Albany State football once again starts season with lofty expectations

ALBANY — Friday afternoon, the Albany State Rams will hit the football field for their first official practice of the 2018 campaign.

This year, the Rams are looking to return to the SIAC title game after missing out last year. They begin the season with the confidence of the rest of the conference, as the Rams were predicted to win the Eastern Division at SIAC Media Day.

ASU head coach Gabe Giardina said he doesn’t put too much stock in preseason predictions, but he said he is pleased to know that the program is still respected around the conference.

“I think that people realize there’s a great history and tradition here at Albany State,” Giardina said. “I think part of that is a byproduct of the entire athletic department and the things our softball team, baseball team and golf team were able to accomplish. It’s exciting to be a part of something that people are proud of and that people think are a top-notch, well run athletic department.”

Early on this season, ASU will face a traditionally tough Tuskegee team that was once again picked to win the Western Division before getting into what Giardina said will be a long stretch of equally challenging teams.

The second-year head coach said there’s more parity within the conference than people think.

“I think it’s going to be very level and very balanced, and anyone on any given Saturday could beat anyone,” Giardina said. “It sounds like everybody did a good job of recruiting, and if you just look at the conference I don’t think we have a new coach in the conference this year. That means people have been able to put their stamp on the program.”

ASU had a few players on both sides of the ball receive preseason accolades. Wide receiver Mike Green, offensive lineman Jamie Glenn and place-kicker Gabe Ballinas were named to the all-conference first team, while running back McKinley Habersham and defensive back Jaylin Boyd were named to the second team.

Giardina said what really matters is the postseason honors and this season everyone will have to step their game up in order to receive such. As a team, Giardina said they’ll have to do a better job of handling tough situations.

“I think everyone’s improved, so I think it takes us sustaining and overcoming adversity,” he said. “In our six wins last year, they weren’t tight, one possession wins, we kind of won them comfortably. The games that were tight, we did not have the competitive character that you need to win a tight ball game.

“We’re going to try and put our gives in some adverse situations during fall camp and make it really, really hard. I think we’ve already had a hard summer from a conditioning and mental toughness standpoint, so we’ve just got to keep putting bricks in place.”