Griz picked second in preseason coaches' and media polls
7/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Paul Wulff's Eastern Washington Eagles have been selected by the Big Sky Conference coaches and media to win the 2005 regular-season football championship.
Eastern Washington received six of the eight first-place votes from the coaches, and 48 total points. The Eagles received 18 first-place votes in the media poll and 303 points, just one more than the University of Montana.
The Eagles are coming off a 9-4 campaign that included a co-Big Sky Conference championship and a trip to the Division I-AA playoffs. Eastern Washington upset top-ranked and top-seeded Southern Illinois in the first round of the playoffs. The Eagles will be led by Walter Payton Award candidate Erik Meyer at quarterback and All-American wide receiver Eric Kimble.
Eastern Washington is seeking its first outright Big Sky title since 1997. That season, the Eagles finished 7-1 in conference and 12-2 overall.
This marks the first time since 1997 the University of Montana was not selected by both the coaches and the media to win the Big Sky Conference championship. Montana, which has won or shared seven straight conference titles, was picked second in both polls. Montana was selected first in the first Sky Line fan poll, which was conducted on-line at www.bigskyconf.com.
Bobby Hauck's Grizzlies, who lost to James Madison 31-21 in the 2004 I-AA national championship game, earned two first-place votes from the coaches and 43 points. A total of 19 media members tabbed Montana No. 1. The Grizzlies received 302 points in the media poll.
Coaches could not vote for their own teams. In the coaches' poll, seven points were awarded for a first-place vote, six for a second, etc. In the media poll, which included 42 print and broadcast outlets, as well as league sports information directors, a first-place vote was worth eight points.
The coaches tabbed Portland State third and Montana State fourth. The two teams flipped spots in the media poll. In the coaches' poll, Portland State earned 32 points to Montana State's 30. In the media poll, Mike Kramer's Bobcats garnered four first-place votes and 258.5 points. Tim Walsh's Vikings received 179 points. The Vikings enter the 2005 season riding a four-game winning streak.
Northern Arizona, which shared the Big Sky title in 2003, was picked fifth in both polls. Idaho State, also a 2003 co-champ, was picked sixth by the media and coaches. Idaho State received one first-place vote in the media poll.
Sacramento State and Weber State tied for seventh in both polls. Weber State, coming off a 1-10 season, is the only team in the league with a new coach. Former Utah coach Ron McBride took over the Wildcats in December.
Northern Arizona was the last team other than Montana to be picked by the coaches and media to win the championship. In 1997, media and coaches picked the Lumberjacks. This is just the second time since 1993 that Montana has not been picked first in at least one of the polls. UM finished 12-3 last season. The Grizzlies have advanced to the playoffs a record 12 straight seasons.
The 2005 football season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 1.
2005 COACHES' POLL
Team (First-place votes) Points
1. Eastern Washington (6) 48
2. Montana (2) 43
3. Portland State 32
4. Montana State 30
5. Northern Arizona 29
6. Idaho State 20
7. (tie) Sacramento State 11
Weber State 11
2005 MEDIA POLL
Team (First-place votes) Points
1. Eastern Washington (18) 303
2. Montana (19) 302
3. Montana State (4) 258.5
4. Portland State 187
5. Northern Arizona 175.5
6. Idaho State (1) 118
7. (tie)Weber State 84
Sacramento State 84
Eastern Washington received six of the eight first-place votes from the coaches, and 48 total points. The Eagles received 18 first-place votes in the media poll and 303 points, just one more than the University of Montana.
The Eagles are coming off a 9-4 campaign that included a co-Big Sky Conference championship and a trip to the Division I-AA playoffs. Eastern Washington upset top-ranked and top-seeded Southern Illinois in the first round of the playoffs. The Eagles will be led by Walter Payton Award candidate Erik Meyer at quarterback and All-American wide receiver Eric Kimble.
Eastern Washington is seeking its first outright Big Sky title since 1997. That season, the Eagles finished 7-1 in conference and 12-2 overall.
This marks the first time since 1997 the University of Montana was not selected by both the coaches and the media to win the Big Sky Conference championship. Montana, which has won or shared seven straight conference titles, was picked second in both polls. Montana was selected first in the first Sky Line fan poll, which was conducted on-line at www.bigskyconf.com.
Bobby Hauck's Grizzlies, who lost to James Madison 31-21 in the 2004 I-AA national championship game, earned two first-place votes from the coaches and 43 points. A total of 19 media members tabbed Montana No. 1. The Grizzlies received 302 points in the media poll.
Coaches could not vote for their own teams. In the coaches' poll, seven points were awarded for a first-place vote, six for a second, etc. In the media poll, which included 42 print and broadcast outlets, as well as league sports information directors, a first-place vote was worth eight points.
The coaches tabbed Portland State third and Montana State fourth. The two teams flipped spots in the media poll. In the coaches' poll, Portland State earned 32 points to Montana State's 30. In the media poll, Mike Kramer's Bobcats garnered four first-place votes and 258.5 points. Tim Walsh's Vikings received 179 points. The Vikings enter the 2005 season riding a four-game winning streak.
Northern Arizona, which shared the Big Sky title in 2003, was picked fifth in both polls. Idaho State, also a 2003 co-champ, was picked sixth by the media and coaches. Idaho State received one first-place vote in the media poll.
Sacramento State and Weber State tied for seventh in both polls. Weber State, coming off a 1-10 season, is the only team in the league with a new coach. Former Utah coach Ron McBride took over the Wildcats in December.
Northern Arizona was the last team other than Montana to be picked by the coaches and media to win the championship. In 1997, media and coaches picked the Lumberjacks. This is just the second time since 1993 that Montana has not been picked first in at least one of the polls. UM finished 12-3 last season. The Grizzlies have advanced to the playoffs a record 12 straight seasons.
The 2005 football season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 1.
2005 COACHES' POLL
Team (First-place votes) Points
1. Eastern Washington (6) 48
2. Montana (2) 43
3. Portland State 32
4. Montana State 30
5. Northern Arizona 29
6. Idaho State 20
7. (tie) Sacramento State 11
Weber State 11
2005 MEDIA POLL
Team (First-place votes) Points
1. Eastern Washington (18) 303
2. Montana (19) 302
3. Montana State (4) 258.5
4. Portland State 187
5. Northern Arizona 175.5
6. Idaho State (1) 118
7. (tie)Weber State 84
Sacramento State 84
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