Football selected fourth in NAC Preseason Coaches' Poll

WAUKESHA, Wis. – Concordia University Wisconsin's football team was selected to finish in fourth place in a vote by the head coaches of the Northern Athletics Conference, the league office announced Wednesday morning.

Coaches predicted that Benedictine University would win the title based on the fact that the Eagles received five first-place votes and 58 points. Concordia University Chicago was picked to finish second with one first-place vote and 55 points, while Wisconsin Lutheran College received two first-place votes and 52 points.

CUW finished with 40 total points. A year ago, CUW was picked to finish fifth in the NAC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 36 points.  The Falcons wound up 4-3 in NAC play, tying Lakeland for fourth place.

BU (7-4, 6-1 NAC) earned a share of the NAC title last season, along with CUC (8-2, 6-1 NAC), and earned a bid to the NCAA Playoffs where they fell to powerhouse University of Mount Union and NCAA Division III runner-ups, 47-7.

The last four spots in the NAC poll went to Lakeland College (32 points), Aurora University (27 points), Maranatha Baptist Bible College (12 points) and Rockford College (12 points).

All eight teams will have played their opening non-conference game following Saturday, Sept. 1. The NAC portion of the schedule begins on Saturday, Sept. 29.

The NAC Champion earns an automatic bid in the 2012 NCAA Division III Playoffs.

2012 NAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Benedictine University (5), 58
2. Concordia University Chicago (1), 55
3. Wisconsin Lutheran College (2), 52
4. Concordia University Wisconsin, 40
5. Lakeland College, 32
6. Aurora University, 27
t7. Maranatha Baptist Bible College, 12
t7. Rockford College, 12

first-place votes in parentheses
voted by the conference's eight head coaches
8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 point scale used