Lincoln Chosen Seventh in GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll

Blue Tigers Are Beginning Their First Season in the League

LEBANON, Illinois - The Lincoln football team was picked seventh in the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason coaches poll, announced on Friday (Aug. 1) as part of the league's kickoff event.

The Blue Tigers, in their first season in the GLVC, received 27 votes to rank seventh in the nine-team poll. Lincoln, along with Southwest Baptist, are joining the GLVC as football-only members in 2014 while remaining full members of the MIAA in all other sports. Southwest Baptist received 28 votes to edge LU for sixth in the GLVC preseason coaches poll.

Two-time defending GLVC champion Indianapolis was the unanimous favorite, garnering eight first-place votes to lead the poll with 64 points. Truman State, in its second season in the GLVC after leaving the MIAA in 2013, was selected second with 56 points. St. Joseph's (Ind.) claimed third with 50 points, including earning the final first-place vote, as coaches were not allowed to rank their own program.

Missouri S&T was selected fourth with 38 points while McKendree was picked fifth with 32 points. Rounding out the GLVC preseason coaches poll were Quincy, which received 15 points to check in at eighth, and William Jewell, which tallied 14 points points to be selected ninth.

Lincoln went 3-8 in its final season in the MIAA in 2013, including defeating NCAA Division I Grambling State, 47-34, in the inaugural Missouri Classic. The Blue Tigers return 12 starters from that squad, including senior running back Morris Henderson, a Don Hansen All-American third team selection; senior offensive lineman J.J. Johnson, a USA College Football preseason second team All-American; and senior quarterback Jacob Morris, an All-MIAA honorable mention in 2013.

The Blue Tigers begin 2014 on Sept. 6 by playing Langston in the second Missouri Classic, held in Kansas City, Mo. at historic Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CDT.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS