July 27, 2009
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina was tabbed eighth in the Southern Conference preseason football coaches' poll as both the poll and All-conference teams were announced today by the conference office.
WCU head coach Dennis Wagner and senior Chris Collins will take part in Tuesday's 2009 SoCon Football Media Teleconference, which begins at 8:45 am with Commissioner John Iamarino. Wagner is scheduled to be on the call at 1:30 pm, followed immediately by Collins at 2:00 pm.
Fans can follow the entire teleconference through www.SoConSports.com on Tuesday.
Appalachian State, which has won at least a share of the last four SoCon crowns, was unanimously selected to win the 2009 conference championship. The Mountaineers received eight first-place votes, the maximum number allowed as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. ASU also led the way with 17 total selections to the All-SoCon team with eight on the first team and nine on the second team including preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Armanti Edwards, and preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Jacque Roman.
Following ASU (64 points) in the coaches' voting is Wofford with 53 points. The Terriers finished in second place a season ago as their only league loss came at the hands of Appalachian State. Elon (51) was just two points behind Wofford in third in the preseason polling.
Furman (40) occupied the fourth spot in the poll, one point ahead of fifth-place Georgia Southern (39), which tallied the remaining first-place vote in the poll. The Paladins and Eagles finished in a three-way tie for fourth place along with Samford in 2008, as all three sported identical 4-4 league marks.
Following GSU was a tie for sixth with The Citadel and Samford each receiving 26 points, with Western Carolina (15) and Chattanooga (10) rounding out the poll.
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The Catamount football team is scheduled to report on Friday, Aug. 7, with the first team practice on Saturday, Aug. 8.
The 2009 Southern Conference football season begins on Thursday, Sept. 3 when Chattanooga entertains Glenville State at Finley Stadium at 7:00 pm. Western travels to Vanderbilt for its season-opener on Saturday, Sept. 5, with the first SoCon game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 19 when the Catamounts visit Georgia Southern at 7:00 pm to kick off the SoCon Saturday broadcast package on SportSouth.
2009 SoCon Football Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Appalachian State (8) - 64
2. Wofford - 53
3. Elon - 51
4. Furman - 40
5. Georgia Southern (1) - 39
6t. The Citadel - 26
6t. Samford - 26
8. Western Carolina - 15
9. Chattanooga - 10
