Story courtesy of the Southland Conference
Photo courtesy of Sam Houston State Athletics
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Sam Houston State, which finished its 2011 regular-season campaign with a perfect 11-0 record and a 7-0 mark in league play, was picked as the favorite heading into the 2012 season as voted on by the league’s coaches and sports information directors, the conference Tuesday at its annual football media day at L’Auberge du Lac Resort.
Sam Houston was picked by both the coaches and the SIDs, receiving seven out of a possible eight first-place votes and 49 points total in each poll. Stephen F. Austin received the final first-place vote from the coaches while Central Arkansas picked up the final vote from the SIDs. Coaches and SIDs could not vote for their own team.
The Bearkats, who lost in the national championship game after winning their first 14 games, return 19 starters and 50 lettermen, including the reigning conference player of the year Tim Flanders, offensive player of the year Richard Sincere and defensive player of the year Darnell Taylor. Eight starters return on the offensive side for the Bearkats, nine on the defensive side and two on special teams.
Stephen F. Austin, which finished third last season with a 5-2 conference record, was picked second in both the coaches’ and SID polls, receiving 39 and 38 points, respectively. The Lumberjacks return 52 players with on-the-field experience, including 19 returning starters. Leading the way for SFA is junior defensive lineman Willie Jefferson, who was selected as the league’s newcomer of the year last season.
Central Arkansas, which is coming off its first Division I postseason appearance after finishing second with a 6-1 record in league play, was picked third in both polls, garnering 38 points from the coaches and 37 from the SIDs. The Bears have to replace all-conference quarterback Nathan Dick, but return 15 starters and 45 letterwinners from last year’s team, including linebacker Seth Allison, who is one of the top tacklers in the Southland.
McNeese State was tabbed fourth, which is where the Cowboys finished of the 2011 season with a 4-3 mark. McNeese received 34 points in the coaches’ poll and 35 points in the SID poll. The Cowboys return 15 starters and 53 players with experience including three-time all-conference selection defensive back Michael Bronson, who led the team in tackles last year with 80 and was second on the team with three interceptions.
Northwestern State was selected fifth in both polls. In the coaches’ poll, the Demons received in 21 points, while in the SID poll they earned 25 points. The Demons finished with a 3-4 mark in conference play but return 20 starters including two-time all-conference linebacker Derek Rose, who notched 45 solo and 61 total tackles last season.
Southeastern Louisiana, which is under the direction of new head coach Ron Roberts, was selected fifth by the coaches along with Northwestern and sixth by the SIDs. The Lions return 20 starters to a team that only won one conference game last year and finished seventh. Southeastern Louisiana received 21 points in the coaches’ poll and 16 in the SID poll.
The remaining spots include Lamar and Nicholls State, which were picked to finish seventh and eighth, respectively. Lamar was picked seventh in each poll with 13 points in the coaches’ poll and 15 points in the SID poll. Nicholls received eight points both polls for an eighth-place ranking.
Coaches’ Preseason Poll
Rk. Team (first-place votes) Total
1. Sam Houston State (7) 49
2. Stephen F. Austin (1) 39
3. Central Arkansas 38
4. McNeese State 34
5T. Northwestern State 21
5T. Southeastern Louisiana 21
7. Lamar 13
8. Nicholls State 8
SID Preseason Poll
Rk. Team (first-place votes) Total
1. Sam Houston State (7) 49
2. Stephen F. Austin 38
3. Central Arkansas (1) 37
4. McNeese State 35
5. Northwestern State 26
6. Southeastern Louisiana 16
7. Lamar 15
8. Nicholls State 8