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WOLVES
FOOTBALL PICKED FIFTH IN NSIC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
ABERDEEN,
SD - The Northern State football program has been picked to
finish fifth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
in a preseason vote of the league’s coaches, the NSIC announced
on Monday. This marks the second straight season that the
Wolves were picked in the fifth position earning the same
spot a year ago.
Minnesota-Duluth,
which ran the table in the league last season en route to
an 11-0 regular season finish and an NCAA playoff selection,
narrowly topped Winona State as preseason favorites. The two
programs split all nine first place votes cast by the league
coaches, with UMD picking up six and WSU earning three. The
Bulldogs finished with 62 poll points while the Warriors were
right on their heels with 59.
Concordia-St.
Paul was picked to finish third in the league, tallying 48
poll points. The Golden Bears edged Bemidji State by just
four points, as the Beavers rounded up 44 points in the voting.
The
coaches honored Winona State running back Kevin Curtin and
linebacker Deric Sieck as preseason offensive and defensive
player of the year, respectively.
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Burns
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NSU’s
Deacon Burns (So., RB, Brownwood, Tex.) was listed
as a preseason player to watch in the league. Burns was a
2002 all-NSIC second team selection as a freshman rushing
for 589 yards (12th NSIC) and four touchdowns. Burns also
ranked sixth in the conference with 1,569 all-purpose yards,
including 372 punt return yards and 416 kick return yards
over 11 games with the Wolves.
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Carson
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Northern’s
Jason Carson (Sr., LB, Hacienda Heights, Calif.) was
tabbed as a defensive player to watch in 2003. Carson was
a second team all-region selection in his junior campaign
and was 17th in the NSIC with 79 tackles last year. He ranked
fourth in the league with 15 tackles for loss, and led the
NSIC with five forced fumbles on the year.
Northern
State opens its 2003 campaign on Saturday, Sep. 6 with a 7:00
p.m. kickoff against Augustana College at Swisher Field. NSU
finished with a 4-7 overall record in 2002 and completed the
season at 4-5 in the NSIC.
2003
NSIC Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1.
Minnesota Duluth 62 (6)
2. Winona State 59 (3)
3. Concordia-St. Paul 48
4. Bemidji State 44
5. Northern State 34
6. Minnesota State Moorhead 29
7. Southwest Minnesota State 25
8. Wayne State (Neb.) 15
9. Minnesota, Crookston 8
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