ST. LOUIS – The University of Indianapolis has been unanimously picked by the Great Lakes Valley Conference football coaches to win the 2013 GLVC Championship this fall, it was announced Wednesday at the second-annual GLVC Football Kickoff in St. Louis, Mo.
The Greyhounds, who claimed the inaugural GLVC title last season after an undefeated 8-0 mark in conference action, finished the season 10-3 overall, which included a berth and a first-round victory in the NCAA Division II Playoff. UIndy received seven of the eight first-place votes only because conference bylaws do not permit a school to vote for itself. Indianapolis, which finished 2012 campaign ranked 15th in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll, returns 16 starters this season, including six on defense and five on offense. Bob Bartolomeo returns for his fourth year on the sidelines, having guided UIndy to a 23-12 record during his tenure. While the Greyhounds have focused on filling the void left by a graduating Mar’Quone Edmonds, who was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year last season, UIndy remains poise to put up points this season under the direction of senior quarterback and first-team All-GLVC pick Chris Mills and senior running back Klay Fiechter. The unanimous first-team All-GLVC last season recently garnered second-team Preseason All-America recognition from Beyond Sports College Network (BSN). Reigning GLVC Special Teams Player of the Year Scott Miller also returns for his junior season to handle placekicking duties.
Voting also indicated that Missouri S&T was a unanimous pick to finish second in the league, as was the case last year when the Miners finished 10-1 on the season, including a 7-1 mark in GLVC play. Their lone loss came midseason to eventual GLVC Champion, Indianapolis. Missouri S&T returns eight starting defenders from a unit that was among the nation’s best in 2012. The Miners led Division II teams with a plus-2 turnover margin and were 10th (293.09 ypg) and 17th (18.64) in total and scoring defense, respectively. Six returning S&T defenders garnered All-Conference accolades last year, while defensive tackle Eddie Rascon was named an honorable mention All-American by BSN after finishing 10th in in the nation with 13 quarterback sacks. Rascon, who will be mentored by first-year head coach Tyler Fenwick this season, was one of five Miners recently named members of the USA College Football Preseason All-America team.
GLVC newcomer Truman State University garnered 37 points to take the No. 3 position in the preseason poll. The Bulldogs enter their first season of competition under the GLVC banner after spending 100 years in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). Fifteen starters, including nine on the offensive side of the ball, return to a Bulldogs squad that was 4-7 last year, which included an 11th-place finish in the MIAA at 3-7. Head coach Gregg Nesbitt is back for his fourth season in Kirksville, Mo., and will guide a Truman squad that will be led by All-MIAA wide receiver Dallas Grier, who hauled in 81 passes for 1,026 yards and four touchdowns as a junior.
Saint Joseph’s College earns the No. 4 slot in this year’s preseason poll. The Pumas were 6-5 last season under second-year head coach Cory Sanders, and return 26 starters from a squad that placed third in the GLVC at 5-3. Back under center for Saint Joseph’s is senior QB Billy VandeMerkt, who will have a Preseason All-American to target this year in senior wideout Julian Walker.
McKendree University (3-7, 3-5, T-6th GLVC), under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Babcock, will open up the season slated fifth. Picked to finish sixth is Quincy University (3-8, 3-5, T-6th), while William Jewell College (2-9, 1-7, 8th) and Kentucky Wesleyan College (2-9, 0-8, 9th) have been selected seventh and eighth in the preseason poll, respectively.
The 2013 season begins on Thursday, Sept. 5, with Kentucky Wesleyan (vs. Kentucky State), Missouri S&T (vs. Chadron State), and William Jewell (vs. Concordia College-Neb.) opening the year at home.
|
2013 |
GLVC Preseason Poll |
Points (1sT) |
|
1. |
Indianapolis |
49 (7)* |
|
2. |
Missouri S&T |
43 (1) |
|
3. |
Truman State |
37 |
|
4. |
Saint Joseph’s |
28 |
|
5. |
McKendree |
25 |
|
6. |
Quincy |
18 |
|
7. |
William Jewell |
17 |
|
8. |
Kentucky Wesleyan |
7 |
|
|
*Conference bylaws do not permit a school to vote for itself |
|