BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The 2010 Gulf South Conference Football campaign has a hard act to follow after last year's thrilling, roller-coaster season.
Defending Conference Champion North Alabama was selected by the league's coaches to remain the kings of the GSC football jungle. West Alabama is expected to continue to ride its 2009 momentum into 2010, while usual suspects Valdosta State,
Delta State and Arkansas Tech are also top contenders.
The Statesmen finished 2009 with a 5-5 overall record and a 4-4 mark in league play. DSU returns 48 lettermen and 14 starters off a squad that clearly underachieved last season.
"We're excited about the coming year and the challenges it brings," DSU head coach Ron Roberts stated. "Our returning players learned a great deal from last season and they're ready to get fall practices under way in August."
The GSC-TV Live Game of the Week package is back for the sixth consecutive season, featuring a nine-game schedule led eight Thursday night battles. Highlighting this year's regional television package includes the “Boomtown Classic,” which pits Southern Arkansas versus Arkansas-Monticello at Memorial Stadium in El Dorado, Arkansas on Saturday, November 6th.
The GSC remained a part of the NCAA Production telecast schedule on CBS College Sports Network when Delta State hosts Arkansas Tech on Thursday, September 9th.
2010 GSC FOOTBALL PRE-SEASON COACHES' POLL
Defending GSC Champion North Alabama was selected to repeat, after finishing first in the Coaches' Poll for the first time since 2006. UNA garnered 97 total points behind eight first-place votes, one second-place nod and one for third-place.
In-state rival West Alabama is the Lions' top challenger after the Tigers recorded their highest Pre-Season ranking since 1976. UWA earned 84 total points led by two first-place votes and four second-place nods. West Alabama previously entered as the top ranked team in 1976 and 1972. Third-place Valdosta State finished three votes shy of UWA, notching the final first-place nod en route to 81 points.
Delta State is ranked fourth (72 points), followed by Arkansas Tech (62) and Ouachita Baptist (51). OBU tied its previous best ranking after also claiming the sixth spot in 2003.
Just one point separates seventh and eighth place with Henderson State inching out in-state rival Arkansas-Monticello, 47 to 46. Completing the poll was Southern Arkansas (26), Harding (24) and West Georgia (19).
|
SCHOOL
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
5th
|
6th
|
7th
|
8th
|
9th
|
10th
|
Total
|
|
North Alabama
|
8
|
1
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
97
|
|
West Alabama
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
84
|
|
Valdosta State
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
81
|
|
Delta State
|
—
|
—
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
72
|
|
Arkansas Tech
|
—
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
62
|
|
Ouachita Baptist
|
—
|
—
|
1
|
—
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
51
|
|
Henderson State
|
—
|
—
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
—
|
47
|
|
Arkansas-Monticello
|
—
|
1
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
2
|
4
|
—
|
1
|
1
|
46
|
|
Southern Arkansas
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2
|
—
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
26
|
|
Harding
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
5
|
4
|
1
|
24
|
|
West Georgia
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2
|
1
|
7
|
15
|
NOTE: The Head Coaches voted in this poll. Teams received 10 points for a first place vote, 9 for a second place vote, etc. The Head Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own squads.
