Rob Ash (left) and Tim Cramsey
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcats Enter Season as Nationally-Ranked Squad by FCS Coaches
8/5/2014 7:37:00 AM | Football
MSU one of four Big Sky schools in national poll
Montana State joined three other Big Sky schools in the Preseason FCS Coaches Poll, released on Monday.
Checking in at 19th, one spot ahead of where the team finished the 2013 season, MSU extended its string of consecutive weeks as a nationally-ranked squad to 61. Bobcat coach Rob Ash finds the rankings positive, but not related to anything that will happen once the ball is teed up on August 30.
"It's a complement to our program, without doubt," Ash said. "But it's a reflection of what has happened, not what will happen. This group of guys will determine our fate, and it hasn't played a game together yet. It's exciting, but doesn't have any bearing on the future."
Montana State faced FBS foe Arkansas State on August 30 in Jonesboro, Ark.
2014 FCS Coaches Poll
Preseason FCS Coaches Poll (August 4, 2014)
Team (First-Place Votes) - 2013 Record - Points - 2013 Final
1. North Dakota State (18) - 15-0 - 636 - 1
2. Eastern Washington (6) - 12-3 - 615 - 3
3. Southeastern Louisiana (1) - 11-3 - 542 - 6
4. New Hampshire - 10-5 - 510 - 5
5. Montana - 10-3 - 505 - 8
6. Coastal Carolina - 12-3 - 447 - 7
7. Towson (1) - 13-3 - 438 - 2
8. Jacksonville State - 12-2 - 425 - 12
9. McNeese State - 10-3 - 424 - 9
10. South Dakota State - 9-5 - 332 - 14
11. Eastern Illinois - 12-2 - 314 - 4
12. Fordham - 12-2 - 305 - 10
13. Villanova - 6-5 - 287 - NR
14. Sam Houston State - 9-5 - 277 - 13
15. Northern Iowa - 7-5 - 263 - NR
16. Chattanooga - 8-4 - 238 - 25
17. Tennessee State - 10-4 - 237 - 17
18. Furman - 8-6 - 188 - 21
19. Montana State - 7-5 - 170 - 20
20. Maine - 10-3 - 169 - 11
21. Youngstown State - 8-4 - 162 - 19
22. William & Mary - 7-5 - 159 - NR
23. Bethune-Cookman - 10-3 - 136 - 16
24. Richmond - 6-6 - 118 - NR
25. Northern Arizona - 9-3 - 116 - 15
Others receiving votes: Samford 95, Southern Illinois 59, Harvard 42, Charleston Southern 39, James Madison 30, Princeton 24, Southern Utah 20, Alcorn State 16, Liberty 16, Delaware 15, South Carolina State 15, Cal Poly 14, Missouri State 12, Sacred Heart 10, Wofford 8, Central Arkansas 7, Alabama State 6, Lehigh 6, Eastern Kentucky 4, Holy Cross 1, Illinois State 1, Jacksonville 1
Checking in at 19th, one spot ahead of where the team finished the 2013 season, MSU extended its string of consecutive weeks as a nationally-ranked squad to 61. Bobcat coach Rob Ash finds the rankings positive, but not related to anything that will happen once the ball is teed up on August 30.
"It's a complement to our program, without doubt," Ash said. "But it's a reflection of what has happened, not what will happen. This group of guys will determine our fate, and it hasn't played a game together yet. It's exciting, but doesn't have any bearing on the future."
Montana State faced FBS foe Arkansas State on August 30 in Jonesboro, Ark.
2014 FCS Coaches Poll
Preseason FCS Coaches Poll (August 4, 2014)
Team (First-Place Votes) - 2013 Record - Points - 2013 Final
1. North Dakota State (18) - 15-0 - 636 - 1
2. Eastern Washington (6) - 12-3 - 615 - 3
3. Southeastern Louisiana (1) - 11-3 - 542 - 6
4. New Hampshire - 10-5 - 510 - 5
5. Montana - 10-3 - 505 - 8
6. Coastal Carolina - 12-3 - 447 - 7
7. Towson (1) - 13-3 - 438 - 2
8. Jacksonville State - 12-2 - 425 - 12
9. McNeese State - 10-3 - 424 - 9
10. South Dakota State - 9-5 - 332 - 14
11. Eastern Illinois - 12-2 - 314 - 4
12. Fordham - 12-2 - 305 - 10
13. Villanova - 6-5 - 287 - NR
14. Sam Houston State - 9-5 - 277 - 13
15. Northern Iowa - 7-5 - 263 - NR
16. Chattanooga - 8-4 - 238 - 25
17. Tennessee State - 10-4 - 237 - 17
18. Furman - 8-6 - 188 - 21
19. Montana State - 7-5 - 170 - 20
20. Maine - 10-3 - 169 - 11
21. Youngstown State - 8-4 - 162 - 19
22. William & Mary - 7-5 - 159 - NR
23. Bethune-Cookman - 10-3 - 136 - 16
24. Richmond - 6-6 - 118 - NR
25. Northern Arizona - 9-3 - 116 - 15
Others receiving votes: Samford 95, Southern Illinois 59, Harvard 42, Charleston Southern 39, James Madison 30, Princeton 24, Southern Utah 20, Alcorn State 16, Liberty 16, Delaware 15, South Carolina State 15, Cal Poly 14, Missouri State 12, Sacred Heart 10, Wofford 8, Central Arkansas 7, Alabama State 6, Lehigh 6, Eastern Kentucky 4, Holy Cross 1, Illinois State 1, Jacksonville 1
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