who made a late push last season and raced thr

(STATS) -- Chattanooga was picked to capture a fourth straight Southern Conference championship on Wednesday -- the favorite in both the preseason coaches and media polls at media day in Spartanburg, South Carolina.If Mocs coach Russ Huesman had his way, his players would never learn about it.With the SoCon expected to be particularly strong this season, Huesman wants his team to take on a certain identity.Emphasis on the word team.I want it to be about our football team, and not about how people predict us or about anybody else that is on our schedule. We have to take care of us, the eighth-year coach said. We have to prepare and practice and just worry about Chattanooga. Not worry about where we are ranked, not worry about what people are saying about us, good or bad. We need to just make it about our football team.Chattanooga shared the conference title with The Citadel last year. The Citadel, now coached by former offensive coordinator Brent Thompson, was picked second in the preseason polls.Both teams placed a conference-high 10 players on the coaches preseason all-conference team. Chattanooga defensive end Keionta Davis was selected as the preseason defensive player of the year, while Western Carolina running back Detrez Newsome gained offensive honors.VMI junior Al Cobb was the first-team selection at quarterback. Thats the position in which Chattanooga goes through its most important change. Jacob Huesman, the coachs son, has graduated after starting for the last four seasons and winning three consecutive SoCon offensive player of the year awards.Well, weve got 12 good seniors coming up that we feel are really good players and good leaders for us. I think all of those guys have stepped up, said Russ Huesman, whose team went 9-4 (6-1 SoCon) and finished ninth in the final STATS FCS Top 25 last season.A lot of it comes from the quarterback. Alejandro (Bennifield, the new starter) has stepped up big. His leadership role, his work ethic and how he has handled himself has been excellent. Ive seen a lot of leadership come from him in this offseason. I think Alejandro is going to be a really good leader for us, but, obviously, the 12 seniors are the guys.The Mocs surround Bennifield with a veteran offense, including All-America lineman Corey Levin and workhorse running back Derrick Craine. The defense will feature linebacker Nakevion Leslie and safety Lucas Webb in addition to Davis.It is a deep, deep year in the league, Russ Huesman said. There are a bunch of teams that if they end up Southern Conference champions at the end of the year, it would not shock me.When I filled out the preseason poll, it was extremely hard. There are so many quality teams. We learned that last year. We tied for the league title with The Citadel and I think every one of our games was a battle. We lose to Mercer and beat Wofford on a last-season field goal. We understand that this league is strong and deep. If you dont come to play, you will lose a football game.---=SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLLS=Head Coaches Poll=(Coaches not permitted to vote for their team)1. Chattanooga (7 first-place votes), 63 points2. The Citadel (1), 523. Samford (1), 504. Western Carolina, 415. Mercer, 386. Wofford, 337. Furman, 248. VMI, 149. East Tennessee State, 14---=Media Poll=1. Chattanooga (26), 2502. The Citadel (2), 2083. Western Carolina, 1794. Mercer, 1485. Samford, 1476. Wofford, 1367. Furman, 1028. VMI, 629. East Tennessee State, 28---=SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON TEAM=(Coaches not permitted to vote for their players)Offensive Player of the Year -- Detrez Newsome, RB, Western CarolinaDefensive Player of the Year -- Keionta Davis, DE, Chattanooga---=First Team Offense=QB -- Al Cobb, VMI, Jr.RB -- Derrick Craine, Chattanooga, Sr.RB -- Detrez Newsome, Western Carolina, Jr.OL -- Isaiah Pinson, The Citadel, Jr.OL -- Brett Niederreither, Mercer, Sr.OL -- Armando Bonheur, Samford, Sr.OL -- Corey Levin, Chattanooga, Sr.OL -- Jacob Revis, Chattanooga, Jr.OL -- Anton Wahrby, Wofford, Sr.TE -- Tyler Sexton, Western Carolina, Sr.WR -- Karel Hamilton, Samford, Sr.WR -- Aaron Sanders, VMI, Sr.---=First Team Defense=DL -- Joe Crochet, The Citadel, Sr.DL -- Ahmad Gooden, Samford, So.DL -- Keionta Davis, Chattanooga, Sr.DL -- Miles Brown, Wofford, So.LB -- Tevin Floyd, The Citadel, Sr.LB -- Nakevion Leslie, Chattanooga, Sr.LB -- Tyson Dickson, Western Carolina, Sr.LB -- Daniel Riddle, Western Carolina, Jr.DB -- Dee Delaney, The Citadel, Jr.DB -- Trey Robinson, Furman, Sr.DB -- Jamerson Blount, Samford, Sr.DB -- Lucas Webb, Chattanooga, Jr.---=First Team Specialists=PK -- Henrique Ribeiro, Chattanooga, Sr.P -- Ian Berryman, Western Carolina, So.RS -- Dane Forlines, VMI, Sr.--=Second Team Offense=QB -- Devlin Hodges, Samford, So.RB -- Tyler Renew, The Citadel, Sr.RB -- Lorenzo Long, Wofford, Sr.OL -- Ryan Bednar, The Citadel, Sr.OL -- Josh Cardiello, Chattanooga, Jr.OL -- Andrew Lewis, VMI, Sr.OL -- Nathan Dalton, Western Carolina, So.OL -- Dequan Miller, Wofford, Sr.TE -- Sam Walker, Mercer, So.WR -- Kelvin McKnight, Samford, So.WR -- Spearman Robinson, Western Carolina, Sr.---=Second Team Defense=DL -- Tosin Aquebor, Mercer, Sr.DL -- Isaiah Buehler, Mercer, So.DL -- Xavier Forrest, Samford, Jr.DL -- Vantrel McMillan, Chattanooga, Sr.LB -- Carl Rider, Furman, Sr.LB -- Ryan Francis, VMI, Jr.LB -- Dylan Weigel, VMI, So.DB -- Cedric Nettles, Chattanooga, Sr.DB -- Fred Payne, Western Carolina, Sr.DB -- Malik Diggs, The Citadel, Sr.DB -- Trey Morgan, Western Carolina, Sr.---=Second Team Specialists=PK -- Logan Howard, Western Carolina, So.P -- Austin Barnard, Samford, Jr.RS -- Chandler Curtis, Mercer, Jr.Dawson Knox Bills Jersey . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Josh Allen Bills Jersey . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. http://www.shoptheofficialbills.com/Elite-Jordan-Poyer-Bills-Jersey/ . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Andre Roberts Jersey . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Andre Reed Womens Jersey . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good.Seasoned U.S. national team goalkeeper Tim Howard will make his MLS debut for first-place Colorado when the Rapids host the defending-champion Portland Timbers on Monday at Dicks Sporting Goods Park.Howard has been a part of national team since 2002 and played overseas for several years, before signing with the Rapids this summer.I just want to get out there, Howard said at his introductory press conference. Its what I do, its where Im happiest. The sooner I can get on the field, the better. Its been a long time coming just because of the way the seasons are structured both here in MLS and abroad.The addition of Howard bolsters an already stingy Rapids defense that had surrendered the fewest goals in the league halfway through the season.The Timbers (6-6-5) are in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, nine points behind the first-place Rapids (9-2-5). Both teams are coming off losses in the U.S. Open Cup.Portland is looking for its first road victory of the season. Picking it up at Colorado could spark a second-half run for the Timbers, who made a late push last season and raced through the postseason to the MLS title.ddddddddddddThe Timbers arrive in good form and on a four-game unbeaten streak in MLS play. They overcame a 2-0 deficit to be Houston in their last regular-season match.Portlands offense is bolstered by Fanendo Adi and Valeri. The Timbers are the fifth-highest scoring team in the MLS. But their defense hasnt kept pace. They have conceded 29 goals, the second most in the league.Howard rejoins his former U.S. national team teammate Jermaine Jones, who is one of the Rapids leaders. Jones and forward Luis Solignac are tied for the team high with three goals.The Timbers have won three of the last four meetings with Colorado, with one draw. The two Western Conference contenders will meet twice more this season: on Oct 1 in Colorado and Oct. 16 at Providence Park. ' ' '