WACO, TX)---Four-time defending WVIAC champion Shepherd University begins
the 2008 season in the 13th spot in the pre-season NCAA Division II football
Top 25 poll conducted by the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA).
The Rams ended last season in the same poll position after completing a 10-2
record and reaching the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals. SU returns
13 starters from their 2007 club and is favored by league coaches to once
again claim the WVIAC title.
West Liberty State, an 8-3 team in 2007, ranks among squads receiving
votes. Other Northeast Region teams in the ranking include #5 California
(PA), #16 West Chester (PA), #21 Indiana (PA), #24 Southern Connecticut
State, #t25 Bloomsburg (PA), and #t25 Virginia Union.
Defending national champion Valdosta State is the pre-season #1, followed by
Grand Valley State (MI), Northwest Missouri State, and North Alabama.
The complete AFCA Division II Top 25 follows:
# Team 2007
Record Poll
Points Final 2007
Ranking 1. Valdosta State (GA) 13-1 627 1 2. Grand Valley State (MI) 12-1
608 3 3. Northwest Missouri State 12-2 596 2 4. North Alabama 10-2 517 6
5. California (PA) 13-1 501 4 6. Carson-Newman (TN) 10-1 466 14 7.
Nebraska-Omaha 10-1 453 7 8. Abilene Christian (TX) 10-3 405 15 9. Chadron
State (NE) 12-1 382 5 10. West Texas A&M 12-1 337 8 11. Central Washington
10-3 281 11 12. Delta State (MS) 10-2 274 10 *13.* *Shepherd (WV)
* *10-2* *268* *13* 14. Tuskegee (AL) 12-0 256 16 15. Ashland (OH) 8-2
246 22 16. West Chester (PA) 9-3 217 17 17. Pittsburg State (KS) 8-3
190 nr 18. Texas A&M-Commerce 5-6 166 nr 19. Catawba (NC) 11-2 165 12
20. Newberry (SC) 9-2 163 20 21. Indiana (PA) 9-3 155 18 22.
Minnesota-Duluth 4-6 154 nr 23. Mesa State (CO) 10-2 119 19 24. Southern
Connecticut State 9-4 103 nr 25. Bloomsburg (PA) 7-3 95 nr 25.
Virginia
Union 9-3 95 nr
Others Receiving Votes: Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 82; Winona St. (Minn.),
81; Albany St. (Ga.), 79; Washburn (Kan.), 64; Tarleton St.(Texas), 49; Shaw
(N.C.), 31; Southeastern Oklahoma St., 29; Missouri Western St., 23; Bentley
(Mass.), 20; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 19; Central Missouri, 18; Tusculum
(Tenn.), 14; Western Oregon, 14; Northwood (Mich.), 12; C.W. Post (N.Y.),
11; *West Liberty St. (W.Va.), 10*; Edinboro (Pa.), 9; Midwestern St.
(Texas), 9; Henderson St. (Ark.), 7; Hillsdale (Mich.), 7; Harding (Ark.),
6; Nebraska-Kearney, 6; Missouri S&T, 4; Tiffin (Ohio), 3; Colorado School
of Mines, 2; Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 2; Kentucky St., 2; St. Cloud State
(Minn.), 2.
