The Albany Conquest football team announced the addition of former Engineer quarterback Dan Cole, as well as two others, to their roster Tuesday for their upcoming season.
“I was excited,” Cole said on Tuesday after the statement was released. “I’m looking forward to playing again, and looking forward to playing locally.”
In a prepared statement released by the Conquest, head coach Pete Costanza said, “I am very excited to have all three of these players under contract for the 2006 season. Dan brings us some versatility at the quarterback position.”
The Conquest also announced the signings of Shawn Miller and Derrick Black, who both played at Hudson Valley Community College. Black is currently an assistant coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Cole will likely start as the back up to both quarterback D Byrant and Tommy Jones to start the 2006 season.
Cole, who is now the Engineers’ Quarterbacks coach with RPI, set virtually every passing record in the Institute’s record book. In 32 games, the Albany native completed 671 of 1,202 passes for 8,902 yards and 87 touchdowns while throwing only 26 interceptions. In his senior season of 2003, number seven engineered a deep playoff push, leading RPI to the NCAA national semifinals and a school-record 11 victories. In that season, Cole threw for 3,679 yards and 40 touchdowns, earning the nod for Offensive Player of the Year in the Liberty League in addition to multiple National All-American honors.
Cole however, isn’t just a pocket passer. In his time at RPI, he scrambled for 823 yards and carried 13 balls into the end zone himself.
“It’s a lot quicker, and a lot more based on reaction,” Cole explained about the differences of Arena football to the kind he played at RPI. “The speed is at another level.”
Still, the Engineers’ three-time Most Valuable Offensive Player believes the offense he ran here in Troy is similar to the style he will see with the Conquest. “It will help me. We threw the ball a lot, and that’s a big part of the Arena game.”
“I think it’s a good opportunity for him,” RPI head coach Joe King said. King says that as long as Cole remains in Albany, he will have a coaching spot waiting for him at RPI.
However, the 23-year-old quarterback has aspirations of using this situation as a stepping stone to greater things.
“I’m looking to go on,” Cole admitted. After graduating in 2004, Cole had a tryout with the NFL champion New England Patriots, and during an offseason while at RPI, worked out with the Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills.
The Conquest, a member of the arenafootball2 league, begin their fifth anniversary season March 31, in Green Bay, Wisc. Its home games are played at the Pepsi Arena.
