Aug. 4, 2008

Full NSIC Preseason Release

MANKATO, MINN.:  The Northern Sun Conference held the first annual NSIC Football Media Day today in Mankato, Minn.  The NSIC is now made up of fourteen universities and colleges that cover Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota.  In addition to the ten institutions that competed in the NSIC last year, there are now four new schools which have joined the NSIC from the now defunct North Central Conference.  These four schools include Augustana College, the University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and St. Cloud State University.

The head coaches of all fourteen schools voted in the 2008 NSIC Preseason Football Poll and the Upper Iowa University football team was picked to finish thirteenth overall and seventh in the South Division.

Minnesota Duluth was selected as the preseason favorite. The Bulldogs edged out Winona State, the coaches favorite in the south division, by three points to earn the honor. Rounding out the top five were Minnesota State at number three followed by Augustana and St. Cloud State.

The Bulldogs also boast NSIC North Division Offensive Preseason Player of the Year in quarterback Ted Schlafke. North Division Defensive Preseason Player of the Year went to linebacker Shawn Melland of U-Mary. Winona State was picked to win the South, but Wayne State's quarterback Silas Fluellen was picked by the coaches as the South Division Offensive Preseason Player of the Year. On the other side of the ball, Tyler Reed of Southwest Minnesota State was picked as the South Division Defensive Preseason Player of the Year.

With the NSIC now expanded to a 14-team league, the conference football schedule will be broken into two seven-team divisions (North/South). Each team will play ten conference games that will count towards the NSIC Overall Champion, as well as six divisional games that will count towards the NSIC North/South Championships. In all, three league championships will be awarded (Overall Champion, North Division Champion, and South Division Champion). Ties will not be broken for overall or division champions.

Upper Iowa seniors Jerad Jandrain, offensive line, and Doug Akins, defensive line, were named as NSIC "Players to Watch" in 2008.

The Peacocks will open the 2008 season on Thursday, Aug.28, when they travel to Des Moines, Iowa to face the Division I-Bulldogs of Drake University.  Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Johnny Bright Field.

Overall Coaches Poll                 Points

1. Minnesota Duluth (7)              151

2. Winona State (4)                   148

3. Minnesota State (3)               141

4. Augustana                            127

5. St. Cloud State                      120

6. University of Mary                 116

7. Wayne State                         109

8. Bemidji State                       96

9. Concordia-St. Paul                 76

10. Northern State                    60

11. Southwest Minnesota State    46

12. MSU Moorhead                     37

13. Upper Iowa                         32

14. Minnesota, Crookston           15

first place votes in ( )                          

North Division                         Points

Minnesota Duluth (6)                 36

University of Mary                     29

St. Cloud State (1)                    27

Bemidji State                           21

Northern State                          17

MSU Moorhead                          11

Minnesota, Crookston                6

first place votes in ( )

South Division                           Points

Winona State (5)                       35

Minnesota State (2)                   29

Wayne State                             25

Augustana                                23

Concordia-St. Paul                     17

Southwest Minnesota State         10

Upper Iowa                              8

first place votes in ( )