Football
BRYANT FOOTBALL PICKED FIFTH IN NORTHEAST-10 CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
SMITHFIELD, RI – The Bryant
University football team was picked to finish fifth by the
conference head coaches as the 2005 Northeast-10 Conference
football coaches’ poll released this morning as part of the
league media day at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.
Bryant, under the direction of second-year
coach Marty Fine, opens the 2005 season September 3 at home against
American International College (3 p.m.). The Bulldogs return
56 letterwinners this season, including all eleven starters on
offense.
“We played 30 freshmen (in
2004), but have experienced players returning this fall,”
said Fine. “It will be an interesting season, but I think
we’ll be very competitive. We have a year of hard work behind
us but still a long way to go, especially in a conference that is
as competitive as the Northeast-10."
Bryant went 4-5 during Fine’s first
year at the helm of the Bryant football program. The Bulldogs
were picked to finish sixth in last year’s preseason poll,
just behind AIC. This year, both Bryant and AIC switched
places in the preseason poll with Yellow Jackets tabbed for sixth
with 44 points, eleven behind Bryant’s
55.
C.W. Post was picked by the coaches to
finish first in 2005. The Pioneers, 8-3 last season and one
of two NE-10 teams to qualify for the NCAA playoffs, earned a total
of 92 points including three first place votes. Bentley
College, also an NCAA playoff participant, was picked second with
88 points. The Falcons, 8-2 last season, garnered five first-place
votes.
Southern Connecticut and Merrimack College round out the third and
fourth spots ahead of the Bulldogs.
2005 Northeast-10 Football Preseason Coaches Poll
Team, Pts (2004 Record)
1. LIU / C.W. Post (3), 92 (8-3)
2. Bentley (5), 88 (8-2)
3. Southern Connecticut (2), 84 (8-2)
4. Merrimack, 74 (8-2)
5. BRYANT, 55 (4-5)
6. American International, 44 (5-4)
7. Saint Anselm, 36 (4-6)
8. Stonehill, 32 (2-7)
9. Assumption, 28 (1-9)
10. Pace, 17 (0-10)
