Gators Tabbed Third, Fourth in Preseason Polls

Aug 2, 2007

GRANVILLE, Ohio - The Allegheny College Gators were picked third and fourth in the coaches and media poll, respectively, at the 24th annual North Coast Athletic Conference Football Media Day, hosted at the Granville Golf Course in Granville, Ohio.

The Gators earned 76 points from the coaches, placing behind just the Wabash Little Giants (97 points, seven first-place votes) and the Wittenberg Tigers (91 points, three first-place votes), and directly ahead of the Wooster Fighting Scots (66), the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops (60) and the Oberlin Yeomen (49). Rounding out the ten teams from the coaches poll was Kenyon (41), Denison (40), Earlham (18) and Hiram (12).

In the media poll, the Gators were picked fourth overall, earning 222 points, finishing just six behind Wooster’s 228. Coaches poll favorite, Wabash, was also the darling of the media, earning 29 first-place votes and 317 total points. Wittenberg earned the final three first-place votes from the media, as the Tigers were picked second with 281 total points. Ohio Wesleyan (185), Oberlin (154), Kenyon (141), Denison (125), Earlham (69) and Hiram (38) rounded out the remaining teams from the media poll.

“I thought that when looking at all the teams in the league, that we fit in where we should for a preseason poll,” said Allegheny head football coach Mark Matlak. “Our expectations are high for the season, and it is very important for us to win.”

The Gators open their 2007 season at home on September 1, when the Westminster Titans come to Frank B. Fuhrer Field for the 1:00 p.m. kickoff.

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