The Concordia University football team was picked ninth out of 14 teams in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll as announced this afternoon at the first NSIC Football Media Day held in conjunction with Alltell Wireless Vikings Training Camp on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. Full NSIC Release MSU is one of four new teams to comprise the new-look 14 team Northern Sun. The Golden Bears were tabbed with 76 points in the overall poll and were picked fifth in the seven team South Division poll with 17 points.
The University of Minnesota Duluth was picked as the Overall Coaches' Poll and North Division Coaches' Poll favorite, receiving seven overall first place votes and the maximum six first place votes in the division. Winona State was picked as the South Division favorite with five first place votes of a possible six. WSU was second in the overall poll with four first place votes and just three points shy of UMD's 151 points.
Minnesota State received three first place votes and 141 overall points in the overall poll and had the other two first place votes in the south, finishing six points behind Winona State's 35 points. In the North Division, St. Cloud State picked up the seventh first place vote, but came in third place with 27 points to U-Mary's 29 points.
The Golden Bears are coming off of a 4-7 overall season in 2007, finishing 3-6 in the Northern Sun.
Concordia University was represented by head coach Mark Mauer and seniors Tyrone Ruffin (WR, Plymouth, Minn.) and Duy Huynh (LB, Apple Valley, Minn.) at media day.
Mauer, Ruffin and Huynh had a chance to sit down and talk with some NSIC beat reporters from around the league.
Aside from the media aspect, all 14 head coaches and their student-athletes in attendance were able to get an up-close view of the Minnesota Vikings full contact practice.
The Golden Bears open the season against the NSIC preseason favorite, Minnesota Duluth, on Saturday, August 30 at 6:00 p.m. at Griffin Stadium.
