Dave Casale (Troy/UAlbany) Signs With CFL's Montreal Alouettes
ALBANY - Dave Casale, the 2009 University at Albany team football captain, has signed a two year contract with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. "I look forward to working as hard as I can and playing in the CFL with a championship franchise like the Alouettes," said the Troy High School graduate.
In his four seasons with UAlbany, the standout free safety totaled 224 career tackles, ranking 17th on the program’s all-time chart, and finished sixth in school history with 11 career interceptions.
During the 2009 season alone he recorded 77 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, six pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles in 11 games. He received the Great Danes’ top defensive back award.
Casale, 22, is a Troy native and graduated UAlbany with a degree in Business Administration in addition to four varsity letters. Previously he was a graduate of Troy High where he was senior captain of the football team, and twice was named All-Big Ten Conference.
“Dave has far exceeded my expectations,” said UAlbany’s Bob Ford, who has served as the school’s head football coach since 1970. “He not only turned into a good, he turned into a great one. He did it with hard work in the weight room and on the practice field and by paying attention to detail. He is extremely tough and a fierce competitor."
