Football Preseason Poll
August 2, 2006
BRYANT FOOTBALL PICKED FOURTH IN NORTHEAST-10 CONFERNECE PRESEASON POLL
FOXBORO, Mass. - Coming off a record-breaking campaign in 2005, the Bryant University football team has been selected to finish fourth in the Northeast-10 Conference in 2006 by the conference coaches. The announcement was made at the annual NE-10 Football Media Day at Gillette Stadium Tuesday evening.
The Bulldogs, under the direction of third-year coach Marty Fine, posted a school record for wins last year in finishing 7-3 overall in '05 and placing fourth in the conference at 6-3. This is the highest preseason ranking since Fine arrived on campus. Bryant was picked sixth in the 2004 preseason poll and were tabbed for fifth prior to the 2005 season.
With 71 total points, the Bulldogs will return 18 starters when
they open the 2006 season against Southern Connecticut on September
2 against Southern Connecticut. Senior tailback
Lorenzo Perry (Providence, R.I.) is back after a
school record 1,335 yards rushing while quarterback Charles
Granatell (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) will look to call the
plays for the third-straight season.
The Bulldogs will report to camp on Tuesday, August 15 in preparation for the season opener on Saturday, September 2 against Southern Connecticut at Bulldog Stadium (3 pm).
C.W. Post, Southern Connecticut, and Bentley were picked in the top three spots respectively. The Pioneers earned 95 total points with six top bids. In 2005, C.W. Post clinched the Northeast-10 Regular Season title with a league record of 8-1 and finished 10-3 overall. The Pioneers won two games in the NCAA playoffs, a first for any Northeast-10 football team.
The Owls of Southern Connecticut State University finished second in this year's coaches' preseason poll with two first place votes and 88 total tallies. In 2005, the Owls tied Bentley College for second in the regular season and earned their first-ever ticket to the NCAA tournament. Southern Connecticut closed their best season in the Northeast-10 with a 7-2 league record, 7-3 overall.
Bentley received a first place vote and totaled 79 points to finish third in the poll after sharing runner-up honors in the 2005 Regular Season. The Falcons finished with a 7-2 record in the NE-10, 7-3 overall in 2005.
American International College with 58 points was picked fifth after a 5-4 record last season.
Coming in sixth in the preseason poll is Merrimack College. The Warriors, who were 4-6 overall and 3-6 in the league in 2005, claimed 43 total points. The Setters of Pace University were on the receiving end of the final first place tally. The Setters, who finished with 37 points for seventh place in the poll, ended their 2005 campaign with a 2-7 record, 3-7 overall.
Stonehill College (35), Assumption College (30) and Saint Anselm College (13) rounded out the poll respectively.
In 2005, the Northeast-10 football league proved that its presence on the national stage was more than just a far-off vision. Two Northeast-10 teams made headlines in the NCAA Division II tournament last fall, including a solid run at the national title. Southern Connecticut made its first-ever appearance in the championship and the Pioneers of C.W. Post brought the league its first and second victories in the NCAA championship.
C.W. Post defeated West Chester University (Pa.) 24-20 in the First Round and then went on to upset No. 1 seed in the NCAA Regional, Shepherd University (W.V.) 28-21. The Pioneers ended their triumphant campaign for the national title at East Stroudsburg University (Pa.) in the NCAA Division II Championship Quarterfinals.
No. School Pts. 2005 record, conf.
1. C.W. Post (6) 96 10-3, 8-1
2. Southern Connecticut (2) 88 8-3, 7-2
3. Bentley (1) 79 7-3, 7-2
4. BRYANT 71 7-3, 6-3
5. A.I.C. 58 5-4, 5-4
6. Merrimack 43 4-6, 3-6
7. Pace (1) 37 3-7, 2-7
8. Stonehill 35 4-6, 4-5
9. Assumption 30 4-6, 3-6
10. Saint Anselm 13 1-9, 0-9
First place votes in parentheses
