UMD Football Ranked # 1

NSO-NEWS RELEASE

Official NSIC Release

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football coaches have spoken and, for the sixth time in the last seven years, the University of Minnesota Duluth is their favorite to reign as the 2014 Northern Intercollegiate Sun Conference champion.

In their annual preseason poll released today, the NSIC coaches picked the Bulldogs to finish first in both the North Division and in the overall standings — just ahead of Minnesota State University-Mankato, the defending league kingpins. The NSIC is a 16-team circuit and, for football, is broken down into two, eight-school divisions.

UMD, which rolled up a 11-2 overall record last fall and a 10-1 NSIC mark, garnered eight first-place votes and 215 points — three more than Minnesota State, which received seven votes. Winona State University, a member of the South Division was third with 189 points (and the remaining first-place vote) followed by North Division combatant St. Cloud State University, (183 pts.), the University of Sioux Falls (147 pts.), Augustana College (145 pts.), Southwest Minnesota State University (140 pts.), Bemidji State University (118 pts.), the University of Mary (100 pts.) and Northern State University (96 pts.).

In addition, UMD senior running back Austin Sikorski was chosen the North Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year  — the first Bulldog to be so honored since quarterback Chase Vogler in 2011. A native of Plover, Wis., Sikorski is a two-time All-NSIC North Division selection (first team in 2013 and second team the previous year) who has paced UMD in rushing in each of the last two seasons. As a junior he rushed for a career high 1,260 yards — the fifth highest single-season output in the 81-year history of UMD football on 197 carrries for a 6.4 yards per attempt average and 16 touchdowns.

He also paced the 2013 Bulldogs in scoring with 96 points. Siskoski, who will enter his senior season ranking ninth on UMD’s all-time ground gainer charts (2,736 yards), was earlier select to the 2014 USA College Football Preseason All-American first team.

The Bulldogs, who have been chosen as the overall NSIC preseason favorite during all but one of their previous seven years of league membership (2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2003 — they belonged to the now-defunct North Central Conference from 2004-07), return some 43 lettermen from a year ago, including seven starters on offense and five on offense. UMD, the reigning six-time NSIC North Division champions,  will open preseason camp on Aug. 16.

2014 NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll (Overall)

Overall (First Place Votes)                 Points

1. UMD (8) ………………………………….. 215

2. Minnesota State-Mankato (7)……… 212

3. Winona State (1)………………………. 189

4. St. Cloud State ………………………… 188

5. Sioux Falls……………………………….. 147

6. Augustana College……………………. 145

7. Southwest Minnesota State ………. 140

8. Bemidji State ………………………….. 118

9. University of Mary……………………. 100

10. Northern State ………………………… 96

11. Upper Iowa ……………………………. 87

12. Concordia-St. Paul………………….. 81

13. Wayne State …………………………… 74

14. MSU-Moorhead………………………. 73

15. Minot State ……………………………. 34

16. Minnesota Crookston……………….. 21

Minnesota Duluth (0-0 NSIC, 0-0 North)
www.umdbulldogs.com – KQDS-AM 1490
Curt Wiese – Minnesota State ’00
2nd Season, 11-2; 10-1 NSIC
Last Season 11-2, 10-1 NSIC, 7-0 North (1st)

Offensive Player to Watch
#86 Aaron Roth
WR, 5-10, 180, Sr.,
Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata HS
– USA College Football DII Preseason All-American
– College Development Football League All-American
– All-NSIC North Division second team
– Led NSIC North Division in Punt Retun Yards (16.6 ypr)
– Was first among Bulldogs in both punt (14) and kickoff (18) returns and was second in pass receptions (39 for 356 yards and a pair of touchdowns).
•Ran back one punt for a touchdown last fall now has two as a Bulldog to go with to kick return TDs.

Defensive Player to Watch
#52 Gavin Brown
LB, 6-3, 220, Sr.,
Becker, Minn. / Becker HS
– Registered 13 total tackles while taking part in just eight of UMD’s 13 games last fall
– Recorded two quarterback sacks and two qb hurries
– Has endured back-to-back injury-plagued seasons