GLIAC Preseason Poll in PDF Format
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July 30, 2007

Bay City, Mich. - The 2007 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason football poll was released on Monday, July 30, with Mercyhurst being picked to finished 11th in the 13-team conference.

The poll was compiled from the ballots of the 13 conference coaches, and two-time defending NCAA Division II champion, Grand Valley State, earned 12 of the 13 first-place votes. Northwood, which finished the 2006 season 8-3 and ranked No. 21 in the nation received the only other first place vote and was picked second.

Saginaw Valley State was voted to finish third, and Ferris State and Wayne State completed the top five.

The poll was released in conjunction with the league's football media day at the Bay Valley Resort in Bay City, Mich.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team and the first-place team on each ballot received 12 points, and second place receives 11 points, ect.

Mercyhurst received a total of 29 points, ahead of Findlay (26) and Gannon (23). The Lakers are looking to build off of 3-7 mark in 2006. The team returns a total of 12 starters, including seven on a defense that keyed by returning leading tackler and former All-GLIAC Second Team performer, senior linebacker, Jimmy Kokrak. Sophomore Bryan Boyce, who was named All-GLIAC Honorable Mention in 2006, also returns, giving Mercyhurst an experience and talented linebacker corps.

On offense, the Lakers return just five starters, but are solid in the backfield with senior quarterback Mitch Phillis and junior running back Richard Stokes returning.

Philllis, with 22 career starts, has improved upon his completions, yards and touchdown totals in each of his previous three seasons. Stokes, a All-GLIAC Second Team honoree, totaled 657 yards rushing, 225 yards receiving and nine total touchdowns last season.

Head Coach Marty Schaetzle's Lakers open their season at 1 p.m. on Aug. 25 with a trip to Kentucky State.