University of Delaware Football Picked No. 15 in The Sports Network Pre-Season Top 25 Poll
August 16, 2012
Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Delaware football squad, just two weeks away from its season opener, has picked up another Top 15 pre-season ranking.
The Blue Hens, who will open the season on Thursday, Aug. 30 vs. West Chester at Delaware Stadium at 7:30 p.m., was selected No. 15 in The Sports Network poll announced this week. The poll is selected by media relations directors at NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision schools and by media members who cover FCS football.
Last week Delaware was picked No. 13 in the College Sporting News Top 25 poll. The Hens were also picked among the Top 25 in virtually every pre-season football publication released this summer. The Hens have now appeared in three straight TSN pre-season Top 25 polls and in 20 of the last 21 pre-season Top 25 rankings.
Delaware, which went 7-4 a year ago and narrowly missed out on a bid to the NCAA Tournament, received 1,810 points and was among a national high six teams listed in the pre-season Top 25 led by No. 5 James Madison, No. 7 Towson, No. 8 Old Dominion, No. 14 New Hampshire, No. 15 Delaware, and No. 21 Maine.
The Hens, who return 13 starters from last year’s squad, will face Towson Nov. 3 at Delaware Stadium, Old Dominion Oct. 27 in Norfolk, Va., New Hampshire Sept. 29 at Durham, N.H., and Maine Oct. 6 at Delaware Stadium. For ticket information, call 302-831-2257 or visit www.bluehens.com/tickets.html.
Sam Houston State, which returns 17 starters from last year’s team that fell to North Dakota State in the 2011 FCS championship game, earned the No. 1 spot by collecting 79 of the 151 first place votes and 3,708 points overall. North Dakota State was right behind at No. 2 with 59 first place votes and 3,625 points.
The remainder of the Top 10 included No. 3 Georgia Southern, Montana, James Madison, Appalachian State, Towson, Old Dominion, Northern Iowa, and Wofford. Georgia Southern (6), Montana (3), James Madison (3), and Appalachian State (1) also received first place votes.
Montana was at No. 11 followed by Eastern Washington, Youngstown State, New Hampshire, Delaware, Lehigh, Stony Brook, Eastern Kentucky, Illinois State, Stephen F. Austin, Maine, Jacksonville State, Indiana State, Central Arkansas, and Harvard. A total of 46 other schools also received at least one vote in the poll.
During the regular season, the Top 25 will be released every Monday afternoon, except for the final weekend of the regular season, when it will be released Sunday morning, Nov. 18, prior to the selection of the FCS playoff field.
AGATE:
2012 The Sports Network Pre-Season Top 25 Poll:
1. Sam Houston State (79 first place votes); 2. North Dakota State (59); 3. Georgia Southern (6); 4. Montana State (3); 5. James Madison (3); 6. Appalachian State (1); 7. Towson; 8. Old Dominion; 9. Northern Iowa; 10. Wofford; 11. Montana; 12. Eastern Washington; 13. Youngstown State; 14. New Hampshire; 15. Delaware; 16. Lehigh; 17. Stony Brook; 18. Eastern Kentucky; 19. Illinois State; 20. Stephen F. Austin; 21. Maine; 22. Jacksonville State; 23. Indiana State; 24. Central Arkansas; 25. Harvard.
