ST. LOUIS – The University of Indianapolis has been unanimously picked by the Great Lakes Valley Conference football coaches to win the inaugural GLVC Championship this fall, it was announced Friday at the first annual GLVC Football Kickoff in St. Louis.
The Greyhounds, who tied for fifth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and finished 7-4 overall last year, received eight of the nine first-place votes only because conference bylaws do not permit a school to vote for itself. Indianapolis return 18 starters this season, including nine on offense and seven on defense. UIndy will be paced by junior quarterback Chris Mills and senior wide receiver Mar’Quone Edmonds on offense, as well as senior linebacker Max Davis on defense. The Greyhounds are coached by third-year head coach Bob Bartolomeo, who has UIndy to a 13-9 record over the past two seasons.
Urbana University, one of two associate members to compete in the GLVC this year, has been picked to finish second in the conference this year. The Blue Knights were 8-3 in 2011 and finished first at 3-0 in the Great Lakes Football Conference under head coach David Taynor, who returns for his fifth year. The Knights are led by quarterback and 2011 GLFC Player of the Year D. J. Mendenhall and sophomore running back and 2011 GLFC Freshman of the Year David Hill.
Missouri S&T has been selected to finish third this season. The Miners finished behind Urbana last year with a 2-1 mark in the GLFC and were 6-5 overall. David Brown is back for his third year as head coach and will have the leadership of 16 returning starters and nine on offense, including first-team All-GLFC selections Smook Thomas (WR/Sr.) and Ryan Taylor (RB/Sr.).
Saint Joseph’s College earns the No. 4 slot in this year’s preseason poll. The Pumas were 2-8 last season under first-year head coach Cory Sanders and return 19 starters from a squad that placed fourth in the GLFC. Back under center for Saint Joseph’s is junior QB Billy VandeMerkt, who has thrown over 2,500 yards in his career.
William Jewell College has been selected to place fifth in the league standings. Competing as an independent in 2011, the Cardinals finished 4-6 overall under the guidance of Jerod Kruse, who returns for his third season. One of four defensive starters returning is senior lineman Tyler Bullis after a junior season where he posted 28 stops, 11 tackles for loss, and a team-high four sacks.
McKendree University owns the No. 6 position in the poll. The Bearcats, led by veteran head coach Carl Poelker, return 46 letterwinners and 17 starters from a team that finished 2-9 as a member of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) a year ago. Senior David Bergschneider steps into the starting role at quarterback this fall after tossing a pair of touchdowns and 341 yards in limited action in 2011.
Quincy University has been predicted to finish seventh in the upcoming season. First-year head coach Tom Pajic is set to the field a Hawks squad that was 4-6 last year and a fifth-place finisher in the MSFA. Sophomore linebacker Dan Camp was a second-team All-MSFA selection in 2011 after recording 75 tackles, 16.5 TFLs and a pair of sacks a year ago.
Kentucky Wesleyan College and Central State University, the GLVC’s other associate member, tied for eighth in the preseason poll. The Panthers were 1-10 in GLFC play last year and return 11 starters, including senior wide receiver Shawn Mooney. The Marauders return junior wide receiver Steven Heard among 15 starters from a team that was 1-10 in 2011.
The 2012 season begins on Thursday, Aug. 30, with Indianapolis, Kentucky Wesleyan and Saint Joseph’s in action.
|
2012 |
GLVC Preseason Poll |
Points (1st) |
|
1. |
Indianapolis |
64 (8)* |
|
2. |
Urbana |
55 (1) |
|
3. |
Missouri S&T |
52 |
|
4. |
Saint Joseph’s |
37 |
|
5. |
William Jewell |
33 |
|
6. |
McKendree |
26 |
|
7. |
Quincy |
21 |
|
T-8. |
Central State |
18 |
|
|
Kentucky Wesleyan |
18 |