It took a mere three plays for Michael Nicastro and Albany to realize this season has a chance to be drastically different than the last.The junior linebackers interception and 38-yard return on the opening drive set the tone for Albanys 22-16 win at Buffalo last Saturday, its first over an FBS opponent. It was a watershed moment for a program thats struggled for relevancy since jumping to the FCS ranks in 1999, and an especially satisfying one for Nicastro. The 2014 All-CAA selection, who finished with 11 tackles, was playing his first game since suffering a gruesome knee injury on the same field in the Great Danes 51-14 loss to the Bulls a year prior.Anybody thats been hurt on a field the year before, theres got to be some apprehension, Albany coach Greg Gattuso said. But he went out and, I should have known, made an impact on the game. Hes just that kind of player. It shows why we missed him so much last year.Nicastros absence was one of several pitfalls that befell the Great Danes last season, when an underclassmen-laden group lost six of its final seven games and took a step back from a promising 2014 CAA debut.Theres reason to believe an upward move could be coming. Albany returns a conference-high 19 starters and has a schedule that doesnt include three of the leagues expected heavyweights in James Madison, William & Mary and Towson.With a visit to perennially rebuilding Rhode Island (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET) next up and manageable home games against Holy Cross and St. Francis to follow, the Great Danes appear to have a legitimate chance at a 4-0 start entering the defining portion of the slate -- a home date with No. 2 Richmond preceded by trips to Maine and Villanova in October.An opportunistic defense that forced 27 turnovers in 2015 adds to that optimism. The Great Danes had four more takeaways against Buffalo, including safety Mason Grays goal-line strip of Bulls quarterback Tyree Jackson that prevented a potential go-ahead touchdown with 3:52 left.Albany induced six turnovers in last Septembers 35-7 victory over Rhode Island, which has yet to reap the benefits from going young while winning just twice in coach Jim Flemings first two seasons.The Rams were inundated with early mistakes in their season-opening 55-6 loss at Kansas, with a muffed punt by All-CAA return man Harold Cooper and an opening-possession fumble putting URI in a 13-0 hole midway through the first quarter.Quarterback Wesley McKoy also seeks improvement after completing just 6 of 23 passes for 49 yards with an interception.The cleanliness of our operation needs to come a long way, Fleming said. We need to be able to compete in the short passing game. I thought there were some bright spots in the running game, we found some creases. Weve just got to find some more explosion plays.For Gattuso, the goal is maintaining the intensity, focus and execution the Great Danes displayed against Buffalo.If we dont play this way every week, we dont give ourselves a chance to win every week, we probably havent learned a lot from (this win), he said. Itll look nice in a timeline and things like that. Getting a win over an FBS school is outstanding and were very proud of that, but ultimately we need to continue to build on that start.HOUSTON, THE DUKES HAVE LIFT-OFFAny concerns of James Madisons prolific offense experiencing a decline in production under a new coaching regime were quickly dispelled on opening weekend. The 12th-ranked Dukes scored touchdowns on each of their first seven drives and generated points on the first 11 en route to their most lopsided win ever, an 80-7 thrashing of Morehead State in Mike Houstons debut. The scoring total was the highest ever by a CAA school against a Division I foe and surpassed the programs previous high of 76 points, set against Morgan State in 1995. The result also eclipsed a 72-0 rout of Lock Haven in 2000 as the Dukes largest margin of victory.Houston, who replaced current Texas State boss Everett Withers in January after guiding The Citadel to a share of the 2015 Southern Conference title, was as surprised as any by the outcome.First game, new coaching staff together, and you just never know truly what to expect, he said. But I thought that our kids were extremely focused and came out ready to play and played with a tremendous energy level. The thing that stuck out the most was how hard we played and for the most part, how clean we played all night long. Probably about as good an opening night performance as we could expect.Houston came to Harrisonburg with a reputation of developing relentless rushing attacks, and the Dukes certainly didnt disappoint in that regard. JMU produced a school-record 10 touchdowns on the ground and 498 rushing yards, its most as a Division I member.The offense likely faces a sterner test in Saturdays visit from Central Connecticut State (4 p.m. ET), which limited Lafayette to 22 rushing yards in a 24-10 loss last week.ON TAPA capsule look at Saturdays other games involving CAA teams (all times Eastern):Stony Brook (1-0) at Temple (0-1), 1 p.m.- The Seawolves are just 1-6 all-time against FBS teams but enter Lincoln Financial Field with confidence from a hard-earned 13-9 win over then-No. 19 North Dakota, while the Owls could be lacking some after surrendering 344 rushing yards in a 28-13 home loss to Army and facing a second straight week without their top offensive player, running back Jahad Thomas, due to an injured hand. The game will be a homecoming of sorts for Stony Brook coach Chuck Priore, who served as Penns offensive coordinator from 1992-99 and whose brother, Ray, is the Quakers head coach.Delaware (1-0) at Lafayette (1-0), 6 p.m.- The Blue Hens recorded a 12th consecutive victory in the series after holding Lafayette to 55 rushing yards in a 19-9 win in Newark last season, though the Leopards have already matched their 2015 win total with last weeks defeat of Central Connecticut State. Delaware cruised past Delaware State in its opener behind an outstanding return from Wes Hills. The junior running back, who missed nearly all of 2015 with a broken foot, accounted for 212 of the Blue Hens 395 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns.Elon (0-1) at Charlotte (0-1), 6 p.m.- The Phoenix try to recover from last weeks disappointing 31-6 home loss to Gardner-Webb in which they were outgained 327-59 on the ground. Elon won its lone meeting with Charlotte 20-13 in 2014, though the 49ers were in their second year of existence at the time and have since stepped up to the FBS level.Lehigh (0-1) at #22 Villanova (0-1), 6 p.m.- The Wildcats enter the final home opener of the 32-year Andy Talley era with room to improve on offense and special teams, though the defense impressed in last weeks 28-7 loss at ACC member Pittsburgh. Villanova yielded 261 total yards and got its lone points on Rob Rolles fumble recovery off freshman linebacker Drew Wileys third-quarter sack. Three of the Panthers four touchdowns came on drives starting in VU territory, with the other a 96-yard kickoff return to begin the second half. Lehigh managed only 239 yards in its 23-21 loss to visiting Monmouth and has lost four straight and seven of eight in the series.Norfolk State (1-0) at #2 Richmond (1-0), 6 p.m.- After stating their case as a potential national title contender with last weeks 37-20 notice-serving victory at Virginia, the Spiders attempt to avoid a letdown in their home opener. Norfolk State, fresh off a 20-12 win over Division II Elizabeth City State, figures to have a hard time slowing down quarterback Kyle Lauletta and a UR offense that piled up 524 total yards against the Cavaliers. NSU, led by former Spiders head coach Latrell Scott, is 1-10-1 all-time against current CAA teams.Saint Francis (0-1) at Towson (0-1), 6 p.m.- Morgan Mahalak makes his home debut and should fare better than his first game as a Tiger, when the Oregon transfer completed just 16 of 36 passes and was intercepted once in a 56-20 loss at South Florida that knocked Towson out of the STATS FCS Top 25. Saint Francis, picked third in the Northeast Conference preseason poll, surrendered 353 yards and three touchdowns through the air in last Saturdays 41-31 loss at No. 14 Montana and was held to 197 total yards in last years 35-20 defeat to the Tigers. Towson has won all four meetings with the Red Flash.#13 William & Mary (0-1) at Hampton (0-1), 6 p.m.- The Tribe also should have an easier time after being overmatched against N.C. State in their opener. William & Mary has outscored Hampton 113-28 in winning three matchups between the Tidewater residents over the previous three seasons and outgained the Pirates by a 526-150 margin in last years 40-7 rout. Kendell Anderson rushed for a career-high 195 yards for the Tribe, but the All-CAA running back had just eight on five carries while hindered by a shoulder injury in the 48-14 loss to the Wolfpack.Holy Cross (1-0) at #24 New Hampshire (0-1), 7 p.m.- UNH christens the brand-new Wildcat Stadium with a potentially challenging test. Holy Cross won four of its final five games of 2015 and rolled to a 51-24 victory over Morgan State last week behind three touchdown passes from Peter Pujals, a four-year starter who earned first-team All-Patriot League honors last season. The Wildcats, who lost to Patriot member Colgate in last years FCS playoffs in the final game at Cowell Stadium, attempt to get their offense untracked after mustering 141 yards and going 0 for 14 on third downs in a 31-0 loss at Mountain West power San Diego State.Maine (0-1) at Toledo (1-0), 7 p.m.- After coming close to knocking off an FBS bowl participant from last season in their first game under Joe Harasymiak, the Black Bears take on another in a Toledo team that finished 10-2 a year ago and amassed 556 total yards in last Fridays 31-10 road win at Arkansas State. Maine wont have top wide receiver Micah Wright available for a second straight week due to a suspension, though Jaleel Reed filled in nicely during the narrow 24-21 loss at Connecticut by totaling 169 yards and a touchdown on eight catches. Cheap Cubs Jerseys . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Wholesale Custom Cubs Shirts . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. http://www.customcubsjersey.com/ . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Custom Cubs Jerseys . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Cheap Custom Cubs Jersey . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Dance parties. Dark chocolate. Calls to mom.All are helping Missy Franklin cope with an Olympics gone wrong.A huge star at the London Games four years ago, Franklin was one of the biggest U.S. disappointments in Rio de Janeiro -- an inexplicable fall shes at a loss to explain.I really wish I could tell you, Franklin said Thursday, not long before her final race. In my mind, I made the hardest sacrifices Ive ever had to make this year. Ive poured myself into this every single day for the whole year and the three years leading up to that. For whatever reason, its just not happening at this meet.Franklins last event epitomized her struggles.In the 200-meter backstroke, an event she won at London, Franklin finished next-to-last in her semifinal heat with the 14th-ranked time overall, 2 minutes, 9.74 seconds. That was nearly 3 seconds slower than her semifinal time at the 2012 Games -- and more than 5 1/2 seconds off her gold medal-winning performance.This has been by far the hardest week of my entire life, Franklin said, her voice breaking and tears in her eyes. Theres definitely a bit of relief that it is over.As a high school senior-to-be, Franklin competed in a staggering seven events in 2012, winning four gold medals and a bronze. She became only the second American woman, after Amy Van Dyken, to capture four golds at a single Olympics.But, following two years swimming collegiately at California and then turning pro last summer, Franklin hasnt been able to recapture the form that made her one of the most-hyped -- and heavily sponsored -- U.S. athletes heading into the Rio Olympics.She struggled at the U.S. trials, qualifying for the team in only two individual events, both with runner-up finishes.In Rio, she didnt make the final of either event, also getting knocked out in the semifinals of the 200 freestyle. Given her form, the coaches only picked her to swim the preliminary of the 4x200 free relay, a decision that would have seemed unfathomable just a few months ago but didnt meet with any protest from Franklin.I was absolutely fine with it, Franklin said. They 100 percent made the right decision.The 21-year-old still earned a gold medal -- the fifth of her career -- when a Katie Ledecky-led squad swept to victory in the relay final.That did little to ease the sting for Franklin.Shes ready to go home to Colorado.Right now, my future is not warming down and eating a Popsicle tonight, she said, recapturing her omnipresent smile. Thats just about all Im thinking about. Its been a really hard year for me. Its going to take some time for me to recover from it and thats what I pplan on doing.dddddddddddd Spending some quality time with family and just getting back on my feet and making sure that I keep a smile on my face the whole time.To her credit, Franklin showed that her bubbly, accommodating personality was no facade.She never skipped out on a session with reporters in the mixed zone, even when she knew what the questions would be. Instead of avoiding the media, she was always gracious and forthcoming.Franklin has coped with her struggles by leaning heavily on her religious faith.My faith in God is really getting me through, she said. I know that hes going to make something beautiful out of this, hes going to transform me and my life into doing something from all of this. I have no clue what that is. I wish I could ask him what hes going to do.Her teammates did all they could to help.I just throw a couple of random dance parties. I take some really, really horrendous Snapchats of her, Cierra Runge said. Whatever I can do to make her laugh.Those Dove chocolate candies with the inspirational messages on the wrapper help, too.One of the verses really stuck with Franklin.Every day is an opportunity to change things for the better, she recounted. That was a good reminder that regardless of how things have been going, how Ive been feeling, every day is a new opportunity.And, of course, she can always turn to her family.Youre never too old to call your mom and cry and ask her for advice, Franklin said. Its going to be OK. Im loved. Im supported. When you put things in perspective, if a disappointing meet is the worst thing that happens in my life, then I have a pretty damn good life.Franklin will return to Cal in the fall to resume her studies, but she made clear that her swimming career isnt over.It doesnt mean Im anywhere close to being done with this sport, she said. Ive got so much left to give to this sport, to my fans, to the people whove been supporting me.If theres a bright side, Franklin has learned just how much shes really loved.Yeah, its a disappointment. But the support Ive received has shown me so much more than I ever couldve expected, she said. Youre so much more than the number of medals you have, youre so much more than the time you spend in the pool, your value goes so beyond all of that. I dont think I ever wouldve come to that realization without going through something like this.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry . ' ' '