Aug. 18, 2004

Somerset, N.J. - The Stony Brook football team was picked to finish second in the Northeast Conference in 2004, according to a vote by the league's head coaches. The Seawolves return 19 of 22 starters from a team that went 6-4 in 2003. Following back-to-back NEC football titles in 2002 and 2003, Albany is the choice to capture its third straight league crown, according to a preseason poll of NEC head coaches. The Great Danes were awarded five first-place votes. Stony Brook and 2003 NEC co-champion Monmouth tied for second in the poll, followed by Robert Morris, Central Connecticut State, Wagner, Sacred Heart and St. Francis (PA). The Seawolves, which led the league in attendance last year, has perhaps the top returning offense on the curcuit with several skill players back from a team that led the NEC in both total offense and scoring. Senior quarterback T.J. Moriarty (Howell, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) is an odds-on favorite to capture all-NEC honors after leading the league in passing yardage (1,929) and total offense (2,229) last year, while senior Clinton Graham (Milton, MA/Milton/Worcester Academy) should contend for honors at running back. Graham steamrolled to 1,055 yards on the ground and 6.3 yards per rush with 12 touchdowns last season. He also snared 18 catches for 300 yards and three scores. Leading the way up front is first team all-NEC guard David Charles (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood), who enters his final season with the Seawolves. Moriarty's main target will be wideout Londre Blocker (Manhasset, NY/Manhasset), a second-team all-NEC selection in 2003. Blocker collected a team-high 48 grabs for 716 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Wide receiver Josh Anderson (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa) and Khalfani Alleyne (Orange, NJ/Orange) complement Blocker with the ability to catch the ball over the middle. Anderson made an impact with 43 catches for 389 yards last fall in additon to Alleyne's 22 receptions for 169 yards. Defensively, Stony Brook has well-balanced experience on the line, at linebacker and in the secondary. First team all-NEC defensive line selection David Bamiro (Central Islip, NY/Central Islip) stuffed opposing offenses last season with nine sacks. Veterans Chimezie Okobi (Freeport, NY/Freeport), Bryan Karp (Bellmore, NY/Mepham) and Emeka Ibekweh (Brooklyn, NY/Sheepshead Bay) combined for 13 sacks in 2003 to aid in the defensive effort up front. Backing up the defensive line unit is second team all-NEC linebacker Eddie Cobbinah (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Hayes) and his team-leading 100 tackles, ranking sixth in the NEC. Junior Mike Mounter (Jackson, NJ/Freehold Township) joins Cobbinah at linebacker in 2004 after registered 63 stops of his own, second on the squad. The secondary should also be formidable, highlighted by all-NEC second teamer Ernie Williams (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) and the return of former all-NEC selection Chad King (Ocean Township, NJ/Ocean Township). Williams posted a team-best five interceptions last year to go along with three fumble recoveries, including one he returned 85 yards for a touchdown. King is back after missing the vast majority of 2003 due to a shoulder injury. In 2002, King tied a league-record with seven interceptions and also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns. 2004 NEC Football
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Albany (5)
2. Stony Brook (2)
Monmouth (1)
4. Robert Morris
5. Central Connecticut State
6. Wagner
7. Sacred Heart
8. St. Francis (PA)