Eagles Ranked Sixth in First AFCA Poll
Aug. 12, 2008
Waco, Tex. - The high expectations surrounding this season's Carson-Newman football team apparently extend well beyond the banks of Mossy Creek.
The Eagles notched their highest preseason ranking for the 2008 season in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Poll released late Monday. C-N took the sixth spot, earning 466 votes, including two first-place votes.
"On paper, we have a lot of key players returning," said Ken Sparks, who enters his 29th season as Eagle Head Coach. "I've never thought rankings mean too much. We have three very tough non-conference opponents to open the season, and I don't think they care too much about our ranking."
One of those opponents, North Alabama, also found itself near the top of the poll. The Lions enter the poll ranked fourth, after a 10-2 campaign on '07.
Carson-Newman hosts UNA on Thursday, Sept. 4 at Burke-Tarr Stadium. Kickoff is at 8 p.m.
Two South Atlantic Conference foes joined the Eagles' in the rankings. Catawba enters the season ranked 19th, while Newberry comes in just two votes behind the Indians at 20th. C-N faces both teams on the road this season.
Tusculum and Bentley, two more C-N road opponents, each received votes.
Defending national champion Valdosta State took the top spot with 17 first-place votes, followed by Grand Valley State, Northwest Missouri State, UNA, and California (Pa.).
Carson-Newman opens its season on Thursday, Aug. 28 at Concord University in Athens, W.Va. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Complete Poll
| American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll | |||
| August 12, 2008 | |||
| Rank | School (1st votes) | 2007 Rec. | Pts. |
| 1. | Valdosta St. (Ga.) (17) | 13-1 | 627 |
| 2. | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (6) | 12-1 | 608 |
| 3. | Northwest Missouri St. (1) | 12-2 | 596 |
| 4. | North Alabama | 10-2 | 517 |
| 5. | California (Pa.) | 13-1 | 501 |
| 6. | Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (2) | 10-1 | 466 |
| 7. | Nebraska-Omaha | 10-1 | 453 |
| 8. | Abilene Christian (Texas) | 10-3 | 405 |
| 9. | Chadron St. (Neb.) | 12-1 | 382 |
| 10. | West Texas A&M | 12-1 | 337 |
| 11. | Central Washington | 10-3 | 281 |
| 12. | Delta St. (Miss.) | 10-2 | 274 |
| 13. | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 10-2 | 268 |
| 14. | Tuskegee (Ala.) | 12-0 | 256 |
| 15. | Ashland (Ohio) | 8-2 | 246 |
| 16. | West Chester (Pa.) | 9-3 | 213 |
| 17. | Pittsburg St. (Kan.) | 8-3 | 190 |
| 18. | Texas A&M-Commerce | 5-6 | 166 |
| 19. | Catawba (N.C.) | 11-2 | 165 |
| 20. | Newberry (S.C.) | 9-2 | 163 |
| 21. | Indiana (Pa.) | 9-3 | 155 |
| 22. | Minnesota-Duluth | 4-6 | 154 |
| 23. | Mesa St. (Colo.) | 10-2 | 119 |
| 24. | Southern Connecticut St. | 9-4 | 103 |
| 25T. | Bloomsburg (Pa.) | 7-3 | 95 |
| 25T. | Virginia Union | 9-3 | 95 |
