MSU will have reason to celebrate if Big Sky coaches are right
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcats Tabbed First, Second in Preseason Football Polls
7/21/2015 8:45:00 AM | Football
MSU, Eastern Washington chosen for top of league
Big Sky Conference football standings won't be at stake when Montana State and Eastern Washington tangle in football on September 19 in Cheney, but bragging rights between the league's coaches and media members might.
That clash between perennial league title contenders on September 19 in Cheney will stand for all time as a non-conference affair, but it pits the teams selected by Big Sky Conference coaches (MSU) and media members (Eastern Washington) to win the conference in 2015. If those two teams end up battling to the end, it won't be a surprise. Either MSU or Eastern Washington – or both – has won a share of every Big Sky title since 2010.
"It's a nice tribute," Bobcat coach Rob Ash said, "but it doesn't have much relevance to what will happen on the field this fall. Still, I'd rather be picked high in preseason polls because it means you probably had a good season the year before with a good group of returning players, and that's a position every coach wants to be in."
While the media and coaches couldn't find consensus on the Bobcats and Eastern, they did one spot lower, with Montana landing in third in each poll. After that, things are more muddled. Idaho State, which received five media votes to win the league, joins Cal Poly, NAU, Sacramento State and Southern Utah as the next five squads in some order in both polls. Northern Colorado was tabbed last in each poll.
The Bobcats return nine offensive starters from 2014, including preseason first team All-America J.P. Flynn, an offensive guard, and an FCS offensive player of the year candidate in quarterback Dakota Prukop. Three starters return on a retooled defense, while preseason First Team All-Big Sky special teams player Chad Newell joins kicker Luke Daly and punter Trevor Bolton to form a strong special teams core.
MEDIA
Eastern Washington (17), 553
Montana State (17), 541
Montana (5), 446
Idaho State (5), 446
Cal Poly (1), 433
Northern Arizona (1), 399
Sacramento State, 278
Southern Utah, 255
North Dakota, 226
Weber State, 160
UC Davis, 145
Portland State, 133
Northern Colorado, 127
COACHES
Montana State (6), 134
Eastern Washington (6), 133
Montana (1), 121
Cal Poly, 111
Northern Arizona, 95
Idaho State, 90
Sacramento State, 66
Southern Utah, 64
Portland State, 51
North Dakota, 51
Weber State, 43
UC Davis, 33
Northern Colorado, 22
That clash between perennial league title contenders on September 19 in Cheney will stand for all time as a non-conference affair, but it pits the teams selected by Big Sky Conference coaches (MSU) and media members (Eastern Washington) to win the conference in 2015. If those two teams end up battling to the end, it won't be a surprise. Either MSU or Eastern Washington – or both – has won a share of every Big Sky title since 2010.
"It's a nice tribute," Bobcat coach Rob Ash said, "but it doesn't have much relevance to what will happen on the field this fall. Still, I'd rather be picked high in preseason polls because it means you probably had a good season the year before with a good group of returning players, and that's a position every coach wants to be in."
While the media and coaches couldn't find consensus on the Bobcats and Eastern, they did one spot lower, with Montana landing in third in each poll. After that, things are more muddled. Idaho State, which received five media votes to win the league, joins Cal Poly, NAU, Sacramento State and Southern Utah as the next five squads in some order in both polls. Northern Colorado was tabbed last in each poll.
The Bobcats return nine offensive starters from 2014, including preseason first team All-America J.P. Flynn, an offensive guard, and an FCS offensive player of the year candidate in quarterback Dakota Prukop. Three starters return on a retooled defense, while preseason First Team All-Big Sky special teams player Chad Newell joins kicker Luke Daly and punter Trevor Bolton to form a strong special teams core.
MEDIA
Eastern Washington (17), 553
Montana State (17), 541
Montana (5), 446
Idaho State (5), 446
Cal Poly (1), 433
Northern Arizona (1), 399
Sacramento State, 278
Southern Utah, 255
North Dakota, 226
Weber State, 160
UC Davis, 145
Portland State, 133
Northern Colorado, 127
COACHES
Montana State (6), 134
Eastern Washington (6), 133
Montana (1), 121
Cal Poly, 111
Northern Arizona, 95
Idaho State, 90
Sacramento State, 66
Southern Utah, 64
Portland State, 51
North Dakota, 51
Weber State, 43
UC Davis, 33
Northern Colorado, 22
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
