GREENVILLE, S.C. ? Appalachian State is a near-unanimous choice to repeat as the Southern Conference football champions in 2008, the league office announced Wednesday at the 2008 SoCon Football Rouser presented by Carolina Ford Dealers. 

The Mountaineers, three-time defending NCAA Division I National Champions, were the top choice in a preseason poll by the league's nine coaches and in a separate poll by the media attending the Greenville, S.C., event.

The Mountaineers collected eight first-place votes and 64 total points in the coaches' poll in which coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.  Elon received the other first-place vote and was second in both polls as well.

 

Chattanooga, 2-9 last season and 2-5 in the SoCon, had 19 points and was projected to finish seventh, ahead of Western Carolina and first-year SoCon-member Samford.

 

“We understand these polls are based on last year's performance,” Chattanooga Head Coach Rodney Allison said.  “But we feel we are prepared to improve on this prediction.  We will certainly use it as motivation with our players when we open camp in about a week.”

 

Defending co-champion Wofford (45 points) was picked to finish third with Georgia Southern (44) fourth, Furman (41) fifth and The Citadel (37) sixth.

 

The only difference in the media poll was in the third and fourth positions.  The media predicts Georgia Southern to place third with Wofford close behind in fourth.

 

Appalachian State held all but one first-place vote from the media, while Georgia Southern was the only other team to receive a first-place nod.

 

The Mocs report to campus July 30 and open preseason camp the following day.

  

2008 SoCon Football Preseason Coaches' Poll

 

Place      School (First-place votes)       Points

1.            Appalachian State (8)  64

2.            Elon (1)                      47

3.            Wofford                      45

4.            Georgia Southern        44

5.            Furman                      41

6.            The Citadel                 37

7.            Chattanooga               19

8.            Western Carolina        17

9.            Samford                     10

 

2008 SoCon Football Preseason Media Poll

Place   School (First-place votes)      Points
1.         Appalachian State (29)   268
2.         Elon                              215
3.         Georgia Southern (1)      191
4.         Wofford                         185
5.         Furman                         158
6.         The Citadel                    148
7.         Chattanooga                  83
8.         Western Carolina           53
9.         Samford                        49