File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Delaware football team, consistently ranked in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Top 10 in most summer publications, earned another top 10 ranking Tuesday as the Blue Hens were picked No. 9 in The Sports Network pre-season poll.

The Sports Network poll, widely accepted as the “official” FCS Top 25 poll, consists of voting from FCS sports information directors and media members who cover those teams. TSN will issue a weekly poll throughout the regular season beginning Monday, Sept. 1.

Delaware earned 1,747 total points from 101 total voters, becoming one of four Colonial Athletic Association teams to be picked in the Top 10 and one of six CAA schools in the top 25. In addition, CAA members Hofstra and Maine also received votes but did not appear in the Top 25.

Delaware, which ended the 2007 season No. 2 in the poll after being picked No. 19 in the pre-season rankings, has now appeared in the TSN pre-season Top 25 poll 16 straight seasons.

The Hens, who will open the season Aug. 30 at the University of Maryland, return 14 starters from last year’s team that went 11-4, won three NCAA playoff games, and was named the Lambert Cup Trophy champions and the Eastern College Athletic Conference Team of the Year. Maryland earned Top 25 votes in the first Associated Press pre-season poll announced earlier this month.

Appalachian State, the three-time defending national champion and a 49-21 winner over Delaware in the 2007 FCS national championship game, was the overwhelming pick at No. 1. The Mountaineers gained 97 first place votes and 2,546 points overall.

North Dakota State,which will be eligible for the NCAA Tournament for the first time this season, was second with one first place vote and 2,275 points followed by Northern Iowa, Richmond, Massachusetts, James Madison, Eastern Washington, Montana, Delaware, and McNeese State in the top 10. James Madison also received three first place votes.

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

Delaware, led by seventh-year head coach K.C. Keeler, will face eight teams this season that earned votes in the Top 25 poll. The Blue Hens will face No. 4 Richmond Nov. 16 at Richmond, No. 5 Massachusetts Oct. 4 in Amherst, Mass., No. 6 James Madison Nov. 1 in Harrisonburg, Va., and No. 21 Villanova Nov. 23 at Delaware Stadium.

In addition, the Hens will face four other teams that earned votes in the poll - Sept. 20 at Furman in Greenville, S.C., Sept. 29 vs. Albany at Delaware Stadium, Oct. 11 vs. Maine at Delaware Stadium, and Nov. 25 at Hofstra in Hempstead, N.Y.

Senior wide receiver and co-captain Kervin Michaud (at right) leads the Blue Hens.

AGATE:

The Sports Network Pre-Season Top 25 Football Poll: 1. Appalachian State (97 first place votes), 2,546 points; 2. North Dakota State (1), 2,275; 3. Northern Iowa, 2,204; 4. Richmond, 2,162; 5. Massachusetts, 2,148; 6. James Madison (3), 2,078; 7. Eastern Washington, 1,951; 8. Montana, 1,848; 9. Delaware, 1,747; 10. McNeese State, 1,687; 11. Southern Illinois, 1,286; 12. Youngstown State, 1,228; 13. Wofford, 1,158; 14. Cal Poly, 1,081; 15. Elon, 1,028; 16. New Hampshire, 760; 17. Georgia Southern, 656; 18. Eastern Illinois, 622; 19. South Dakota State, 547; 20. Eastern Kentucky, 487; 21. Villanova, 396; 22. Central Arkansas, 374; 23. The Citadel, 317; 24. Harvard, 316; 25. Western Illinois, 299.

Other teams of note receiving votes: Delaware State, 198; Furman, 120; Hofstra, 61; Albany, 4; Maine 1.