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July 31, 2008

RICHARDSON, Texas - Abilene Christian narrowly edged West Texas A&M as the favorite in the LSC South Division football poll and Texas A&M-Commerce is the top choice in the North Division, according to the 2008 Lone Star Conference preseason polls announced Thursday. The league's preseason polls reflect the opinions of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region. The 2008 football season kicks off in late August, and the LSC has 13 teams set to compete. Each team will play a total of nine countable conference games. Divisional champions will be determined by only those games against division opponents, while the overall league champion will be determined by the overall nine-game conference record, which will include division games plus designated crossover contests.

SOUTH DIVISION: Abilene Christian is narrowly favored to win the Lone Star Conference South Division in 2008, according to the annual preseason poll. ACU, who posted a 10-3 mark in 2007, earned first-place votes on eight of the 18 ballots to finish with 113 total points just in front of West Texas A&M's 111-point tally in the poll of LSC head coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives. Both ACU and WTAMU advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs last season. The Buffaloes, three-time defending LSC South Division and LSC overall champion, received the most first-place votes (10). Tarleton State, 9-2 overall last year, finished third with 91 points, Midwestern State was fourth 75, Texas A&M-Kingsville fifth 49, Angelo State sixth 43 and Eastern New Mexico seventh 22.

NORTH DIVISION: Texas A&M-Commerce is favored to win the Lone Star Conference North Division title, according to the annual preseason poll, after being part of a five-way tie at the top last season. The Lions received first-place votes on eight of the 16 ballots cast by LSC coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives. A&M-C, which finished 5-6 last season, totaled 82 points in the poll to finish ahead of Southeastern Oklahoma . SOSU, who has won or shared the division title for the last four years, earned four first-place votes and 71 points. Southwestern Oklahoma (58) and Central Oklahoma (47) each received two first-place nods to finish third and fourth, respectively. Northeastern State (43) and East Central (35) rounded out the poll.

South Division:  1 Abilene Christian (8 first place votes) 113, 2-West Texas A&M (10 first place votes) 111, 3-Tarleton State 91, 4-Midwestern State 75, 5-Texas A&M-Kingsville 49, 6-Angelo State 43, 7-Eastern New Mexico 22.

North Division: 1-Texas A&M-Commerce (8 first place votes) 82, 2-Southeastern Oklahoma (4 first place votes) 71, 3-Southwestern Oklahoma (2 first place votes) 58, 4-Central Oklahoma (2 first plac votes) 47, 5-Northeastern State 43, 6-East Central 35.