University of Delaware Earns Another Pre-Season Top 20 Ranking; Picked No. 14 in FCS Coaches Poll
August 22, 2012
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
_lg.jpg)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The University of Delaware football squad picked up its third pre-season Top 20 ranking in the last several weeks as the Blue Hens were selected at the No. 14 spot in the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll announced Wednesday.
The Blue Hens, coming off a 7-4 record a year ago for head coach K.C. Keeler, will open the 2012 season next Thursday, Aug. 30, when Delaware hosts longtime rival West Chester at 7:30 p.m. at Delaware Stadium. The Hens return 13 starters and five all-conference performers from a team that just missed a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Tickets are on sale now by calling 302-831-2257 or online at www.bluehens.com/tickets.
Earlier this month, Delaware was picked No. 15 in The Sports Network pre-season media poll and No. 13 in the College Sporting News website poll.
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.
Defending national champion North Dakota State was the No. 1 pick with 19 first place votes and 640 voting points while last year’s national runner-up Sam Houston State was at the No. 2 spot with six first place votes and 623 points. No. 3 Georgia Southern picked up the remaining first place vote and had 592 total points.
Montana State held the No. 4 spot followed by Appalachian State, Old Dominion, Northern Iowa, James Madison, Towson, and Montana in the top 10. Lehigh was at No. 11 followed by New Hampshire, Wofford, Delaware, Eastern Washington, Maine, Stony Brook, Youngstown State, Central Arkansas, Illinois State, Eastern Kentucky, Harvard, Norfolk State, Stephen F. Austin, and Indiana State.
The Colonial Athletic Association was once again the most represented conference in the poll as three CAA teams were picked in the top 10 and six were selected in the Top 20 led by No. 6 Old Dominion, No. 8 James Madison, No. 9 Towson, No. 12 New Hampshire, No. 14 Delaware, and No. 16 Maine. Delaware will play each of those teams this season except for James Madison, including home games vs. Towson and Maine.
During the regular season the Top 25 will be released every Monday afternoon.
AGATE:
2012 Football Championship Subdivision Pre-Season Top 25 Poll: 1. North Dakota State (19 first place votes); 2. Sam Houston State (6); 3. Georgia Southern (1); 4. Montana State 5. Appalachian State; 6. Old Dominion; 7. Northern Iowa; 8. James Madison; 9. Towson; 10. Montana; 11. Lehigh; 12. New Hampshire; 13. Wofford; 14. Delaware; 15. Eastern Washington; 16. Maine; 17. Stony Brook; 18. Youngstown State; 19. Central Arkansas; 20. Illinois State; 21. Eastern Kentucky; 22. Harvard; 23. Norfolk State; 24. Stephen F. Austin; 25. Indiana State.
