UMD Checks In At #2 In Pre-Season Poll

Aug 13, 2012

Northland Sports Online

Lofty national rankings are nothing new for the University of Minnesota Duluth football program. With the exception of just two times (both coming last fall), UMD has cracked the Top 10 in every American Football Coaches Association Division II weekly poll since Sept. 29, 2008.That includes the most recent ranking, the AFCA II preseason poll, which was released today and had the Bulldogs occupying he No. 2 spot.

The Bulldogs, who have won two of the past four national championships, took a backseat to only Pittsburg State University, the 2011 NCAA II titleholders. UMD received five of 30 first-place votes and garnered 661 points while the Gorillas amassed 720 points and 21 first-place votes.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference was represented by only one other school in the AFCA II Top 25 ratings — No. 16 St. Cloud State University, which will host the Bulldogs on Sept. 29.

UMD will launch its 80th year of competition on Aug. 30 with a NSIC clash at Southwest Minnesota State University.

Comments can be sent to sports@northlandsportsonline.com