Video from PSAC-West Media Day
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – In a preseason poll of the division's head coaches released Monday, Slippery Rock University was picked to finish sixth in this year's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division football competition.
Defending NCAA Division II Super Region One champion California (11-4 overall, 7-0 PSAC-W in 2009) received seven of the eight first-place votes in the poll and was picked by the coaches as the team to beat, followed in order by Indiana (56-, 1-6) and Clarion (8-3, 6-1). Edinboro (9-4, 5-2) and Gannon (6-5, 3-4) tied for fourth place, followed by The Rock (6-5, 3-4), Mercyhurst (4-7, 3-4) and Lock Haven (0-10, 0-7).
West Chester (7-4, 5-2), despite not receiving a first-place vote, was picked as the team to beat in the PSAC-Eastern Division. Bloomsburg (8-3, 5-2), which received one first-place vote, finished second in the East voting, followed by C. W. Post (6-5, 5-2) and defending conference champion Shippensburg (9-3, 6-1), each of which received three first-place votes. East Stroudsburg (8-4, 4-3) was picked to finish fifth, followed in order by Kutztown (3-8, 1-6), Millersville (3-8, 2-5) and Cheyney (0-11, 0-7).
Slippery Rock will, in addition to the other seven PSAC-West teams, face West Chester (Sept. 18 at home), C. W. Post (Nov. 13 at home) and Cheyney (Sept. 11 on the road) in PSAC “crossover” games this fall.
The Rock faces defending Northeast-10 Conference champion Merrimack (Mass.) in the season-opening game Thursday, Sept. 2. That is the only game the Green and White will play this fall against a non-PSAC team.
Veteran Rock coach
George Mihalik will welcome back 15 starters and 27 lettermen from last year's team for the start of preseason workouts August 11.
The 2010 PSAC Coaches Preseason Polls were as follows (first-place votes in parentheses):
WESTERN DIVISION
1. California (7)
2. Indiana
3. Clarion
T4. Edinboro (1)
T4. Gannon
6. Slippery Rock
7. Mercyhurst
8. Lock Haven
EASTERN DIVISION
1. West Chester
2. Bloomsburg (1)
3. C.W. Post (3)
4. Shippensburg (3)
5. East Stroudsburg (1)
6. Kutztown
7. Millersville
8. Cheyney
