2007 NSIC Football Coaches' Preseason Poll
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St. Paul, Minn. - Bemidji State University was favored in the 2007 NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll after going undefeated in league play last year to win their first NSIC Football Championship since 1959. The Beavers, who return 12 all-conference players from a year ago, finished the season 9-3, tying a school single-season record for victories and winning nine games in a season for just the second time in school history. BSU’s 8-0 NSIC record tied with three others for the third-best in conference history, trailing only the 9-0 NSIC campaigns assembled by Winona State in 2001 and Minnesota Duluth in 2002. Bemidji State received seven first place votes to earn the preseason nod. The Beavers had only received one first place vote prior to this year, dating back through the 2000 preseason poll. The Beavers also boast the NSIC Co-Defensive Player of the Year in Zach Stafford. Stafford joins James Midboe (Co-2005) as BSU’s only Defensive Preseason Players of the Year. Josh Jones of MSU Moorhead joins Stafford as NSIC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Jones tied for tops in the nation with his ten interceptions last year while helping the Dragons to their first winning season since 1999. NSIC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year was Kole Goodchild of Concordia-St. Paul. Goodchild was first team all-NSIC along with back-to-back NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors during NSIC play.
Winona State came in second in the poll, along with two first place votes after finishing 2006 with a 9-3 overall mark, a 7-1 NSIC record and a birth to the NCAA Playoffs. The University of Mary received their first ever first place vote as they were picked to finish third in the league. The Marauders finished 2006 on a six game winning streak, including a non-conference win at Bemidji State.
The first games of the season kickoff of on Saturday, August 25th with Michigan Tech at Winona State and Augustana College at the University of Mary.
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2007 Preseason NSIC FB Coaches Poll
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Points
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1
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#13 Bemidji State (7)
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88
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2
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Winona State (2)
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82
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3
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University of Mary (1)
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72
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4
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Concordia-St. Paul
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69
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5
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Wayne State
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49
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6
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SW Minnesota State
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46
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7
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Northern State
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43
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8
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MSU Moorhead
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36
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9
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Upper Iowa
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35
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10
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Minnesota, Crookston
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19
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first place votes in ( )
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Ranking based on Lindy’s 2007 National College Football NCAA Division II Preseason Top-25 Poll
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