Aggies currently readying for 2009 season-opener at Fresno State on Sept. 5

	UC Davis will open the 2009 season against Fresno State on Sept. 5. The Aggies have been selected to finish second in a vote of the league's head coaches. (Wayne Tilcock, Davis Enterprise)

Aug. 17, 2009

Official Great West Conference Release in PDF Format

(Courtesy Great West Conference)

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Cal Poly, last season's Great West Conference football champion, is favored by a vote of the league's coaches to repeat for the title, the conference announced Monday while UC Davis was selected to place second.

The Mustangs, who are coming off an 8-3 record and a berth in the NCAA FCS Playoffs, received four first-place votes. Cal Poly, which has won three GWC titles in five years, returns 17 starters (5 offense, 8 defense, 4 specialists) and 66 lettermen and are led by first-year head coach Tim Walsh who came to Cal Poly after two seasons at Army as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. He returns to California where he has 18 years of head coaching experience, including four at Sonoma State and 14 seasons at Portland State. The Mustangs host Sacramento State in their Hall of Fame game to kick off the 2009 season on September 12. 

UC Davis, who finished 5-7 last season, was picked to finish second in the league and garnered one first-place vote. Coach Bob Biggs, in his 17th year with the Aggies, returns 22 starters (9 offense, 7 defense, 6 specialists) and 51 lettermen. The Aggies, who travel to WAC powerhouse Fresno State to open their season on September 5, earned a share of the 2005 GWC title and finished second last season.

The Coyotes of South Dakota came in at No. 3 in the poll and return 58 lettermen, including 14 starters (9 offense, 5 defense, 2 specialists). Coach Ed Meierkort enters his sixth season with USD and led the Coyotes to a 6-5 record a year ago. South Dakota hosts William Penn on September 3 to open its 2009 campaign. 

Rounding out the poll are North Dakota and Southern Utah at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. The Fighting Sioux of UND return nine starters (2 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist) and 30 lettermen. Second-year head coach Chris Mussman posted a record of 6-4 last year and will lead his 2009 squad in its season opener at Big 12 juggernaut Texas Tech on September 5.

Also in his second year, SUU head coach Ed Lamb will return 15 starters (7 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist) and 39 lettermen. The Thunderbirds, who were winless in 2007 but turned it around to go 4-7 last season, will get their 2009 season underway when they host Dixie State on September 3.

The first game for the 2009 GWC championship will be held on October 3 when North Dakota hosts South Dakota in the Fighting Sioux's homecoming game.

2009 Great West Conference Preseason Football Poll

1. Cal Poly (4) 24 pts.

2. UC DAVIS (1) 20 pts.

3. South Dakota 12 pts.

4. North Dakota 10 pts

 

UC Davis Aggies Football

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