Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The University of Delaware football squad, which will open its 2009 season Sept. 4 at home against West Chester, was one of nine Colonial Athletic Association teams to earn votes in the pre-season Collegiate Commissioner’s Association NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll announced Monday.

Delaware, which looks to bounce back from a 4-8 mark a year ago, earned 63 points and was fifth among teams also receiving votes. A total of 28 head coaches took part in the poll.

The CCA is among three major polls that will be announced each during the season. In addition to the CCA Coaches Poll, Delaware was picked 20th in the Any Given Saturday poll announced earlier this week. The Sports Network pre-season will be announced later this month.

Eight other CAA schools also were recognized in Monday’s poll led by defending national champion Richmond, which earned 10 first place votes and was picked No. 2 behind pre-season favorite Appalachian State (13 first place votes).

Also among CAA schools, Villanova was at No. 5 with one first place vote, James Madison was at No. 6 with two first place votes, New Hampshire was eighth, William & Mary was 14th, Massachusetts was 18th with one first place vote, and Hofstra was at No. 24.

No other conference had more than four teams in the pre-season Top 25.

Delaware, which will continue pre-season drills Wednesday with a 2:15 p.m. practice, will open the season Sept. 4 when the Hens host NCAA Division II power West Chester at 7 p.m. at Delaware Stadium. Plenty of good season and individual game tickets remain. Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.bluehens.com, via TicketMaster by phone, and in person at the Bob Carpenter Center Box Office.

The Blue Hens will feature one of the top defensive units in the CAA this fall led by a defensive secondary that features All-American safety Charles Graves and two-year starter Anthony Walters as well as All-American defensive end turned linebacker Matt Marcorelle. The much-improved UD offense is led by junior quarterback Pat Devlin (at right), a first-year transfer from Penn State.

AGATE:

Collegiate Commisioner’s Association FCS Coaches Pre-Season Poll: 1. Appalachian State (13 1st place votes); 2. Richmond (10); 3. Montana; 4. Northern Iowa (1); 5. Villanova (1); 6. James Madison (2); 7. Southern Illinois; 8. New Hampshire; 9. Weber State; 10. Wofford; 11. Elon; 12. Central Arkansas; 13. Cal Poly; 14. William & Mary; 15. McNeese State; 16. South Carolina State; 17. Eastern Washington; 18. Massachusetts (1); 19. Jacksonville State & Maine; 21. Texas State; 22. Harvard; 23. South Dakota State; 24. Hofstra; 25. Grambling State

Others receiving votes (points in parentheses): Liberty (76), Eastern Kentucky (72), Georgia Southern (66), Holy Cross (64), Delaware (63), Florida A&M (62), Youngstown State (56), North Dakota State (56), Furman (55), UT Martin (43), Colgate (40), Northern Arizona (34), Montana State (33), Tennessee State (25), Prairie View A&M (24), Eastern Illinois (22), UC Davis (19), Jackson State (17), Hampton (17), Southern University (13) San Diego (13), Western Illinois (12), Bethune-Cookman (12), Jacksonville (11), Princeton (10), Albany (9), Northwestern State (8), Norfolk State (4), Morgan State (3), North Carolina A&T (2), South Dakota (1), Lehigh (1), Alabama A&M (1)