Football Mocs Picked 7th in SoCon

The Southern Conference releases its preseason football polls Wednesday and the media and coaches agree, Chattanooga will finish seventh in the nine team league. They also agree that Appalachian State will win, again. The three time defending national champions received all but one first place vote in the coaches' poll and and all but one in the media poll.

The Mocs placed six players in the all conference squad, including running back Brian Fitzgerald who was a first team selection at running back. On the second team, receiver Blue Cooper, O-Line man William Giles, Defensive Lineman Neil Brown, Linebacker Joseph Thorton and Defensive Back Raeshon Ball.

2008 SoCon Football Preseason Coaches' Poll

Place School (First-place votes) Points

1. Appalachian State (8) 64

2. Elon (1) 47

3. Wofford 45

4. Georgia Southern 44

5. Furman 41

6. The Citadel 37

7. Chattanooga 19

8. Western Carolina 17

9. Samford 10

2008 SoCon Football Preseason MEDIA Poll

Place School (First-place votes) Points

1. Appalachian State (29) 268

2. Elon 215

3. Georgia Southern (1) 191

4. Wofford 185

5. Furman 158

6. The Citadel 148

7. Chattanooga 83

8. Western Carolina 53

9. Samford 49

2008 Southern Conference Preseason All-Conference Teams

Offensive Player of the Year: Armanti Edwards, Jr., QB, Appalachian State

Defensive Player of the Year: Pierre Banks, Sr., LB, Appalachian State

OFFENSE

First Team

QB Armanti, Edwards, Appalachian State

RB Bryan Fitzgerald, Chattanooga

RB Devon Moore, Appalachian State

OL Brad Coley, Appalachian State

OL Joel Bell, Furman

OL Derek Wooten, Wofford

OL Ben Quick, Wofford

OL (tie) Mario Acitelli, Appalachian State

OL (tie) Thomas Slaughter, Furman

TE Larry Hedden, Furman

WR Terrell Hudgins, Elon

WR CoCo Hillary, Appalachian State

Second Team

QB Scott Riddle, Elon

RB Mike Brown, Furman

RB Dane Romero, Wofford

OL William Giles, Chattanooga

OL Ben Miller, Wofford

OL Chris Werden, Elon

OL Kevin Wiggins, Western Carolina

OL Dan DeHaven, The Citadel

TE Fenn Allen, Wofford

WR Andre Roberts, The Citadel

WR (tie) Blue Cooper, Chattanooga

WR (tie) Bo Williamson, Elon

DEFENSE

First Team

DL Larry Beard, Georgia Southern

DL Tony Robertson, Appalachian State

DL Terrence Reese, The Citadel

DL Anthony Williams, Appalachian State

LB Corey Weaver, Elon

LB Pierre Banks, Appalachian State

LB Seth Goldwire, Wofford

DB Carson Hill, Georgia Southern

DB Thomas Twitty, Furman

DB Leonard Love, Appalachian State

DB Chris Covington, Georgia Southern

Second Team

DL Kevin McCaskill, The Citadel

DL Neil Brown, Chattanooga
DL Layton Baker, Wofford
DL Jeff Bradley, Western Carolina
LB Quintin Phillips, Western Carolina
LB Jacque Roman, Appalachian State
LB Joseph Thornton, Chattanooga
DB Raeshon Ball, Chattanooga
DB Cortez Gilbert, Appalachian State
DB Karlos Sullivan, Elon
DB (tie) William Middleton, Furman

DB (tie) Cameron McGlenn, Elon

SPECIALISTS

First Team

PK Jesse Hartley, Georgia Southern

P Brandon Lane, Elon

RS CoCo Hillary, Appalachian State

Second Team

PK Patrick Mugan, Wofford

P Mark Kaspar, The Citadel

RS Mike Brown, Furman