Football Ranked Third on MAC Preseason Poll

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 

ANNVILLE, Pa. - The defending Middle Atlantic Conference Championship Lions have been ranked third on the 2009 MAC Coaches Preseason Poll, which was released early Wednesday morning.

Albright who was named tri-champs a year ago with Lycoming College and Delaware Valley College totaled 45 points on this season’s poll.  In ‘08 the red and white recorded their first eight win season (8-3) since 2004 and brought home their first ECAC Bowl game title since 2001.

The Lions will welcome back five of the eight players selected to the various MAC All-Conference teams last season.  Included in those five returning all-conference players is the 2008 Rookie of the Year Josan Holmes.  Holmes became the first running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season in over 15 years.  He also tied the all-time single game touchdown record with four in the 42-14 victory over Montclair State. 

Ranked first on this year’s preseason poll were the Aggies of Delaware Valley College with 57 points and seven first place votes.  In second were the Warriors of Lycoming College (46 pts, 1 first place vote) who earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament last season.

Sitting in fourth were the Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley College with 36 points, followed by the Pride of Widener University in fifth (35 pts).  The final three spots on this year’s preseason poll were as follows, Wilkes in sixth with 33 points, King’s in seventh with 20 points, and FDU-Florham in eighth with 15 points.

Albright will kick-off their 2009 campaign on Saturday, September 5th when they travel to Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa. 

2009 MAC Football Coaches Poll

1.     DVC 57 points (7)
2.     LYCO 46 points (1)
3.     ALB 45 points
4.     LVC 36 points
5.     WID 35 points
6.     WIL 33 points
7.     KINGS 20 points
8.     FDU 15 points

( ) - Indicates first place votes

 Coach Mike Hoyt Selected to NCAA Champions Forum

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - On Thursday, the NCAA announced the selection of Assistant Football Coach Mike Hoyt as one of 10 individuals to be apart of the NCAA’s Champion Forum. 

Coach Hoyt, who is now in his sixth season with the Lions, will take part in this three day event, which is scheduled begin on June 18th and end on the 21st.  This special forum will run in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors Athletics Convention in Orlando, Florida. 

At Left:  Coach Mike Hoyt

The individuals that were selected for this forum were chosen by a distinguished group of retired head coaches and current head coaches, and were regarded as the most highly qualified individuals to be a head coach at the present time.  Each coach will be paired with an esteemed Athletic Director from around the country. 

During the forum the Athletic Director will have an opportunity to develop a relationship by getting to know the coach in a one-on-one environment.  In turn, the coach will gain an understanding for the mindset of the Athletic Director and the intricacies of hiring the ideal head coach for their program. 

The ultimate goal of this forum is for the Athletic Directors to become a champion for the coaches by assisting these exclusive few with their future career growth.  The NCAA believes that this will not only help the coaches with their development, but will also broaden the horizon for the Athletic Directors on potential head coaching prospects. 

 Football Hosts 3rd Annual Free Youth Camp and Linemen Challenge

Monday, May 11, 2009 

READING, Pa. - The Albright Football team hosted it’s 3rd annual free youth football camp at Shirk Stadium.  Over 50 youth from the Reading, Pa. and surrounding area participated in this years camp.  As part of their continuing community service efforts, the Albright College football team developed, organized, and coached the camp through its entirety.  The participants received a free t-shirt and lunch following the camp.  Every aspect within the game of football was individually coached by the Albright College football team. 

Camp participants were engaged in quarterback fundamentals and mechanics, proper stance and techniques of offensive and defensive linemen, and even the correct way to kick a field goal! 

The free youth camp was concluded with a Punt, Pass, and Kick competition in which each winner was given an award.  Dan Duddy Sr., the Hall of Fame High School football coach from Monsignor Donovan High School (Toms River, NJ) presented a motivational and inspirational message on the “game of football and game of life” to the camp participants at the end of the day.

Following the conclusion of the free youth football camp, campers and parents were given the opportunity to watch the coaches test their abilities in the third annual linemen challenge.

The offensive line competed versus the defensive line in six ‘strong man’ type events that tested strength, speed, power, and agility.   

Players competed in the joust, atlas logs, cart pull, farmers walk, tire flip, and obstacle course.  In the joust, players stood on platforms and used agility bags to knock the opponent off. 

The atlas logs was a timed event in which players stacked increasingly heavy logs onto platforms of ascending height.  In the third event, coaches loaded onto a maintenance vehicle in which the performers had to pull 30 yards for time.  Competitors gripped thirty pound plates and walked for distance in the farmers walk contest. 

The most popular event of the day, the tire flip, was an event that demonstrated strength and endurance.  Competitors flipped a 400 pound tire continuously for 20 yards.  To end the competition the players took part in the obstacle course which consisted of agility drills, a sled drive, tire flip, hoop run, weave, and sprint to the finish. 

The offense and defense went back and forth changing leads throughout the afternoon.  In the end, the defense ran away in securing the victory in the obstacle course. 

Click here to view photos from the 2009 Free Youth Football Clinic

Click here to view photos from the 2009 Linemen Challenge

 Football Seniors Leading the way in the Local Community

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

READING, Pa. – On Sunday, May 3rd the Albright College football senior class conducted their yearly community service project.  This year they chose to help the Berks County chapter of Operation Enduring Freedom.  Senior linebacker Ryan McAdams and running back Jantzen Linn headed the effort and organized the 19 members of the Lions Senior class in their community outreach.

The senior football players spent four hours helping the group to make up care packages that included hygiene products, magazines, envelopes, paper, pens, decks of cards, small games, CDs, snack foods and a number of other products. 

The Berks County chapter of Operation Enduring Freedom is a group that collects donated items from the local community and makes care packages for Military Personnel serving on oversea deployments.  For more information about Berks Operation Enduring Freedom or to find out how to help visit their website at http://www.berksenduringfreedom.com/.

Click here to view photos from the Albright Football Senior Community Service Project.

 Albright Football Playing it’s Part in the Community

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 

READING, Pa. - On Saturday, April 18th 44 members of the Albright College Football freshman class traveled to Chadds Ford, Pa. to take part in their yearly community service project.  This year the players along with a few members of the coaching staff volunteered their time at The Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting Association.

In preparation for the 2009 season, the camp made great use of the large group of volunteers.  Led by Assistant Coach Steve Opgenorth and freshman offensive lineman Stu Grogan the players worked on all aspects of the camp, including their more than 100 year old cottages.  In just a five hour time frame, the members of the Albright Football team made tremendous improvements to the camp. 

As part of their continued involvement in the community, the three remaining classes from the Albright Football team will each take part in their own community service projects.

Established in 1884 the Brandywine Summit Camp Association (BSCA) and is one of the oldest continually operating camp meetings in Pennsylvania.  For more information about the BSCA go to http://www.bscmai.org/index.html.

Click here to view photos from the Albright Football freshman community service project.