Dukes #6 in preseason coaches poll

James Madison University’s football team is ranked sixth in the preseason Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll.
The Dukes are coming off a 12-2 record in 2008 and were the nation’s top-ranked team for most of the season and the No. 1 seed for the NCAA playoffs. JMU won last season’s Colonial Athletic Association title with an 8-0 league record.

For the third straight year, Appalachian State has been chosen No. 1 in the preseason poll. The Mountaineers, as three-time defending national champions, lost in last season’s playoff semifinals to Richmond, this year’s No. 2 preseason selection.

Appalachian State received 13 first-place votes and finished with a record of 11-3 in 2008.

Defending national champion Richmond received 10 first-place votes after finishing 13-3 last season.

Last year’s championship runner-up, Montana, is third, with Northern Iowa and Villanova rounding out the top five. Northern Iowa and Villanova each received a first-place vote.

JMU, which spent 10 weeks at No. 1 last year, received two first-place votes and was followed in the top 10 by Southern Illinois, New Hampshire, Weber State and Wofford.

The final first-place vote went to Massachusetts, which is ranked 18th.

Related posts:

1. Dukes picked third in CAA South Three James Madison University players received preseason all-conference recognition, and JMU was picked to finish third in its division in a coaches and media poll...
2. Meet the Dukes Day set for Aug. 29 The James Madison University football program’s annual “Meet the Dukes Day” is scheduled for Aug. 29 at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field. The event gives fans...
3. Are the Dukes ready for another playoff run? You’re on the spot, Coach Matthews. Are your JMU Dukes a playoff team this year? “That’s a good question. We’re pretty good. I think we’ll...
4. VMI QB tabbed Big South preseason offensive player of year VMI senior quarterback Tim Maypray was tabbed 2009 Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Year in the league’s preseason squads announced Friday afternoon at...
5. Wizards to hold preseason camp at VCU The Washington Wizards announced that the team will conduct their 2009 training camp at the Siegel Center on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in...