Grand Valley State University Tabbed 2008 Preseason Favorite By GLIAC Football Coaches

Lakers Receives 11 First-Place Votes, Outdistance Second-Place Ashland by 16 points

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FRANKENMUTH, Mich. -- Defending league champion Grand Valley State University was picked to win the 2008 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) football title by the head football coaches of the league in preseason balloting.

The league's 12 head coaches participated in the balloting, but were not allowed to vote for their team. The first-place team on each ballot received 11 points, while second received 10 points, etc.

The Lakers outdistanced Ashland University by 16 points in the voting (121-105) and garnered 11 first-place votes. Ashland posted a secondplace league finish in 2007 and received the lone remaining first-place nod.

The poll was released in conjunction with the league's football media day luncheon held at Zehnder's Restaurant in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Saginaw Valley State University placed third in the balloting with 83 points. Northwood University (78 points) finished just five points behind the Cardinals in the poll to place fourth. Hillsdale College and Michigan Technological University each tallied 73 points and finished in a tie for fifth place.

Ferris State University narrowly edged out the University of Indianapolis for seventh place. The Bulldogs recorded just two more points (66-64) than the Greyhounds in the balloting.

Wayne State University outdistanced Northern Michigan University by 8 points (48-40) to finish ninth in the poll. The University of Findlay edged out Tiffin University for 11th place by just nine points (25-16) to round out the poll.

The 2007 season saw two GLIAC teams earn berths in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Both Grand Valley State and Ashland extended their play into the postseason. The Eagles had their season ended with an opening round loss to Central Washington (40-24). The Lakers were defeated in the Division II semifinals by Northwest Missouri State University (34-16), making it only the second time in the last seven years they did not participate in the Division II championship game.

For more information about GLIAC football please check the GLIAC football web page at: www.gliac.org/.

2008 GLIAC Preseason Football Coaches Poll

School (first-place votes) Points

1. Grand Valley State (11) .............. 121

2. Ashland (1) ................................ 105

3. Saginaw Valley State ................... 83

4. Northwood ................................... 78

5. Hillsdale ....................................... 73

Michigan Tech ............................. 73

7. Ferris State ................................... 66

8. Indianapolis .................................. 64

9. Wayne State ................................. 48

10. Northern Michigan ....................... 40

11. Findlay .......................................... 25

12. Tiffin ............................................. 16