File Photo Courtesy of Bill Wood

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The University of Delaware football team continued to collect pre-season Top 10 rankings Thursday as the Blue Hens earned a No. 8 ranking in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Pre-Season Poll.

Delaware, which was picked No. 9 in The Sports Network pre-season poll announced Tuesday, earned 419 points in the FCS Coaches poll and was one of four Colonial Athletic Association teams to be selected in the top 10.

The FCS Coaches Poll is based exclusively on a voting panel of head coaches in the FCS under the cooperation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and is administered by the Southern Conference.

Three-time defending national champion Appalachian State, which defeated Delaware in the 2007 national title game, was the unanimous pre-season favorite, earning all 24 first place votes and 600 points overall.

North Dakota State was second with 527 points followed by James Madison, Northern Iowa, Massachusetts, Richmond, Montana, Delaware, Eastern Washington, and McNeese State in the top 10.

Southern Illinois was at No. 11 followed by Youngstown State, Wofford, Cal Poly, Elon, New Hampshire, Georgia Southern, Eastern Illinois, Villanova, South Dakota State, Eastern Kentucky, Western Illinois, The Citadel, Harvard, and Central Arkansas.

Three conferences dominated the polls as the newly renamed Missouri Valley Football Conference, formerly Gateway, and the Colonial Athletic Association each had six teams. The Southern Conference was close behind with five teams.

The CAA had five teams in the top 20 with James Madison leading the way at No. 3 with Massachusetts (5), Richmond (6) and Delaware (8) also in the top 10. Villanova came in at No. 19.

Delaware, which went 11-4 a year ago, will open the 2008 season Aug. 30 at the University of Maryland. The Hens are led by junior All-American defensive end Matt Marcorelle (at right).

AGATE:

NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Pre-Season Poll: 1. Appalachian State (24), 600 points; 2. North Dakota State, 527; 3. James Madison, 513; 4. Northern Iowa, 508; 5. Massachusetts, 488; 6. Richmond, 456; 7. Montana, 444; 8. Delaware, 419; 9. Eastern Washington, 393; 10. McNeese State, 366; 11. Southern Illinois, 329; 12. Youngstown State, 320; 13. Wofford, 316; 14. Cal Poly, 275; 15. Elon, 247; 16. New Hampshire, 231; 17. Georgia Southern, 185; 18. Eastern Illinois, 182; 19. Villanova, 148; 20. South Dakota State, 135; 21. Eastern Kentucky, 105; 22. Western Illinois, 67; 23. The Citadel, 60; 24. Harvard, 42; 25. Central Arkansas, 41.

Other receiving votes (points in parentheses): Fordham (40), Northern Arizona (40), Delaware State (36), Liberty (33), Yale (32), Jacksonville State (30), South Carolina State (27), Sam Houston State (24), Montana State (23), Hampton (22), Hofstra (18), Furman (13), Holy Cross (9), San Diego (8), Grambling State (7), UT Martin (6), Towson (5), Coastal Carolina (5), North Dakota (5), Maine (4), Weber State (4), Jackson State (4), UC Davis (3), Dayton (2), Florida A&M (1), Prairie View A&M (1), Missouri State (1).