Photo by: Mark MacLeod
Bobcats Picked Third in Preseason Big Sky Polls
7/15/2014 11:39:00 AM | Football
“It’s a complement to our program to be picked in the top three of such a tough league,” Bobcat coach Rob Ash said, “but as I say ever year, it has no effect on how the season will play out. It’s based on past accomplishments. The poll’s main motivation is that it just makes us realize that August is almost here, we’re almost ready to get back to work, and the season is just around the corner.”
Big Sky Conference coaches and media members put aside question marks at key positions, each selecting Montana State to finish third in the league's preseason poll which was released Tuesday.
"It's a complement to our program to be picked in the top three of such a tough league," Bobcat coach Rob Ash said, "but as I say ever year, it has no effect on how the season will play out. It's based on past accomplishments. The poll's main motivation is that it just makes us realize that August is almost here, we're almost ready to get back to work, and the season is just around the corner."
To no one's surprise, defending conference champion and national semifinalist Eastern Washington easily earned the nod to repeat. The Eagles picked up every first-place vote in both polls except for three dissenters - one in each poll went to Montana, while a lone media member cast their lot with MSU. The Grizzlies stand second in each poll.
The first six spots in each poll reflect a consensus. The Bobcats stand third, Cal Poly fourth, Northern Arizona fifth and Southern Utah sixth. Each of those top half-dozen have advanced to the FCS Playoffs in the past two seasons.
After that, it gets a little messy. The league's coaches see Sacramento State, Portland State and UC Davis holding the 7-8-9 spots, while the media re-orders that to UC Davis, Portland State and Sacramento State.
COACHES POLL
1. Eastern Washington (12), 144
2. Montana (1), 130
3. Montana State, 111
4. Cal Poly, 108
5. Northern Arizona, 100
6. Southern Utah, 89
7. Sacramento State, 79
8. Portland State, 71
9. UC Davis, 66
10. North Dakota, 34
11. Weber State, 30
12. Idaho State, 28
13. Northern Colorado, 23
MEDIA POLL
1. Eastern Washington (34), 464
2. Montana (1), 416
3. Montana State (1) 364
4. Cal Poly, 329
5. Northern Arizona, 328
6. Southern Utah, 299
7. UC Davis, 228
8. Portland State, 227
9. Sacramento State, 222
10. Idaho State, 124
11. North Dakota, 121
12. Weber State, 103
13. Northern Colorado, 61
"It's a complement to our program to be picked in the top three of such a tough league," Bobcat coach Rob Ash said, "but as I say ever year, it has no effect on how the season will play out. It's based on past accomplishments. The poll's main motivation is that it just makes us realize that August is almost here, we're almost ready to get back to work, and the season is just around the corner."
To no one's surprise, defending conference champion and national semifinalist Eastern Washington easily earned the nod to repeat. The Eagles picked up every first-place vote in both polls except for three dissenters - one in each poll went to Montana, while a lone media member cast their lot with MSU. The Grizzlies stand second in each poll.
The first six spots in each poll reflect a consensus. The Bobcats stand third, Cal Poly fourth, Northern Arizona fifth and Southern Utah sixth. Each of those top half-dozen have advanced to the FCS Playoffs in the past two seasons.
After that, it gets a little messy. The league's coaches see Sacramento State, Portland State and UC Davis holding the 7-8-9 spots, while the media re-orders that to UC Davis, Portland State and Sacramento State.
COACHES POLL
1. Eastern Washington (12), 144
2. Montana (1), 130
3. Montana State, 111
4. Cal Poly, 108
5. Northern Arizona, 100
6. Southern Utah, 89
7. Sacramento State, 79
8. Portland State, 71
9. UC Davis, 66
10. North Dakota, 34
11. Weber State, 30
12. Idaho State, 28
13. Northern Colorado, 23
MEDIA POLL
1. Eastern Washington (34), 464
2. Montana (1), 416
3. Montana State (1) 364
4. Cal Poly, 329
5. Northern Arizona, 328
6. Southern Utah, 299
7. UC Davis, 228
8. Portland State, 227
9. Sacramento State, 222
10. Idaho State, 124
11. North Dakota, 121
12. Weber State, 103
13. Northern Colorado, 61
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