B-CU Cats In Preseason Top 25 for First Time Under Coach Brian Jenkins

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats enter the 2013 season at No. 23 in The Sports Network FCS Preseason Top 25, it was announced by The Sports Network office in Philadelphia, Pa. This is the first time the Wildcats have been a member of TSN’s preseason poll under head coach Brian Jenkins.

With Brian Jenkins set to embark upon his fourth year in Daytona Beach, the Wildcats finished the 2012 campaign ranked No. 22 after winning their second Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title in three years with an overall record of 9-3 (8-0 MEAC). B-CU advanced to the opening round of the FCS Playoffs, hosting the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers to Municipal Stadium – the third time the Cats hosted a playoff game since 2003.

The poll's national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries confirmed North Dakota State as the preseason No. 1, giving the Bison 127 of the 134 first-place votes and 3,340 points. NDSU was followed by Montana State in second place; defending runners-up Sam Houston State at third; Eastern Washington in fourth; and Villanova rounds out the top five.

Bethune-Cookman opens the 2013 slate at Tennessee State this coming Sunday, September 1, as part of the John Merritt Classic at L.P. Field in Nashville, Tenn. At 8 p.m. The Tigers of TSU received 151 votes in the preseason poll, figuring them at No. 30, respectively.

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