Aug. 8, 2005

The Sports Network Preseason Top 25 I-AA Poll

DAVIS, Calif.-- UC Davis was picked to finish second by league coaches in the upcoming Great West Football Conference season while being selected third in by the media, it was announced by the conference on Monday morning.

Also on Monday, the preseason The Sports Network poll of media and sports information directors was released with UC Davis not appearing in the top 25 but receiving 85 votes, putting them unofficially at a No.36 ranking. Fourth-ranked Eastern Washington and seventh-ranked New Hampshire are two of four UC Davis opponents in the preseason top 25.

Cal Poly, which won the inaugural GWFC title last year, was the top choice by both coaches and the media. The Mustangs garnered three first-place votes and 32 points in a poll of the conference's head coaches while UC Davis was second with 28 points and one first-place vote. North Dakota State picked up the remaining two first-place votes and had 27 points for third place and was followed by Northern Colorado (15), South Dakota State (14) and Southern Utah (10).

The top three teams in the media poll were the same but North Dakota State and UC Davis were flip-flopped. Nevertheless, the point totals were relatively close. Cal Poly had 189 points, earning 20 of 35 first-place votes. North Dakota State had 166 points and nine first-place votes while the Aggies had five first-place votes and 149 points. South Dakota State (88), Northern Colorado (87) and Southern Utah (67) were selected fourth through sixth, respectively, with Northern Colorado picking up a first-place vote.

UC Davis will open with a ranked opponent on Sept. 3 when New Hampshire visits Toomey Field. The other Aggie opponent in the top 10 is Eastern Washington which will host UC Davis on Nov. 19. Other ranked opponents are No.17 Cal Poly and No.22 North Dakota State. Portland State, Stephen F. Austin and Northern Colorado received votes marking seven UC Davis opponents with mentions in the poll. In addition to the top I-AA competition, the Aggies will play a I-A opponent on Sept.17 when they visit Pac-10 member Stanford.

Last season, UC Davis was picked third by head coaches and second by the media in the preseason conference poll.

UC Davis, which finished 6-4 overall last season and 3-2 and in second place in the GWFC, opens preseason practices on Thursday in anticipation of its season-opener against New Hampshire at Toomey Field.

2005 Great West Football Conference Preseason Polls

Coaches Poll
1. Cal Poly (3), 32 pts.
2. UC Davis (1), 28
3. North Dakota State (2), 27
4. Northern Colorado, 15
5. South Dakota State, 14
6. Southern Utah, 10

Media Poll
1. Cal Poly (20), 189 pts.
2. North Dakota State (9), 166
3. UC Davis (5), 149
4. South Dakota State, 88
5. Northern Colorado (1), 87
6. Southern Utah, 67

UC Davis Aggies Football

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