• Sat, 11/19 | Football vs. Central Connecticut L, 42-21 (Final) BX | RC | PH
  • Sat, 11/12 | Football vs. Saint Francis (PA) W, 45-34 (Final) BX | RC | PH
  • Sat, 11/05 | Football at Albany W, 31-17 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 10/22 | Football at Robert Morris W, 34-27 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 10/15 | Football vs. Monmouth L, 40-35 (Final) BX | RC | PH
  • Sat, 10/08 | Football vs. Stonehill W, 42-7 (Final) BX | RC | PH
  • Sat, 10/01 | Football at Duquesne L, 31-28 (Final) BX | BX | RC
  • Sat, 09/24 | Football vs. Wagner W, 30-28 (Final) BX | RC | PH
  • Fri, 09/16 | Football at Sacred Heart W, 26-6 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 09/10 | Football vs. American Int'l W, 27-16 (Final) BX | RC | PH
 

August 18, 2009

FOOTBALL PICKED SEVENTH IN NEC PRESEASON POLL

August 18, 2009

BRYANT FOOTBALL PICKED SEVENTH IN NEC PRESEASON POLL
Bulldogs Begin Second Year of Division I September 5 

SMITHFIELD, RI - Eligible for the first time to appear in the Northeast Conference standings, the Bryant University football team has been tabbed to finish seventh in 2009 following the announcement of the preseason coaches' poll Tuesday.  

Bryant is coming off an impressive 7-4 campaign in 2008, the school's first competing as a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). Along with inclusion in the weekly standings, Bryant's student-athletes will be eligible for weekly conference honors.  The Bulldogs will not be eligible for postseason play until completion of the transition to Division starting in the fall of 2012. 

Sixth-year coach Marty Fine returns 17 starters including 10 on a defense that should be the strength of the team this fall.  The Bulldogs held opponents to just 99 yards rushing per game and forced 30 turnovers including 17 interceptions.

Defensive linemen Peter and Patrick Gauthier (Woonsocket, RI), Don Smith (Attleboro, MA) and Andrew Regan (West Newbury, MA) are all back and ready to go.  The front four will be deep with junior Cheyenne Ray (Bellport, NY) and Joshua Janes (Newport, RI) providing solid depth.

Defending champion Albany is the preseason favorite for the fourth year in a row.  The Danes, an associate member of the league in football, won their fourth conference championship going a perfect 7-0 (9-3 overall) in NEC play.  Bryant will travel to Albany on Oct. 17.  Monmouth, last year's runners up, were picked to finish second followed by Central Connecticut and Sacred Heart.  

Bryant will open the 2009 season hosting Southern Connecticut on Saturday, September 5 at 3 pm. 

2009 Northeast Conference Preseason Poll

1. Albany
2. Monmouth
3. Central Connecticut
4. Sacred Heart
5. Robert Morris
6. Duquesne
7. BRYANT
8.Wagner
9. Saint Francis (PA)

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