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Aug. 13, 2002--K.C. Keeler has his first national ranking as University of Delaware head football coach.
The Blue Hens enter Keeler's first season as the head coach at Delaware ranked No. 22 in The Sports Network's NCAA Division I-AA preseason top 25.
Delaware, which opens the 2002 season against preseason No. 5 Georgia Southern on Thursday evening, Aug. 29, received a total of 335 points on the 87 ballots cast. It marked the 11th consecutive season that Delaware has been ranked in the preseason top 25.
Delaware last failed to make the pre-season rankings in 1991, when it received votes, but did not rank in the top 25. That was also the last time Delaware was ranked as low as No. 22 in the preseason poll. Last year, Delaware was ranked No. 4 in TSN's preseason poll.
Montana, the defending Division I-AA national champion, was ranked No. 1, receiving 79 of 87 first-place votes. Remaining first-place votes went to Eastern Illinois (1), Georgia Southern (3), Lehigh (1) and Furman (3).
Appalachian State was No. 2, followed by Northern Iowa, Eastern Illinois and Georgia Southern. Lehigh was No. 6, followed by last year's Division I-AA runner-up Furman. Youngstown State, William & Mary and Grambling rounded out the Top 10.
William & Mary was the first of four Atlantic 10 teams in the poll. Maine was ranked No. 13 and Hofstra was ranked No. 15, followed by Delaware.
The first regular season poll will be announced Monday, Sept. 2.
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