FLORENCE
-- The University of North Alabama football
team will begin its quest for an NCAA
Division II National title as the No. 4 team
in the nation. Coming off an 11-1 season
that saw the Lions win the Gulf South
Conference title and advance to the
quarterfianls of the Division II playoffs,
UNA is ranked fourth in the preseason poll
released Wednesday by the American Football
Coaches Association.
Defending
national champion Grand Valley State is No.
1, followed by Northwest Missouri State,
North Dakota and UNA.
The Lions
return more than 40 letterman from last
season and have posted a solid 40-10 record
since 2003, with two conference titles and
three playoff appearances. North Alabama has
been ranked 42 times since 2003 and has
finished in the final Top 10 three times in
the last four years.
The Lions are
set to hold their final big pre-season
scrimmage on Saturday at Braly Stadium at 9
a.m.
UNA opens its
season on Sept. 8 at home against Tusculum.
AFCA PRE-SEASON POLL
2007
August 23
1. Grand
Valley State
2. Northwest Missouri State
3. North Dakota
4. North Alabama
5. Chadron State
6. Valdosta State
7. Pittsburg State
8. Shepherd
9. Bloomsburg
10. South Dakota
11. Abilene Christian
12. Delta State
13. Nebraska-Omaha
14. Northwood
15. Carson-Newman
16. Newberry
17. West Chester
18. Southeastern Oklahoma
19. Bemidji Sate
20. Albany State
21T. Elizabeth City State
21T. California, Pa.
23. Midwestern State
24. West Texas A&M
25. Washburn
