > are ringing true < br > The State of New York < br > sends up its cheer to you < br > Let ’ s go Albany ! " Hail , young and old < br > We shall prevail , < br > purple and gold < br > One true triumphant call < br > Albany Danes are standing tall