Empire set for grand finale
Albany faces Columbus at Times Union Center for title in inaugural season
The Albany Empire’s maiden voyage in the National Arena League will end where it started.
Eleven weeks after their first NAL game at Times Union Center, the Empire will wrap up their inaugural season Saturday night, playing for the championship. The opponent is the same as in the season opener: the Columbus (Ga.) Lions.
The Empire won both earlier meetings, 65-60 on May 29 and 61-43 on July 24 in Columbus, but the third time carries the grand prize.
“To think four months ago we started from scratch, and now we’re here at the championship game,” Albany defensive coordinator Sergio Gilliam said. “We’re a talented group. I’m looking forward to it, not just for myself, but that everybody understands what is at stake and we come away with this ring.”
Gilliam was part of a coaching staff assembled quickly after the Empire found themselves without a head coach less than two months before the start of the season. Rob Keefe, who had led Albany to the Arena Football League title in 2019, resigned April 12, leaving new owner Ron Tridico little time to screen possible replacements.
The team hired Tom Menas, who planned to be the assistant head coach for the NAL’S Jersey Flight. Menas put together a staff and a roster, headed by three-time AFL Most Valuable Player Tommy Grady at quarterback, and the Empire blew through the regular season with a 7-1 record.
“When you’re in the pros, you’re hand-picked,” Menas said. “You’re literally hand-picked among hundreds if not thousands of players. That alone should tell you that you’re somewhat special. Then to be able to perform special when asked to is a great ability. That’s why we call professional football players professionals, because they can turn it on, they can give a professional performance.
“The thing I’m proudest of is I’ve watched these young players and some of the veterans getting on board with the buy-in. We’re pro football players, but we’re also a unit, a team. Do you like your brothers next to you? Do you like the people around you? Do you like the character of the team? Do you like the way we behave?”
In addition to Grady, the Empire (8-1 overall) are led offensively by receivers in Darius Prince, Malachi Jones and Phillip Barnett and fullback Jeramie Richardson, who spearheads the league’s most productive running attack. Offensive linemen Shawn Lockett and Roubbens Joseph were firstteam all-nal selections, as was Prince, the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.
“At the beginning of every season, you set goals,” Albany offensive coordinator Damon Ware said, “and one by one, we’ve taken care of our goals. To win the championship is that final goal, and having it here at home, that’s special. Hopefully, our crowd will be huge.”
Columbus quarterback Mason Espinosa, who was Grady’s backup on Albany’s 2019 AFL team, was voted — somewhat controversially, in the view of Empire fans — the league’s Most Valuable Player over Grady and Prince. According to the NAL website, Espinosa led the league in passing yards (2,230) and touchdown passes (56), but no one knows for sure since the only first-half stats are recorded for Albany’s June 26 game at Jacksonville.
“I still think Tommy’s the best quarterback in indoor football,” Menas said. “When Espinosa does it for 12 years and is in a championship and throws as many touchdowns as (Grady) throws ... I will give you a flat-out answer, and you can play it in Columbus all you want. We’re going to knock the snot out of him. If he can throw the ball from his back, they’ve got a chance, but we’re sending everybody every play. We just think we’re better than them at that.”
Notes: Fans in attendance will be required to wear masks, according to Albany County Health Department guidelines . ... The Empire listed no one on this week’s injury report. The Lions have two: WR Romond Deloatch (out) and OL Oliver Lumpkin (questionable).