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FCS Coaches Poll |
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Eastern Illinois football has been ranked No. 11 in the FCS Coaches preseason poll released on ESPNU Monday evening. The Panthers finished the 2013 season ranked No. 4 in the final FCS Coaches poll after posting a 12-2 record and advancing to the FCS playoff quarterfinal round.
EIU will open the 2014 season under first year head coach
Kim Dameron on Thursday, August 28 at Minnesota. The Panthers return 14 starters from last season's team including preseason All-American guard
Collin Seibert and Walter Payton Award candidate
Shepard Little. Eight EIU players were named to the All-OVC preseason team.
EIU season and single game tickets are now on sale by calling 217-581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthertickets.com The Panthers home opener is Sept. 6 against Southern Illinois. The Salukis are listed as the second team also receiving votes in the preseason poll.
Three-time FCS defending champion North Dakota State was ranked as the preseason No. 1 with 18 of the 26 first place votes. Eastern Washington was second receiving six first place votes with Southeastern Louisiana number three with one first place vote. Towson, the team that beat EIU last year in the playoffs, collected the other first place vote and was seventh in the poll. New Hampshire, Montana and Coastal Carolina filled in spots four through six.
OVC preseason favorite Jacksonville State was picked eighth followed by McNeese State, South Dakota State, Eastern Illinois, Fordham, Villanova, Sam Houston State, Northern Iowa, Chattanooga, Tennessee State, Furman, Montana State and Maine rounding out the top twenty. The final five schools in the FCS Coaches preseason poll were Youngstown State, William & Mary, Bethune-Cookman, Richmond and Northern Arizona.
