The Pittsburg State University football team was ranked No. 7 in the 2009 American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II Preseason Poll released Monday.
The Gorillas, who finished the 2008 season with an 11-2 record and ranked No. 8 in last year's final poll, garnered 480 points in balloting of a nationwide panel of 25 Division II head football coaches.
Pitt State returns 11 starters (three offense, eight defense) from last year's squad, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA-II playoffs before falling to eventual national runner-up Northwest Missouri State University.
Grand Valley State University was picked as the preseason No. 1 squad in Division II. The Lakers, who posted an 11-1 record in 2008, received 11 first-place votes and 601 total points. NW Missouri State, with four first-place votes and 575 points, was picked No. 2.
Defending national champion University of Minnesota Duluth, which posted an unblemished 15-0 mark in 2008, got eight first-place votes and 552 points to grab the No. 3 spot.
Delta State University (538 pts.) and Abilene Christian University (495 pts.) came in at No. 4 and No. 5.
The Gorillas will open the 2009 season in a battle of nationally-ranked squads on Aug. 29 at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium. Pitt State's opening opponent, the University of Central Oklahoma, garnered the No. 16 spot in the poll. The Bronchos posted a 7-4 record in 2008, finishing the season on a seven-game winning streak. Pitt State claimed a 16-12 season-opening win over UCO last year.
Pitt State's game two opponent, Chadron State College, was ranked No. 10 in the poll. The Eagles posted an 11-2 record in 2008. The Gorillas claimed a 38-31 win over Chadron in a battle of nationally-ranked squads in week two last year.
MIAA rival University of Central Missouri also claimed the No. 25 spot in the 2009 preseason poll, while conference foes University of Nebraska-Omaha, Washburn University and Missouri Western State University also received votes in the poll.
At a glance
AFCA Division II Preseason Poll
Record Pts Pvs
1. Grand Valley State (Mich.) (12) 11-1 601 4
2. Northwest Missouri State (4) 12-2 575 2
3. Minnesota-Duluth (8) 15-0 552 1
4. Delta State (Miss.) 10-2 538 7
5. Abilene Christian (Texas) (1) 11-1 495 5
6. North Alabama 12-2 480 3
7. Pittsburg State (Kan.) 11-2 420 8
8. California (Pa.) 12-2 402 6
9. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 7-4 355 18
10. Chadron State (Neb.) 11-2 352 9
11. West Texas A&M 11-2 345 10
12. Valdosta State (Ga.) 9-3 336 12
13. Bloomsburg (Pa.) 11-2 325 11
14. Central Washington 10-2 302 13
15. Ashland (Ohio) 9-4 270 15
16. Central Oklahoma 7-4 199 —
17. Minnesota State-Mankato 9-3 197 23
18. Tuskegee (Ala.) 10-1 142 14
19. Albany State (Ga.) 7-4 110 —
20. West Chester (Pa.) 9-4 105 17
21. Edinboro (Pa.) 9-2 99 20
22. Glenville State (W.Va.) 8-3 82 —
23. Tusculum (Tenn.) 9-4 80 16
24. Fayetteville State (N.C.) 8-2 78 —
25. Central Missouri 7-4 72 —
