Annville, Pa. – Lycoming College has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the conference according to the 2014 Middle Atlantic Conference Preseason Football Coaches Poll. The Warriors received five, first place votes and earned a total of 77 points to top the poll.
The Warriors are returning six USA Football Network Preseason All-Americans and were ranked just outside the top 25 in the D3football.com national preseason poll. The Warriors are listed fourth in the Others Receiving Votes portion of the poll, sitting behind Milsaps, Illinois Wesleyan and Maryville. No other Middle Atlantic Conference school received a vote.
The 2013 Warriors finished 7-3 overall and 7-2 in the MAC under sixth-year head coach Mike Clark. The team claimed a share of the 15th MAC title in school history, tying for first with Lebanon Valley. The team was once again led by its defense, which finished tops in the MAC, allowing a league-best 304.0 yards, 91.4 rushing yards and 18.3 points per game.
Delaware Valley College claimed the second spot in the yearly preseason poll after a fourth place finish in the MAC a season ago. The Aggies received one first place vote and earned a total of 68 points.
Nipping at the Aggies heels in the preseason poll is 2013 co-champions the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen. The Dutchmen seemingly came out of nowhere last season to grab a share of the conference crown, their first title in school history and earned the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA postseason tournament.
LVC received four first place votes and a total of 65 points to earn the third spot in the coaches’ poll. The Dutchmen were picked fifth in last year’s preseason poll.
Widener University and Albright College round out the poll’s top five spots with Widener earning the fourth slot with 58 points and Albright the fifth spot with 48 points.
2014 Preseason Football Coaches Poll:
1) Lycoming 77 (5)
2) Delaware Valley 68 (1)
3) Lebanon Valley 65 (4)
4) Widener 58
5) Albright 48
6) King's 40
7) Stevenson 38
8) Wilkes 30
9) Misericordia 19
10) FDU 10
(*) Denotes first place votes