CSU-Pueblo was selected first in the 2016 Preseason Coaches' Poll
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – CSU-Pueblo was tabbed as the favorite to win the conference in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll released on Monday.
Two institutions joined the 2016-17 RMAC football season, Dixie State and South Dakota Mines.
The preseason poll was voted on by the 11 head coaches. Ten points were awarded for a first-place vote; nine for second place, continuing in descending order. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The 2014 NCAA DII national champions and 2015 RMAC champions, CSU-Pueblo tallied 10 first-place votes totaling 100 points in this year’s preseason polls. The ThunderWolves finished last year 9-0 in the conference and 12-2 overall.
Colorado Mesa placed second in the polls with 88 points. The Mavericks finished second in the RMAC with an 8-1 in the RMAC and 9-2 overall at the end of the 2015 season.
Colorado Mines was tabbed third garnering a total of 83 points and received one first-place vote. The Orediggers finished last season in third going 8-3 overall (6-3 RMAC).
Western State took fourth with 67 points. Last year the Mountaineers finished sixth in the conference going 4-5 in RMAC play (4-7 overall).
Chadron State earned 64 points in the preseason polls, ranking them fifth. The Eagles went 4-5 in conference play and 5-6 overall for a fifth place finish.
Fort Lewis ranked sixth with 59 points. The Skyhawks had an RMAC record of 6-3 and 7-4 overall.
Adams State was selected seventh in the polls. The Grizzlies tallied 41 points after placing eighth in the conference with a 3-6 RMAC record (4-7 overall). Adams State finished behind Western New Mexico in the 2015 standings (WNMU no longer competes in the RMAC).
New Mexico Highlands was tabbed eighth with 33 points. The Cowboys finished ninth in the RMAC going 2-7 in RMAC play, 2-9 overall.
RMAC’s newest associate member, Dixie State was voted ninth in the preseason standings. The Trailblazers garnered 29 points.
Black Hills State followed with 21 points and a 10
th place rank in the polls. The Yellow Jackets went 0-11 overall and 0-9 in conference play.
South Dakota Mines came away with 20 points in the polls.
2016 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1.CSU-Pueblo (10) – 100 pts.
2.Colorado Mesa – 88 pts.
3.Colorado Mines (1) – 83 pts.
4.Western State – 67 pts.
5.Chadron State – 64 pts.
6.Fort Lewis – 59 pts.
7.Adams State – 41 pts.
8.New Mexico Highlands – 33 pts.
9.Dixie State – 29 pts.
10. Black Hills State – 21 pts.
11. South Dakota Mines – 20 pts.