The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) held their 16th annual football media day on Thursday, August 6, at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The day featured comments from all ten of the league’s football coaches in preparation for the 2015 season.
One of the highlights of the day is the release of the preseason coaches’ poll. Morningside is the preseason pick to win the GPAC championship. The Mustangs totaled 81 points and nine (9) first place votes. Northwestern was picked second with 73 points and the one (1) first place vote.
The Red Raiders, coached by Kyle Achterhoff, in his seventh season, return 19 starters and 41 letterwinners off a 2014 team that finished as co-GPAC champions with an 8-1 record, 9-2 overall. They finished ranked 12th in the NAIA Coaches’ poll.
Doane was third with 65 votes. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
2015 GPAC Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll:
Place – Team – Pts (1st Place Votes)
1. Morningside – 81 (9)
2. Northwestern – 73 (1)
3. Doane – 65
4. Dakota Wesleyan – 51
5. Hastings – 48
6. Concordia – 46
7. Nebraska Wesleyan – 27
8. Midland – 25
9. Briar Cliff – 24
10. Dordt – 9
For the third year a media poll was conducted among those present at the press conference. Morningside was tabbed in the media poll to win the GPAC with 90 points and nine (9) first place votes, while Northwestern was 10 points back in second with 80 points. Doane was picked third by the GPAC media with 70 points.
2015 GPAC Preseason Football Media Poll:
Place – Team – Pts (1st Place Votes)
1. Morningside – 90 (9)
2. Northwestern – 80
3. Doane – 70
4. Hastings – 56
5. Dakota Wesleyan – 52
6. Concordia – 45
7. Nebraska Wesleyan – 39
8. Midland – 30
9. Briar Cliff – 22
10. Dordt – 11
Games for the 2015 season kick off on Saturday, August 29th with Midland hosting Olivet Nazarene and Briar Cliff hosting Presentation College while Dakota Wesleyan travels to Dakota State in non-conference play. The GPAC schedule will consist of nine games with one bye week in the conference. League games will being on September 12.
