Staten Island, NY – The mood among the athletes who orchestrated the magical NCAA run was festive on Tuesday as the 2012 Wagner football team members were fitted for their Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship rings on the Spiro Sports Center's second floor .

It's been nearly three months since the Green & White made history, becoming the first Wagner football to claim an NEC title with a 23-17 win over Duquesne on November 17. The following week, the Seahawks made more history in becoming the first NEC team to win an NCAA FCS Playoff game, when they defeated Patriot League champion Colgate on Nov. 24 by the count of 31-20.

The 2012 season was extraordinary by any measure, one that featured a nine-game winning streak. Not many college football teams play games in August but the 2012 Seahawks did, taking FBS member Florida Atlantic to the wire before coming up short by a 7-3 margin on August 31.  Even fewer teams play games in December, but the Seahawks did that as well, making the cross-country trek to Spokane, WA for the NCAA second round contest at No. 4 Eastern Washington. In that December 1 tussle, the Seahawks put forth a gallant effort  before falling 29-19.

The last few weeks and months have been honor-filled for head coach Walt Hameline, and his players. Hameline, who owns a 213-127-2 (.626) record in 32 years at the controls of the Seahawk program, was named 2012 FCS National Coach of the Year by the College Football News (CFN) and the College Sports Journal (CSJ). He was also  named 2012 NEC Coach of the Year and last month was inducted into the New Jersey Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame.

Junior running back Dominique Williams (Bridgeton, NJ/ Milford Academy) earned CSJ All-American honors while redshirt freshman defensive tackle Daevonte Barnett was tabbed to the CSJ Freshman All-American Team. In addition, eight Seahawks earned All-NEC accolades.