GREENVILLE, S.C. ? The Southern Conference’s nine head football coaches have chosen Appalachian State as a near-unanimous choice to repeat as league champions in 2008, it was announced today at the 2008 SoCon Football Rouser presented by Carolina Ford Dealers at the Embassy Suites in Greenville, S.C.

 

The Mountaineers garnered eight first-place votes and 64 total points in the poll in which coaches were not permitted to vote for the own team. ASU returns 14 starters from its 2007 squad which went 13-2 and claimed the FCS national championship for the third year in a row.

 

Elon, which finished 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the SoCon last season, earned one first-place vote and 47 total points to sit in the second slot. The Phoenix return 21 starters in 2008 after recording its best-ever SoCon finish last season.

 

Defending co-champion Wofford (45 points) was picked to finish third while Georgia Southern (44) was slated to finish fourth and Furman (41) was tabbed to place fifth.

 

The Citadel (37) grabbed the sixth spot in the coaches’ predictions while Chattanooga (19), Western Carolina (17) and SoCon-newcomer Samford (10) were predicted to finish in the final three positions in the standings.

 

 

2008 SoCon Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll

 

Place      School (First-place votes)       Points

1.            Appalachian State (8)                  64

2.            Elon (1)                                      47

3.            Wofford                                      45

4.            Georgia Southern                        44

5.            Furman                                      41

6.            The Citadel                                 37

7.            Chattanooga                               19

8.            Western Carolina                        17

9.            Samford                                     10