Colonels picked to finish ninth in preseason polls

Staff Report
The Southland Conference revealed its 2014 Preseason Football Coaches’ and Sports Information Directors’ polls Wednesday at its annual media day at L’auberge Resort, and the Nicholls State University football team placed ninth out of 11 teams in both polls.
The Colonels, who finished 2013 with a 4-8 record, including a 1-6 mark in the Southland, received 35 points in the coaches’ poll to rank one point behind conference newcomer Abilene Christian. Nicholls had 36 points in the SID poll, finishing three points behind eighth-place Abilene Christian.
Defending champion Southeastern Louisiana took first place in both polls and received 19 of 22 first-place votes, followed by McNeese State, which had the other three top votes, Sam Houston State, Central Arkansas and Northwestern State. Stephen F. Austin and Lamar tied for sixth in the coaches’ poll, while Stephen F. Austin took sixth ahead of Lamar in the SID poll.
In the rest of both polls, Abilene Christian placed eighth, followed by Nicholls, University of Incarnate World and Houston Baptist.
The Colonels report to fall camp Thursday, with their first practice scheduled for Aug. 1. The team opens the season Aug. 30 at Air Force, with its first home game slated for Sept. 13 against Henderson State.
Season tickets are available on geauxcolonels.com or by calling the Nicholls Athletics Ticket Office at 985-448-4790.