Mountaineers look to win fifth consecutive SoCon football title
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference football coaches have unanimously selected Appalachian State as the preseason favorite to win the league crown in 2009.
ASU, winners of four consecutive SoCon crowns including a shared title with Wofford in 2007, received eight first-place votes in the balloting, the maximum number allowed as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. The Mountaineers return 18 starters this season, including seven on offense and 9-of-11 on defense.
Highlighting the list of returnees is 2008 Walter Payton Award winner and SoCon Offensive Player of the Year Armanti Edwards. The senior quarterback, who compiled 3,843 yards of total offense and was responsible for 41 touchdowns in 2008, has rewritten the SoCon record book. Edwards enters his final campaign as the league’s all-time leader in total offense, touchdowns responsibilities and rushing yards by a quarterback.
Following ASU (64 points) in the coaches’ voting is Wofford (53). The Terriers finished in second place a season ago as their only league loss came at the hands of Appalachian State. Coach Mike Ayers has the task of replacing 13 players from his ?08 starting 22, and will look for strong line play from senior defensive lineman Mitch Clark and junior offensive lineman Pat Illig to set the tone for his 2009 squad.
Record-setting wide receiver Terrell Hudgins will lead Elon (51), whom the coaches voted to finish third this season. A senior, Hudgins is the conference’s career leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. The Phoenix finished 6-2 in SoCon play in 2008, marking its best-ever performance in five seasons as a member of the league.
Furman (40) occupied the fourth spot in the poll, one point ahead of fifth-place Georgia Southern (39). The Paladins and Eagles finished in a three-way tie for fourth place along with Samford in 2008, as all three sported identical 4-4 league marks.
Georgia Southern picked up the remaining first-place vote in the poll.
Following GSU was a tie for sixth with The Citadel and Samford each receiving 26 points.
Western Carolina (15) and Chattanooga (10), under the direction of new head coach Russ Huesman, rounded out the poll.
The 2009 Southern Conference football season begins on Thursday, Sept. 3 when Chattanooga entertains Glenville State at Finley Stadium at 7 p.m. The first SoCon game of the season is Saturday, Sept. 12 when Furman travels to face Chattanooga at 6 p.m. Western Carolina visits Georgia Southern at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 to kick off the SoCon Saturday broadcast package on SportSouth.
2009 SoCon Football Preseason Coaches Poll
Place School (First-place votes) Points
1. Appalachian State (8) 64
2. Wofford 53
3. Elon 51
4. Furman 40
5. Georgia Southern (1) 39
6t. The Citadel 26
6t. Samford 26
8. Western Carolina 15
9. Chattanooga 10