Football Picked Third

August 1, 2008

DALLAS, Texas – Southwestern Oklahoma State University is expected to be in the mix challenging for the Lone Star Conference North Division football title, if indications from a pre-season poll are correct.

The Bulldogs finished in third place in balloting conducted by the league’s office for the six-team division. Last season, SWOSU shared the North title with five other teams finishing 3-2 in division play.

Texas A&M-Commerce was chosen as the 2008 favorite with 82 points and collected eight of the 16 possible first-place votes. Southeastern Oklahoma State University was picked second with four first place votes and 71 points. SWOSU was third with two first-place votes and 58 points.

Central Oklahoma was picked fourth with 47 points and two first-place votes. Northeastern State was fifth with 43 points and East Central was sixth with 35 points.

Voting was done by head coaches, sports information directors and media members who cover the Lone Star Conference.

ECU quarterback Marcus Johnson was chosen as the LSC North Offensive Pre-season Player-of-the-Year. NSU defensive back Broderick Mondy was chosen as the division’s defensive player-of-the-year.

SWOSU Coach Ryan Held, who was in Dallas Thursday for the league’s annual media day, said his team’s position is about what he had anticipated.

“When you look at what teams having coming back, I expected both Commerce and Southeastern to be the favorites.” Held said. “None of it really matters because it will all be settled on the playing field this fall.”

SWOSU players report on Wednesday, Aug. 6 and will begin practice the following day.