Ashland University's football team has been picked to finish second in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's South Division, as the 2015 GLIAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll was released on Tuesday (Aug. 11) morning.
The Eagles, who finished the 2014 season at 8-2 overall, 8-2 in the GLIAC and in second place in the South, earned one first-place vote and 31 points. Ohio Dominican, the 2014 South Division champion, received six first-place votes and 36 points.
Ashland, ranked No. 23 in the 2015 Lindy's Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll, will open its 10-game schedule on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. at Lake Erie. AU's five-game home schedule begins on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. against the Panthers – one of two 2014 NCAA Division II playoff teams coming to Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field this fall (Michigan Tech on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m.).
The Eagles return 11 starters (five on offense and six on defense), and boast 40 returning letter winners.
In the first five seasons of divisional play in the GLIAC, Ashland has finished first once (2012), second once (2014) and third three times (2013, 2011 and 2010).
Ferris State, which won the 2014 North Division title, is picked to repeat, garnering seven of eight first-place votes.
For more information on the 2015 GLIAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll, go to http://www.gliac.org/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/Preseason_Poll_15.
2015 GLIAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL |
||||
NORTH DIVISION |
POINTS (1ST) |
SOUTH DIVISION |
POINTS (1ST) |
|
Ferris State |
49 (7) |
Ohio Dominican |
36 (6) |
|
Grand Valley State |
41 (1) |
31 (1) |
||
Wayne State |
33 |
Findlay |
26 |
|
Michigan Tech |
32 |
Tiffin |
19 |
|
Saginaw Valley State |
25 |
Lake Erie |
15 |
|
Hillsdale |
22 |
Walsh |
14 |
|
Northwood |
13 |
Malone |
6 |
|
Northern Michigan |
9 |
AU
FB/DS