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Delaware football third in Atlantic 10 South poll 2:14 p.m., Aug. 2, 2006--The University of Delaware football team has been picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10 Conference's South Division in 2006, according to a preseason poll of journalists and coaches announced Wednesday during the conference media day in Philadelphia. Head Coach K.C. Keeler's Fightin' Blue Hens received one first-place vote in finishing behind James Madison University, which received 17 first-place votes, and the University of Richmond, with 9 first-place votes. The College of William & Mary was picked to finish fourth, Villanova University fifth and Towson University sixth. The University of New Hampshire was picked to win the North Division, followed by the University of Massachusetts, the University of Maine, Hofstra University, the University of Rhode Island and Northeastern University. Junior running back Omar Cuff was the only UD player to be recognized on the preseason All-Atlantic 10 team, earning a spot in the backfield alongside Steve Baylark of Massachusetts. Keeler, whose team will open fall drills on Friday, Aug. 11, said UD has a “very young team” but expects the Hens will “be in good shape if we get good play at the quarterback spot, the defensive secondary continues to improve and Omar Cuff stays healthy.” The All-American Cuff, who attended the event with Keeler, said he did not feel any special pressure entering the 2006 season and has been pleased with the team's progress during the off-season. With senior Ryan Carty and transfer Joe Flacco expected to battle for the starting quarterback position through August, Keeler said during an interview on WRHU-FM, which broadcast media day, that the Hens will likely turn to a power running game early in the season to give the quarterbacks and wide receivers a chance to settle in to the offense. Carty, he said, is very competitive and knows the offense while Flacco is a talented athlete with a tremendous arm. Keeler said a two tight end set might be in order, given that UD has great depth at that position with transfers Ben Patrick and Rob Agnone and returning Hens Steve Selk and Mike Mailey. Keeler said that, at the moment, three teams would appear to have an edge in the conference: New Hampshire, Massachusetts and James Madison. He added that by season's end, he expects to see five or six Atlantic 10 teams that could be good enough to win the national championship. “In this conference, every single team you play has a chance to beat you,” Keeler said. “The parity in this conference is incredible.” Atlantic 10 Commissioner Linda Bruno, overseeing her final football media day as the teams in the conference will compete under the banner of the Colonial Athletic Association in 2007, said she believes the NCAA Division I-AA national champion could well emerge from one of the two conference divisions. Atlantic 10 teams have won two of the last three titles, with UD the champion in 2003 and James Madison in 2004. The 2005 title was won by Appalachian State University. “The national championship trophy took a one-year hiatus from the Atlantic 10,” Bruno said, “and I expect it will return to us for the third time in four years.” UD will open the season with a game on Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, against West Chester University. |
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