By Stephen Cooney
Confidence is a driving force. It can make a team go when it thinks it cannot. It can make a player perform at a higher level, and it is what makes great players what they are and everyone else seem like just another line on the field.
When teams gain confidence, they can become an unstoppable force. Players walk with their heads held high and seem ready to take on anyone. After a hard loss to UConn and a long off-week, the Pride were in need of a confidence boost.
In the fourth quarter with the score tied in Saturday’s game, the Pride seemed to be building confidence off of the arm of quarterback Cory Christopher, but unfortunately everything came crashing down. Well, better yet, bouncing back, and along with it the Pride’s confidence.
After moving the ball in what seemed to be an effortless manner on the final drive, the Pride offense slowed and lined up for a field goal to take the lead with the game winding down. Too bad Albany had other plans: blocking the field goal and forcing the game into overtime.
The team looked flat during its opening possession of overtime, moving the ball marginally and struggling to rally the energy that seemed to be dripping from their pores in the not-so-game-winning drive. To compound the problem even more, Albany blocked another field goal on fourth down to keep the Pride off of the scoreboard.
Albany’s offense stormed the field, and the running game that had been stifled by the Pride in the fourth quarter awoke, barreling the ball towards the goal line. The defense that shut down the Albany assault in the fourth quarter looked frustrated as they were backed into a corner. Their confidence deflated as Albany punched the ball over the goal line.
All the confidence that the Pride seemed to build over the hard-fought game was lost, probably somewhere underneath the pile of Albany players celebrating in their end zone.

(Sean M. Gates)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver and former Pride Football receiver Marques Colston had his jersey retired as part of a halftime ceremony that kicked off the retirement of 20 former University student athletes. Colston Suffering from torn ligaments in his thumb was able to make his way to the ceremony and receive his jersey. “It is a real real good time for me to number one come back and watch the team play a pretty good game and it is a great honor to have my jersey retired.” Colston said. (Sean M. Gates)