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UMHB FOOTBALL TEAM PICKED FIRST IN PRESEASON COACHES AND MEDIA POLL Special to the N.E.T. Sports Gazette Belton, TX—The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team has been picked to successfully defend its American Southwest Conference championship in the 2004 ASC Preseason Coaches’ and Media Poll. The Crusaders received 245 points in balloting of the ASC football coaches, sports information directors and selected media members and received nine of the 27 first-place votes cast in the poll. UMHB edged Hardin-Simmons for the top spot after the Cowboys totaled 241 points and 10 first-place votes. East Texas Baptist was picked third with 238 points and the other eight first-place votes. The Crusaders, Cowboys and Tigers shared the ASC championship last season. UMHB won the outright ASC title in 2002 before sharing the conference crown last season. The Crusaders are also the top pick in the ASC Preseason Poll for the second straight year. Howard Payne was voted fourth with 189 points, McMurry University was tabbed fifth with 143 points, Texas Lutheran took sixth with 105 points, Louisiana College is seventh with 103 points, Mississippi College was picked eighth with 96 points, Austin College was ninth with 89 points and Sul Ross State was picked 10th with 36 points. UMHB’s P.J. Williams was also voted ASC Preseason Co-Special Teams Player of the Year, sharing the honor with McMurry kick returner Brian Malbrough. Williams, a junior from Rockdale, averaged 13.9 yards per punt return and 22.8 yards per kickoff return last season. He also caught 33 passes and set school single-season receiving records with 836 yards and nine touchdowns. ETBU running back RoShawn Johnson was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and ETBU defensive tackle Littleton Dean took Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Crusaders return 54 lettermen from a team that finished 9-1 overall and 8-1 in the American Southwest Conference last season. There are nine starters back on offense and seven starters returning on defense. The Crusaders will open the 2004 season with a 7:30 PM home kickoff against Willamette University on September 11th |
Sunday August 1, 2004 Should the UIL send four teams to the playoffs?
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