City of Albany and Campus Commemorate a Football Legend with ‘Bob Ford Day'
Albany, N.Y. (February 6, 2012) – UAlbany President George Philip and Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy joined City of Albany Mayor Gerald D. Jennings for a press conference on Thursday, as the city officially proclaimed "Bob Ford Day," Feb. 2, 2012.The ceremony, held at SEFCU Arena's Hall of Fame Room, recognized the accomplishments of UAlbany head football coach Bob Ford.
Ford recorded his 250th career victory in 2011 with a 38-10 win over Northeast Conference rival Duquesne, and he is currently the active wins leader in Division I college football, spanning all BCS and FCS programs, with 255 career victories.
"I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of Coach Bob Ford," said Jennings, "He has had a positive impact on our community by inspiring countless young people both on and off the field. His contributions to our Capital City and the University at Albany are beyond comparison, and I look forward to the football program's continued success under his expert leadership."
Ford has served as the only head football coach in UAlbany history, recently completing his 39th varsity season. He has been named the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year four times, including this past season, after guiding the Great Danes to the Northeast Conference championship title and the program's first-ever FCS Playoff berth.
“Bob is, and has been, a true inspiration to hundreds of student-athletes, alumni and others in the UAlbany community,” said Philip. “As a coach, he is a master of preparation. He excels at knowing when to be tough and when to be understanding. Bob exemplifies sportsmanship.”
Ford was president of the American Football Coaches Association, is active in the National Football Foundation & Hall of Fame, and serves as vice president of the NFFCHF's Capital District Chapter. He has also been a member of the AFCA's Board of Trustees since 1994, and presently is serving on the AFCA's Division I FCS All-America Team Selection Committee. He received the New York State Athletic Administrators Distinguished Service Award in 2005.
For more news, subscribe to UAlbany's RSS headline feeds
Educationally and culturally, the University at Albany-SUNY puts "The World Within Reach" for its 17,500 students. An internationally recognized research university with 50 undergraduate majors and 125 graduate degree programs, UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as public policy, nanotechnology and criminal justice. With a curriculum enhanced by 300 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers. For more information about this globally ranked University, visit https://www.albany.edu/. For UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts, visit www.albany.edu/news/experts.shtml.
