Grand Valley State Tabbed Preseason Favorite By GLIAC Football Coaches

BAY CITY, Mich. – Grand Valley State University was picked to win the 2002 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) football title by the head football coaches of the league in preseason balloting.

Grand Valley State, the GLIAC’s defending champion and NCAA Division II runner-up, outdistanced Saginaw Valley State University. The Lakers garnered 10 first-place votes, while the Cardinals nabbed the two remaining top votes.

The poll was released in conjunction with the league’s football media day luncheon held on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University. The league's 12 head coaches participated in the balloting, but were not allowed to vote for their teams. The first-place team on each ballot received 11 points, while second received 10 points, etc.

Ferris State University and the University of Indianapolis tied for third in the balloting. The Bulldogs and the Greyhounds finished third and fourth, respectively, in league play last season. Ashland University placed a close fifth in the poll. Michigan Tech University edged out Northwood University for sixth place.

Northern Michigan University finished in eighth place in the preseason poll, followed by Hillsdale College. The University of Findlay, Wayne State University, and Mercyhurst College round out the poll.

Grand Valley State won the conference title last season with a perfect 9-0 mark, and advanced to NCAA Division II postseason play before falling to the University of North Dakota in the championship game, 17-14. Saginaw Valley State, who finished second the GLIAC in 2001 with a 9-1 mark, also advanced to postseason play. The Cardinals defeated Indiana University of Pa., 33-32 in the opening round before dropping a 33-30 decision to Grand Valley State in the regional semifinals. Last season marked the second time that the GLIAC (formerly the MIFC) placed two teams in the Division II tournament since 1994.