GREENVILLE, SC -- The nine Southern Conference head football coaches have selected Georgia Southern as the preseason favorite to win the 2003 conference football championship.
Georgia Southern has won or shared six straight Southern Conference football championships, a league record. The Eagles return six starters on defense and six on offense including quarterback Chaz Williams who was the SoCon Offensive Player of the Year last season and fullback Jermaine Austin who was the Freshman of the Year. GSU was 11-3 overall and 7-1 in the SoCon last year while earning a sixth consecutive invitation to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs. Georgia Southern reached the semifinals for the fifth straight season before bowing to eventual national champion Western Kentucky.
GSU garnered all of the eight possible first place votes and a total of 64 points. Coaches vote for eight teams and do not include their own team in the predicted order of finish.
Appalachian State and Furman, each 8-4 last year, were picked in a tie for second place. The Mountaineers received one first place vote.
Western Carolina was picked to finish fourth with 42 points, just ahead of Wofford which received 39 points. The Citadel was selected seventh with 26 points followed by Chattanooga (21), East Tennessee State (17) and league newcomer Elon (11).
2003 SoCon Football Coaches Poll
Place Team Points
1. Georgia Southern (8) 64
T2. Appalachian State (1) 52
T2. Furman 52
4. Western Carolina 42
5. Wofford 39
6. The Citadel 26
7. Chattanooga 21
8. East Tennessee State 17
9. Elon 11
