Cats Tabbed for Third, Fourth in League Polls
7/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
A year ago, the Big Sky Conference preseason football poll didn’t mean much to Rob Ash. On Tuesday, for different reasons, he felt the same way.
The Big Sky Conference media tabbed Montana State for third place entering the season, while the league’s coaches see the Bobcats finishing fourth. Both groups chose Montana first and Eastern Washington second, with NAU either third or fourth.
While Ash was navigating unfamiliar terrain a year ago, this year he’s back to the realization that preseason polls hold very little real impact.
“I don’t put a lot of stock in those polls,” Ash said. “They’re great publicity, they give people something to talk about, but so much happens between now and the time that we start playing league games that they just don’t hold much meaning. But, they’re fun.”
Still, Ash found no surprises in this year's preseason polls. "They look about how I expected," Ash said at his second Big Sky Summer Football Kickoff. "There are some quality teams in the Big Sky this year."
2008 BIG SKY COACHES POLL
1. Montana (7), 63
2. Eastern Washington (1), 52
3. Northern Arizona (1), 50
4. Montana State, 40
5. Weber State, 38
6. Portland State, 30
7. Sacramento State, 27
8. Idaho State, 15
9. Northern Colorado, 9
2008 BIG SKY MEDIA POLL
1. Montana (32), 361
2. Eastern Washington (19), 350
3. Montana State, 254
4. Northern Arizona (1), 248
5. Weber State, 229
6. Portland State, 194
7. Idaho State, 124
8. Sacramento State, 113
9. Northern Colorado, 65
The Big Sky Conference media tabbed Montana State for third place entering the season, while the league’s coaches see the Bobcats finishing fourth. Both groups chose Montana first and Eastern Washington second, with NAU either third or fourth.
While Ash was navigating unfamiliar terrain a year ago, this year he’s back to the realization that preseason polls hold very little real impact.
“I don’t put a lot of stock in those polls,” Ash said. “They’re great publicity, they give people something to talk about, but so much happens between now and the time that we start playing league games that they just don’t hold much meaning. But, they’re fun.”
Still, Ash found no surprises in this year's preseason polls. "They look about how I expected," Ash said at his second Big Sky Summer Football Kickoff. "There are some quality teams in the Big Sky this year."
2008 BIG SKY COACHES POLL
1. Montana (7), 63
2. Eastern Washington (1), 52
3. Northern Arizona (1), 50
4. Montana State, 40
5. Weber State, 38
6. Portland State, 30
7. Sacramento State, 27
8. Idaho State, 15
9. Northern Colorado, 9
2008 BIG SKY MEDIA POLL
1. Montana (32), 361
2. Eastern Washington (19), 350
3. Montana State, 254
4. Northern Arizona (1), 248
5. Weber State, 229
6. Portland State, 194
7. Idaho State, 124
8. Sacramento State, 113
9. Northern Colorado, 65
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