CONTACT: Jeff Foley (518) 629-8085 or (518) 373-1262
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Friday, September 1, 2000
http://www.hvcc.edu
The Hudson Valley Community College football team opens its 2000 season at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 2, hosting Lackawanna Junior College. The Northeast Football Conference matchup will be played at Veteran's Memorial Field in Troy. Veteran's Memorial Field is located on the Hudson Valley campus, directly behind the McDonough Sports Complex.
Hudson Valley is led by a host of players with local roots. Gary Jones (Ravena) is the starting tailback and Jason Owens (Albany) is slated to get the nod at quarterback. Linebacker Tyler Frank (Lake George), wide receivers Paul Zurlo (Mechanicville) and Shawn Miller (Troy), defensive back Jim Canfield (Troy), offensive lineman Dan Bailey (Colonie) and kicker James Muscatello (Cohoes) are also expected to see extensive playing time.
Hudson Valley finished with a 4-4 record in 1999. Lackawanna, a Pennsylvania team, was 6-5.
Hudson Valley's football program was established in 1969. At the time, Hudson Valley was one of only two junior colleges in New York to field a varsity football team. Since then, nearly 300 Hudson Valley football players have earned scholarships to four-year schools and 15 have gone on to play professionally. The Vikings competed in the Coca Cola Bowl in Iowa in 1980. In 1996, Hudson Valley posted an 8-0 record, part of dominant stretch that included 15 straight victories.