North Dakota Is Preseason Football Favorite For Second Consecutive Year
For the second consecutive year North Dakota has been picked as North Central Conference football favorite in both the preseason media and coaches polls released today. The two samples agreed on the top spot and the bottom two spots, but none of the other six slots were the same in the two polls.
In 2006, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota tied for the NCC title while Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota and South Dakota made the field for the NCAA Division II Championship. North Dakota downed Winona State and Nebraska-Omaha before falling to Grand Valley State in the playoffs while Nebraska-Omaha received a first-round bye before being defeated by the Fighting Sioux. South Dakota won a thriller over Northwood in its first round playoff game before being stymied by Grand Valley State.
This season's media poll marks the 53rd time that the media have made their predictions about the nine-team league that spans five states. The media have correctly picked the NCC champion in 16 of the past 25 seasons, including the last three consecutive seasons. In all, the media have successfully chosen the NCC champion 28 times in the 52 years in the poll's existence.
The NCC coaches have made predictions for the past 24 years. They have picked the champion 13 times.
|
2007 North Central Conference Football Preseason Media Poll | ||||||||||
|
Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Total |
|
North Dakota |
10 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
149 |
|
Nebraska-Omaha |
5 |
7 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
141 |
|
South Dakota |
2 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
129 |
|
Central Washington |
0 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
100 |
|
Minnesota Duluth |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
11 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
93 |
|
Augustana |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
59 |
|
St. Cloud State |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
57 |
|
Minnesota State |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
49 |
|
Western Washington |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
33 |
|
2007 North Central Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll | ||||||||||
|
Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Total |
|
North Dakota |
5 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
74 |
|
South Dakota |
1 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
71 |
|
Nebraska-Omaha |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
70 |
|
Minnesota Duluth |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
48 |
|
Central Washington |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
40 |
|
St. Cloud State |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
31 |
|
Augustana |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
28 |
|
Minnesota State |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
26 |
|
Western Washington |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
17 |
Note: Points were awarded 9 for 1st, 8 for 2nd, etc. in both polls.
Here are the selections with quotes from the responding media (with each pollster's first and second place picks in parenthesis):
Mick Garry, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls (UND, UNO) - "There are three groups here: Group 1 is North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska-Omaha. All three lost some all-time greats, but the argument could also be made that all three could overall be better football teams than a year ago. The second group is CSU, UMD, SCSU, AC, MSU and WWU. Developing momentum early and sustaining it with road wins will be the key for these fellows. The third group? That would be we media slugs who pretend we know what the hell we are talking about. I'm looking forward to a great year."
Jay Elsen, KELO-TV, Sioux Falls (UND, USD) - "The NCC's last hurrah should be one of the most exciting seasons in league history."
David Gustafson, Maverick Radio Network, Omaha (UNO, UND) - "Should be an exciting, competitive season in the final year of the league."
Jeremy Hoeck, Yankton Press & Dakotan (UND, USD) - "Always a tough decision between USD and UND, but I see the Coyotes' tougher non-conference season as the main difference."
Greg Enkers, KVLY-TV, Fargo, (UND, UNO) - "St. Cloud State will bounce back after one win in the conference last year."
Brian MacPherson, St. Cloud Times, (UMD, USD) - "Ted Schlafke might be the best player in the conference and the Bulldogs could surprise this season."
Joe Van Goor, Coyote Sports Network, (UND, USD) - "So long NCC! Good luck Augie, SCSU, MSU and UMD in the Northern Sun."Jeff Fylling, KXRB Radio, Sioux Falls (UND, USD) - "I'm beginning to feel like an orphan. This is the saddest poll I've ever done."
Steve Carlson, Dakota News Network (UNO, USD) - "The NCC should go out with a bang as the top contenders meet late in the season."
Stu Whitney, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls (UNO, UND) - "The usual suspects remain on top as the NCC bids farewell."
Zach Borg, KVRR-TV, Fargo (UND, USD) - "With FCS playoff obviously looming, UND and USD go out with a bang."
Pat Sweeney, WDAZ-TV, Grand Forks (UND, UNO) - "Another battle between UND and UNO, with the Sioux taking the final NCC title."
Kevin Culhane, Coyote Sports Network, (USD, UNO) - "The league appears to be very competitive from top to bottom! Again the conference champion will be crowned on the final weekend. In the final NCC season the championship goes to USD."
Jeff Wilson, Ellensburg Daily Record, (UNO, UND) - "Interested to see how CWU QB Mike Reilly performs with an offensive-minded coach (Beau Baldwin) now leading the Wildcats."
Jon Nowacki, Duluth News Tribune, (UND, UNO) - "With South Dakota's Stefan Logan gone, quarterback Zach Miller's Omaha Express could be the team to challenge North Dakota for NCC supremacy."
Jeff Culhane, Coyote Sports Network (USD, UNO) - "Behind the best offensive line in the nation, USD will run to the final North Central Conference title."
-NCC-