Bronchos Tabbed Fifth In Preseason MIAA Coaches' Poll

8/1/2016 8:47:00 PM | By: Chris Brannick

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association commissioner Bob Boerigter announced the preseason Coaches' and Media polls at Football Media Day on Tuesday and UCO came in fifth and sixth respectively.

Defending NCAA Division II champion Northwest Missouri State received 10 of 12 first-place votes as the overwhelming favorite. Central Missouri came in second and Pittsburg State third, each received one first-place vote. Emporia State tied for third with Pittsburg State with 87 points, UCO was fifth with 86 points.

The Media poll was unanimous in selecting Northwest Missouri State as the preseason No. 1. All 39 first-place votes went to the Bearcats. The top four is identical to the Coaches' poll, with Central Missouri, Pittsburg State and Emporia State following Northwest. Fort Hays State came in at No. 5 ahead of the Bronchos. UCO received 310 points to land in sixth place.

"I think preseason polls are good," UCO head coach Nick Bobeck said. "They are just opinions, but they are good. They give you a starting point. Something people can talk about, which creates excitement about the upcoming season. Once the games start, they don't mean anything. Games are won by teams who execute in all three phases of the game. Games are won by teams who trust each other and play hard for one another, not by opinions."

UCO is coming off its second-straight winning season, and its second-straight bowl appearance. The Bronchos finished 7-5 last year and won the 2015 Live United Texarkana Bowl with a decisive 38-21 triumph over Southwestern Oklahoma State.

UCO opens its 2016 campaign on the road on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. against Lindenwood. The Bronchos open the gates at Wantland Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 8 against Pittsburg State. That game is also scheduled for 7 p.m., and tickets are available now.

2016 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll:

1. Northwest Missouri State, (10) 120
2. Central Missouri, (1) 110
T3. Pittsburg State, (1) 87
T3. Emporia State, 87
5. Central Oklahoma, 86
6. Fort Hays State, 80
7. Missouri Western, 62
8. Washburn, 56
9. Northeastern State, 31
10. Missouri Southern, 27
11. Nebraska-Kearney, 25
12. Lindenwood, 21

2016 MIAA Preseason Media Poll:

1. Northwest Missouri, (39) 468
2. Central Missouri, 392
3. Pittsburg State, 394
4. Emporia State, 325
5. Fort Hays State, 316
6. Central Oklahoma, 310
7. Missouri Western, 264
8. Washburn, 217
9. Lindenwood, 132
10. Northeastern State, 117
11. Missouri Southern, 84
12. Nebraska-Kearney, 68

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