The Giants made it to the Super Bowl after the 2000 season and returned to the University at Albany for training camp the next summer. The Giants won the Super Bowl following the 2007 season and again returned to Albany, where they have held training camp since 1996 — with one interruption.
Last summer, as an after-effect of the lingering NFL lockout, the Giants decided the condensed schedule made it impossible to pack up and head upstate, so they held their camp at home at their Timex Performance Center facility. From a fan/spectator standpoint the camp was a dud, but the Giants did win another Super Bowl after the 2011 season.
“I think some people got worried when they won the Super Bowl that Tom Coughlin would say, ‘Well we won it, why do we need to go back?’ ” Kevin Galuski, the assistant athletic director at the University at Albany, said yesterday. “I never thought that.’’
Just as co-owner John Mara promised, the Giants will again make the University at Albany their training camp home this summer. Preparations are already underway at the school and Galuski, who doubles as the Director of Operations for Giants training camp, has had several conversations with Jim Phelan, the Giants Director of Administration.
One change the Giants will see is that they’ll have one fewer field to work with. What was known as Field 1 might be a pile of dirt, as that is the future site of the school’s new $24 million football stadium. That leaves the Giants three full fields, plus the school’s main football field, to work on. “They’ll have everything they need,’’ Galuski said.
* Steve Weatherford had punted for four different teams in his six years in the NFL before coming to the Giants on a one-year trial, and was so impressive throughout the 2011 season that last week he agreed to a five-year, $12.75 million contract to remain with the Giants.
It was a case of exquisite timing. Weatherford had his best season as he was about to become a free agent.
“Last year was the first year that I really felt that I could kind of place the ball wherever I wanted to,’’ Weatherford said yesterday after signing the deal. “Obviously, there are going to be some times where you’re not going to hit the ball perfect, but last year was the first year that I really felt that I had a lot of control. And the other years, I was a pro punter so obviously I’m one of the best in the world, but I just didn’t have the confidence directionally or the confidence I had this last year.’’