Eagles Ranked Ninth in Lindy's Sports Preseason Poll

July 13, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Carson-Newman football team is ranked No. 9 in the 2009 Lindy's Sports Preseason Poll.

C-N, which went 7-4 in 2008 and won a share of the South Atlantic Conference title to earn a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs, was one of four SAC teams listed in the poll. Catawba is ranked No. 15, followed by Tusculum at No. 20 and Mars Hill at No. 24.

Last season's national runner-up Northwest Missouri State is ranked No. 1. Grand Valley State, 2008 national champion Minnesota-Duluth, Delta State and California (Pa.) round out the top five.

North Alabama, which the Eagles play on Sept. 5 at Florence, Ala., in a marquee Division II matchup, is ranked No. 14.

The poll is the second of the preseason to list the Eagles as a top 10 team. C-N was also ranked No. 8 in The Sporting News Preseason Poll.

The Eagles and head coach Ken Sparks, who enters his 30th season at the helm of the program, open the 2009 campaign on Thursday, Aug. 27 at Winona State (Minn.).

Lindy's Sports Preseason Division II Football Poll
Rk. Team
1. Northwest Missouri State
2. Grand Valley State
3. Minnesota-Duluth
4. Delta State
5. California (Pa.)
6. Pittsburg State
7. Bloomsburg
8. Abilene Christian
9. Carson-Newman
10. Valdosta State
11. Chadron State
12. West Texas A&M
13. Ashland
14. North Alabama
15. Catawba
16. Tuskegee
17. West Chester
18. Nebraska-Kearney
19. Indiana (Pa.)
20. Tusculum
21. Edinboro
22. Wayne State (Neb.)
23. Seton Hill
24. Mars Hill
25. Central Washington