FOOTBALL PICKED TO FINISH SEVENTH IN BIG SKY BY COACHES AND MEDIA

7/21/2009

OGDEN, Utah — The Sacramento State football team was picked to finish seventh in the upcoming Big Sky Conference season in polls conducted by the league's coaches and media, it was announced today.

Defending conference co-champion and national championship finalist Montana was tabbed to finish first in both polls. The Griz collected 283 points and 27 first-place votes by the media and 63 points and seven first-place selections by the coaches.

Weber State, which tied Montana for the top spot a year ago, was second in each poll. The Wildcats garnered the remaining five first-place media votes and had 261 total points. In the coaches poll, WSU had 57 points and one first-place vote.

The only difference in the two polls came in the third and fourth sports where the coaches had Eastern Washington finishing ahead of Montana State and the media had the two reversed. The remaining spots were identical in both polls with Portland State, Sacramento State, Northern Colorado and Idaho State finishing sixth through ninth, respectively.

Sacramento State is coming off of a 6-6 season in 2008 in which the team produced a 3-5 Big Sky mark to tie for sixth place. The Hornets open the 2009 season at UNLV on Sept. 5 and begin Big Sky play on Sept. 26 at home against Eastern Washington.

Coaches Poll
1. Montana (7) - 63
2. Weber State (1) - 57
3. Eastern Washington (1) - 48
4. Montana State - 41
5. Northern Arizona - 32
6. Portland State - 30
7. Sacramento State - 27
8. Northern Colorado - 15
9. Idaho State - 10

Media Poll
1. Montana (27) - 283
2. Weber State (5) - 261
3. Montana State - 203
4. Eastern Washington - 195
5. Northern Arizona - 156
6. Portland State - 120
7. Sacramento State - 102
8. Northern Colorado - 71
9. Idaho State - 47