Sam Houston State tabbed third in preseason SLC coaches poll
7/26/2007 1:00:00 AM | Football
From The Huntsville Item
By Cody Stark , Assistant Sports Editor
HOUSTON
? After a turnaround season that had them one win away from a Southland
Conference championship in 2006, the Sam Houston State football team is
back in the top three of the league's preseason polls.
The Bearkats were picked near the bottom of the preseason polls the
previous two seasons but ended up finishing second in the SLC last year
with a 4-2 record. With a host of returning talent and a potentially
explosive offense, SHSU has been tabbed third in the coaches (36 total
points) and second in the sports information directors polls (43)
announced Monday at the SLC Football Media Days luncheon.
McNeese State was picked at the top of both polls, receiving six
first-place votes in the coaches poll (48 points) and five in the SIDs
(47). The Bearkats flipped flopped with Stephen F. Austin in both
polls, as the Lumberjacks were tabbed second in the coaches (42) and
third in the SIDs (32). Two SLC coaches gave SFA a pair of first-place
votes, while SHSU received three from the sports information directors.
The Bearkats, who are ranked No. 17 in the College Sports Network
national top 25 poll, have 12 returning starters back and are led by
preseason All-SLC selections tight end Blake Martin, offensive lineman
Brandon Hale, center Brennan Williams and defensive end David Branch.
They also turn the offensive reins over to highly touted transfer
quarterback Rhett Bomar from Oklahoma.
“This just goes to show that other people in the conference respect our
football team,” SHSU head coach Todd Whitten said. “The fact that we
finished second last year and have the chance to be improved is
probably the reason we were picked second or third. I think that is a
positive thing.”
“I thought that all the guys voting this year were accurate. McNeese
State has a lot of good players back, and Stephen F. tied with us for
second last year.”
The Cowboys are the defending SLC champions (they have won 11 overall)
after posting a 5-1 league mark in 2006 under then interim and now new
head coach Matt Viator. McNeese State has 15 starters returning from
last season including nine offensive and six defensive players.
It also led the league with 12 preseason All-SLC selections (nine of
the first teams), which feature 2006 player of the year Steven
Whitehead and defensive player of the year Bryan Smith.
“I think if we wouldn't have won the conference and Stephen F. or Sam
Houston would have ? they were both very close ? then they would have
been picked,” Viator said. “A lot of it is based off what you did last
year. But we do have a lot of guys back, and I think they understand
that all the games we did win were close.
“We pointed out to them in January that in order for us to have the same success we have to be a better football team.”
The Lumberjacks also finished 4-2 in the SLC last season, but their two
losses came to McNeese and SHSU by a combined seven points. With head
coach Robert McFarland departing for an assistant job Iowa State back
in December, SFA promoted defensive coordinator J.C. Peters to keep the
team heading in the right direction.
Peters has a stable of promising players to work with including
first-team All-SLC quarterback Danny Southall and running back Louie
Runnels.
“Coach McFarland let us ? the assistant coaches ? do a lot,” Peters
said. “So, I think that be keeping the rest of the staff together, the
guys feel comfortable with our plan for the future. They know me and
what we are about. I think right now the players are very happy with
the direction we are going and feel very confident with what we are
going.”
Northwestern State (31 points) was selected fourth in the coaches poll
followed by Texas State (27), Nicholls State (20), Central Arkansas
(10) and Southeastern Louisiana (10).
The SIDs poll was a little different with the Bobcats (27) and the
Demons (24) switching places. They also selected the Bears (23) sixth,
the Colonels (19) seventh and the Lions eighth (nine).
The season begins Aug. 30 and only time will tell who will be left
standing come November. As it has been proven in year's past, the
Southland Conference is full of surprises.
2007 Southland Conference
Football Preseason Polls
Coaches Poll (1st Place Votes)
1. McNeese State (6) 48
2. Stephen F. Austin (2) 42
3. Sam Houston State 36
4. Northwestern State 31
5. Texas State 27
6. Nicholls State 20
7. Central Arkansas 10
(tie) Southeastern La. 10
Sports Information Directors Poll
1. McNeese State (5) 47
2. Sam Houston State (3) 43
3. Stephen F. Austin 32
4. Texas State 27
5. Northwestern State 24
6. Central Arkansas 23
7. Nicholls State 19
8. Southeastern Louisiana 9
2007 College Sports Network
Preseason FCS Top 25 Poll
1. Appalachian State
2. Montana
3. North Dakota State
4. Youngstown State
5. New Hampshire
6. James Madison
7. Northern Iowa
8. Massachusetts
9. Illinois State
10. McNeese State
11. Furman
12. Southern Illinois
13. Portland State
14. Cal Poly
15. Wofford
16. Tennessee-Martin
17. Sam Houston State
18. Yale
19. Hampton
20. Eastern Illinois
21. Lehigh
22. South Dakota State
23. Montana State
24. Delaware
25. Princeton
