<p>ALBANY, N.Y. — The University at Albany has decided not to play the two remaining games on its abbreviated spring football season.</p>
<p>Director of athletics Mark Benson said Wednesday the decision was not directly related to COVID-19 but “based on the extraordinary amount of injuries that have occurred this season and the overall health of our football program.”</p>
<p>“Everyone knows these are difficult times, these are difficult decisions," Benson said on a Zoom call with reporters. "Sometimes we have to make tough decisions.”</p>
<p>The Great Danes are in the Championship Subdivision and were scheduled to play at No. 8 Delaware on Saturday and at home against No. 16 Villanova the following week. </p>
<p>Head coach Greg Gattuso said the decision to opt out was made with a focus on health and safety due to the high number of injuries on the roster. The Great Danes opened the season with a win at New Hampshire but had lost three straight, including a 21-7 setback at home to Stony Brook on Saturday.</p>
<p>“We are all competitive people and have done everything in our power to play a full spring season,” Gattuso said. “We all feel terrible right now, but at the end of the day I believe this is the right thing for my players. We had nine kids come out of the game Saturday. I go out (on the field) when I think a player is injured badly and I made … six or seven trips onto the field. It was overwhelming how we were after that game and on Sunday, so that’s kind of what started the process.”</p>
<hr />
<p>More AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
<p>"</p>
