Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis picked eighth in MVFC preseason poll
07/25/2017 | 8:55:00 | Football
ST. LOUIS - The Southern Illinois football team was picked eighth in the preseason Missouri Valley Football Conference poll, the league announced Tuesday morning. SIU was picked eighth for the second-straight year.Â
The poll consists of votes from the coaches, local media and sports information directors in the 10-team conference. In the closest vote in the history of the league, North Dakota State was picked as the preseason favorite by one point over South Dakota State. The Bison received 21 first place votes, and the Jackrabbits received the other 19.Â
Southern Illinois is coming off a 4-7 season. Southern finished 2-6 in the MVFCÂ after winning two of its final three games, including a 17-point comeback win in the season finale over No. 23 Western Illinois. The Salukis return 15 starters from 2016 (seven on offense, six on defense, and two on special teams).Â
Yesterday, the preseason All-MVFC team was announced. Offensive lineman Austin Olsen was named to the preseason All-MVFCÂ team. Hans Carmien, Jeremy Chinn, D.J. Davis, Connor Iwema and Craig James were all named honorable mention preseason All-MVFC. Southern's six members of the preseason All-MVFCÂ teams ranked fourth in the league.Â
Southern Illinois opens the season at Saluki Stadium on September 9 vs. Mississippi Valley State. Season tickets and three-game mini-plans are available on SIUSalukis.com or by calling 877-SALUKIS.Â
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The poll consists of votes from the coaches, local media and sports information directors in the 10-team conference. In the closest vote in the history of the league, North Dakota State was picked as the preseason favorite by one point over South Dakota State. The Bison received 21 first place votes, and the Jackrabbits received the other 19.Â
Southern Illinois is coming off a 4-7 season. Southern finished 2-6 in the MVFCÂ after winning two of its final three games, including a 17-point comeback win in the season finale over No. 23 Western Illinois. The Salukis return 15 starters from 2016 (seven on offense, six on defense, and two on special teams).Â
Yesterday, the preseason All-MVFC team was announced. Offensive lineman Austin Olsen was named to the preseason All-MVFCÂ team. Hans Carmien, Jeremy Chinn, D.J. Davis, Connor Iwema and Craig James were all named honorable mention preseason All-MVFC. Southern's six members of the preseason All-MVFCÂ teams ranked fourth in the league.Â
Southern Illinois opens the season at Saluki Stadium on September 9 vs. Mississippi Valley State. Season tickets and three-game mini-plans are available on SIUSalukis.com or by calling 877-SALUKIS.Â
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| Place | School (First-Place Votes) | Total Points |
| 1. | North Dakota State (21) | 380 |
| 2. | South Dakota State (19) | 379 |
| 3. | Youngstown State | 290 |
| 4. | Northern Iowa | 255 |
| 5. | Illinois State | 246 |
| 6. | Western Illinois | 188 |
| 7. | South Dakota | 182 |
| 8. | Southern Illinois | 132 |
| 9. | Missouri State | 81 |
| 10. | Indiana State | 67 |
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