Kats seventh in coaches' Southland preseason grid poll
7/27/2010 8:57:00 AM | Football
Stephen F. Austin has been tabbed as the favorite in the 2010 Southland Conference football race according to a vote of the league's head coaches.
The announcement of the preseason coaches' poll was made Wednesday at the annual Southland Conference Media Day in Lake Charles, La.
Sam Houston State is predicted to finish seventh in the eight-team league race.
The league's head coaches predicted the race to finish with SFA in first, McNeese State second, Southeastern Louisiana and Texas State tied for third, followed by Central Arkansas, Northwestern State, Sam Houston and Nicholls.
The Lumberjacks, who shared the 2009 Southland title with McNeese State, received seven out of a possible eight first place votes. Head coaches could not vote for their own teams.
SFA returns 16 starters and 40 lettermen including senior quarterback Jeremy Moses, the 2009 Southland Player of the Year.
McNeese State, which won its 13th Southland Conference football trophy in 2009, placed second in the coaches' voting with one first place vote and 43 points. The Cowboys have won six titles in the past 10 seasons and return 15 starters and 50 letter winners.
Sam Houston will start the season with one of the more inexperienced squads in the Southland. The Bearkats return only nine starters and 30 of the 62 lettermen who played on a 5-6 squad last year.
"We're starting from scratch, but I think that's exciting," Sam Houston head coach Willie Fritz said. "We had all the positions open during the spring and some guys rose to the challenge and were impressive. The veterans from spring ball will be joined by a talented group of freshmen and transfers when preseason camp begins next week."
The Bearkats' 14th head football coach is no stranger to Sam Houston State. A graduate assistant at Sam Houston under Ron Randleman in 1984 and '85 and as assistant for Randleman in '91 and '92, Fritz was part of two conference championship teams. The new coach has added more spread elements toa multiple offense that will still make use of the running back and tight end.
"We're going to have a lot of balance," Fritz said. "We're not a Texas Tech-type offense. We're not going to throw the ball 50,60 or 70 times a game. I'd like to be as balanced as possible."
Linebacker Will Henry (71 tackles in 2009), free safety Kenneth Jenkins (87 tackles), strong safety Darnell Taylor (44 tackles) kicker Miguel Antonio (12 field goals) and offensive lineman Kaleb Hopson are some of the top players returning for the 2010 Bearkats.
Bryan Randolph earned the starting quarterback job in the spring and his top passing targets will include tight end T. J. Jones and wide receivers Melvis Pride, Brandon Closner, Seth Patterson and Grant Merritt.
Sam Houston State players report for preseason camp on August 6. The Bearkats kickoff the 2010 season at Baylor on Sept. 4. The Bearkats' home opener is Sept. 25 with Gardner-Webb at Bowers Stadium.
The highlight of the 2010 season will be the 85th "Battle of the Piney Woods" showdown to be played this year at Reliant Stadium in Houston at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23.
To purchase tickets to the Battle of the Piney Woods, go directly to the ticket page and get your seats reserved today.
For information on football tickets to home games in Huntsville at Bowers Stadium, go to the football ticket link on www.gobearkats.com or visit the Sam Houston Athletic Ticket Office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE
2010 PRESEASON FOOTBALL
HEAD COACHES POLL
| Rank | Team (First Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. | Stephen F. Austin (7) | 49 |
| 2. | McNeese State (1) | 43 |
| 3. | Southeastern Louisiana | 29 |
| Texas State | 29 | |
| 5. | Central Arkansas | 27 |
| 6. | Northwestern St. | 20 |
| 7. | SAM HOUSTON | 18 |
| 8. | Nicholls | 9 |
