University of Delaware Football Picked No. 13 in College Sporting News Pre-Season Top 25 FCS Poll
August 6, 2012
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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CHICAGO -- The University of Delaware football squad, which returns 13 starters from last year’s team that just missed out on an NCAA Tournament playoff berth, has been picked No. 13 in the College Sporting News Pre-Season Top 25 poll announced recently.
Delaware, which went 7-4 a year ago for head coach K.C. Keeler but finished a win short of qualifying for the 20-team tournament, was one of six Colonial Athletic Association schools listed in the poll.
The poll was selected by members of the CSN, a website that covers NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Football. Two other major pre-season polls - sponsored by The Sports Network and by the FCS Coaches - will be announced later this month.
North Dakota State, which won its first NCAA FCS national title a year ago, was the pre-season No. 1 pick followed by national runner-up Sam Houston State. Georgia Southern came in at No. 3 followed by Montana State, James Madison, Appalachian State, Towson, Old Dominion, Northern Iowa, and Montana.
Lehigh was at No. 11 followed by 2010 national champion Eastern Washington, Delaware, New Hampshire, Wofford, Stony Brook, Youngstown State, Illinois State, Maine, and Eastern Kentucky.
Central Arkansas was at No. 21 followed by Indiana State, Liberty, Murray State, and Stephen F. Austin. Among those also receiving votes were Delaware’s local rival Villanova.
The CAA put the most schools in the Top 20 with six followed by the Southern Conference with three and the Big Sky Conference with three.
Delaware, which went unranked in last year’s final CSN poll, will face four teams ranked in the pre-season Top 25 this season as the Hens will face No. 7 Towson at home on Nov. 3, No. 8 Old Dominion on the road on Oct. 27, No. 14 New Hampshire on the road on Sept. 29, and No. 19 Maine at home on Oct. 6. The Hens will also host Villanova on Nov. 17 at Delaware Stadium.
The Hens will open the 2012 season Aug. 30 vs. West Chester at Delaware Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Plenty of great season and single game tickets are on sale on line at www.bluehens.com/tickets or by calling 302-831-2257.
AGATE:
College Sporting News 2012 FCS Preseason Top 25:
1. North Dakota State
2. Sam Houston State
3. Georgia Southern
4. Montana State
5. James Madison
6. Appalachian State
7. Towson
8. Old Dominion
9. Northern Iowa
10. Montana
11. Lehigh
12. Eastern Washington
13. Delaware
14. New Hampshire
15. Wofford
16. Stony Brook
17. Youngstown State
18. Illinois State
19. Maine
20. Eastern Kentucky
21. Central Arkansas
22. Indiana State
23. Liberty
24. Murray State
25. Stephen F. Austin.
Others receiving votes: Bethune-Cookman, Harvard, Chattanooga, Grambling State, Norfolk State, Southern Illinois, Villanova, Jacksonville State.
