WACO, Texas -- The Carson-Newman football team received its
third top 10 ranking of the preseason on Monday.
The Eagles will begin the season ranked No. 9 in the 2009 AFCA
Division II Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll. C-N, which returns 18
starters from last season's 7-4 squad that claimed a share of the
South Atlantic Conference title and advanced to the NCAA Playoffs,
received 355 points.
Tusculum is the only other SAC team listed in the poll at No.
23.
Grand Valley State (Mich.), fresh off of a quarterfinal appearance
in the 2008 NCAA Division II playoffs, opens up 2009 as the
preseason favorite to win the national championship for the sixth
time since the AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll started in 2000. The
Lakers received 12 first place votes.
Northwest Missouri State, the 2008 national runner-up, is ranked
No. 2 after receiving four first place votes. Defending national
champion Minnesota-Duluth received eight first place votes and is
ranked No. 3, while Delta State (Miss.) and Abilene Christian
(Texas) round out the top five.
North Alabama, which the Eagles play on Sept. 5 at Florence, Ala.,
in a marquee Division II matchup, is ranked No. 6.
The Eagles open the 2009 season on Thursday, Aug. 27 at Winona
State (Minn.).