ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Drake University football team has been picked to finish fifth in the Pioneer Football League standings in a preseason vote of the league's coaches.
The Bulldogs, set to begin their first season under first-year head coach Rick Fox, return seven all-PFL performers and 15 student-athletes that started in 2014.
Drake earned 73 total points in the poll and one first-place vote. San Diego was tabbed as the preseason favorite with 90 points and five first-place votes. Dayton, Jacksonville and Butler rounded out the top half of the projected league standings.
The upcoming 2014 season marks the 22nd year for the Pioneer Football League – the nation's only non-scholarship, football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference. The league will feature 11 teams each playing an eight-game schedule to determine the league champion and recipient of the automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA FCS Championship.
The Bulldogs have laid claim to two of the last three PFL titles and begin their 2014 campaign on Aug. 30 against crosstown foe Grand View. The home slate also features contests against Truman State and PFL rivals Marist, Davidson, Butler and preseason-favorite PFL San Diego.
For tickets to catch the Bulldogs at Drake Stadium this season visit www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com, or call (515) 271-DOGS.
Pioneer Football League 2014 Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team, Points
1. San Diego (5), 90
2. Dayton, 82
3. Jacksonville (3), 80
4. Butler (2), 77
5. Drake (1), 73
6. Marist, 61
7.Campbell, 38
8. Morehead State, 35
9. Stetson, 30
10. Davidson, 20
11. Valparaiso, 19
• First-place votes in parentheses.
• 10 points awarded for a first-place vote, with one point less for each succeeding place. (Maximum score = 100)
• Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
