The Youngstown State football team was picked seventh out of nine teams in the preseason Missouri Valley Football Conference poll.
It's the lowest preseason rank for the Penguins since they joined the conference in 1997.
Defending champion Southern Illinois was picked to repeat.
Two Penguins were named to the preseason first team all-offensive team: senior WR Dominique Barnes and senior guard Eric Rodemoyer.
For more details, read Tuesday's Vindicator or visit Vindy.com.
Comments
I've always wondered how these pre-season rankings are made. Are they a comparison of the projected 1st string's "stats" against the first string of the other teams? Or are these rankings the "gut" feeling of the people who make them?
Games are played out on the field. That's the final test of who places where in the conference. The difference of two or three more wins will alter the positions drastically. Otherwise, why not save all the agravation and just mail it in?
For me, I'll wait until we play the season out. As for the seventh place? As an old buddy of mine used to say, "We shall see, what we shall see".
Take a look at Joe Scalzo's article in the Vindy and think about the reality - not blind faith of the situation. All the player losses combined with past seasons' records don't bode well for YSU. Seventh place might even be optimistic this year. We finally have a decent coach. Let's give him time.