Grand Valley State University Tabbed 2009 Preseason Favorite By GLIAC Football Coaches
Lakers Receives 11 First-Place Votes, Outdistance Second-Place Ashland by 14 points
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BAY CITY, Mich. -- The head football coaches of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) chose Grand Valley State University, defending league champions, to win the 2009 GLIAC football title 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 poll was released in conjunction with the league’s
football media day luncheon held at the Doubletree Hotel in Bay
City, Michigan.
|
School (first-place votes) |
Points | |
|
1. |
Grand Valley State (11) |
121 |
|
2. |
Ashland (1) |
107 |
|
3. |
Michigan Tech |
94 |
|
4. |
Wayne State |
89 |
|
5. |
Saginaw Valley State |
85 |
|
6. |
Hillsdale |
71 |
|
7. |
Ferris State |
66 |
|
8. |
Indianapolis |
51 |
|
9. |
Findlay |
38 |
|
10. |
Northern Michigan |
33 |
|
11. |
Northwood |
24 |
|
12. |
Tiffin |
13 |
The Lakers outdistanced Ashland University by 14 points in the voting (121-107) and garnered 11 first-place votes. Ashland posted a second-place league finish in 2008 and received the lone remaining first-place nod.
Michigan Technological University placed third in the balloting
with 94 points. The closest balloting between teams was for fourth
and fifth place, where Wayne State University (89) finished four
points ahead of Saginaw Valley State University (85). Hillsdale
College tallied 71 points and finished in sixth place.
The biggest gap came between seventh and eighth place where Ferris
State University (66) sailed over Indianapolis (51) by fifteen
points.
The University of Findlay narrowly edged out Northern Michigan
University for ninth place. The Oilers recorded just five more
points (38-33) than the Wildcats in the balloting. Northwood
University finished nine points ahead of Tiffin University for 11th
place (24-13) to round out the poll.
The 2008 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. Grand Valley defeated Ashland in
the NCAA D-II Super Region Three semifinal, 40-7. The Lakers were
then defeated in the Division II Quarterfinals by Minnesota-Duluth
(19-13 2OT).
For more information about GLIAC football please visit the GLIAC
football web page at: www.gliac.org/.
