This is another edition of the Biz of Football’s “Five Questions With” series which interviews people from all parts of the world of football in order to get a perspective on the game from every angle.

Chris Albanese is a tight end on the Ohio Dominican football team of the Mid States Football Association conference in the NAIA. Albanese’s main help to the team comes during the week when he helps to prepare the starters as a member of the scout team.

Albanese will be entering his fourth season with the school this year. Last year, Ohio Dominican went through the regular season undefeated only to lose in the NAIA playoffs.

This shows that the team is a far cry from where they were just four seasons ago when they were in their first season of existence.

Albanese was recruited out of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio and believes that his team will keep improving as years go by.

Ohio Dominican is preparing to enter the NCAA at the Division II level in a couple of years and they are going through many changes because of this.

Topics covered in the interview include the team’s undefeated streak, Albanese’s role on the team, how playing in the NAIA football differs from most college football experiences and what its like to be involved in a school’s change of associations.

Bill Jordan for the Biz of Football: How would you describe your role on the team?

Chris Albanese: I am a scout team player and prepare the defense for the other teams’ offense every week.

BizBall: Your team reeled off an amazing streak of victories last year, what was it like to be a part of that?

Albanese: It was an amazing feeling to be in the midst of a winning streak like that.  Everywhere there is a buzz about the national championship and how we were only a fourth year team.  We exceeded all expectations but our own and because of that we received special attention.  Having a winning streak that profound was recognized but since we are only NAIA one news cast called us “the second best team in Columbus.” Mainly the way it felt, in the midst of it all, was that it could never end.

BizBall: How is football at an NAIA school different than other college football programs?

Albanese: Since I have never been to any other colleges to experience their atmosphere I can only go from my comparison of what I hear to what I experience.  NAIA ball is much more relaxed.  There are still rivalries, tremendous athletes; there are some NAIA players who have gone pro, tough games, T.V. spotlights and most importantly, scholarships.  The scholarship was the reason I came to Ohio Dominican University.  The school is small, not even four thousand kids, so everyone knows who we are, not as football superstars who went 11-0 in the regular season but as students and friends.  Most NAIA schools do not have the stadium capacity or locker room accessories of NCAA Division I schools.  NCAA is an extremely expensive league to belong to and therefore puts more money into their programs which could have otherwise gone to scholarships. NAIA has no drug or steroid testing.

BizBall: What kind of process is the team going through to get ready to be Division II in the NCAA in a couple of years?

Albanese: Upon announcing our new contract with NCAA to the players, our coaching staff also made it a point to make sure those issues are to be forgotten about for the time being. Most preparation has already been done by the school and the coaching staff.  We were required to give a two year notice to Mid States Football Association and needed to have money allocated from the school to go towards NCAA entrance and association fees.

BizBall: How do you feel the team will perform next season?

Albanese: We lost one senior on defense and three on offense.  Our eyes are set on the National Championship and our hearts believe we are destined for it this year.  I feel our team has plenty of leadership and talent and will be contenders up against anyone we face.  Personally, I don’t see anyone in our league stopping us.

BizBall: Have you been able to get a sense of how recruiting has gone this off season?

Albanese: I have not.  Our coaching staff is active in recruiting and our base is widespread, bringing in athletes who want to win from Maryland to Florida.  

BizBall: What did the coaches do to draw you to Ohio Dominican?

Albanese: I was recruited during the inaugural season at Ohio Dominican so I came in the second season. The team could only do better after toughing through a 0-10 opening season. With a brand new top of the line turf field just put in and the promise of grand stands, lights and locker rooms the program was seeming to grow quickly and well.  The head coach has started other teams and the last one he was at won their national title just four years later. 

BizBall: What's the best part of being involved with the football team at Ohio Dominican?

Albanese: Watching the improvement. Like I said, when I came, the team just came out of an 0-10 season.  Since then I have watched my fellow teammates get stronger, faster and much more knowledgeable about the game.  Our second season we went 3-7, followed by a 7-3 season and then last year we went 12-1.  The personal gains of each of our players in strength speed and knowledge is directly liked to our game play and our record.  The best part of being a football player at Ohio Dominican is, well, you’ll understand at the end of our next season, after the championship game in Rome, Georgia.

For more interviews from the "Five Questions With" series check here and here.

More Biz of Football interviews can be found here.

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