Wonder Boys Picked 5th in GAC Football

League head coaches have picked Arkansas Tech University to finish fifth among the nine teams that will compete for the 2012 Great American Conference football championship.

The preseason poll was released on Tuesday, Aug. 14, by the GAC office in Russellville.

The Wonder Boys return six starters on offense and five starters on defense from their 2011 team. They are under the direction of head coach Steve Mullins, who is beginning his 16th season as Arkansas Tech head football coach.

Henderson State University is the preseason favorite to win the GAC football title. The Reddies earned four first-place votes and a total of 57 points.

East Central University and defending GAC football champion Ouachita Baptist University tied for second place in the preseason poll with 54 points apiece. ECU garnered three first-place votes, while OBU collected the two remaining first-place ballots.

Harding University (4th, 42 points) and Arkansas Tech (5th, 29 points) are followed in the preseason poll by a four-way tie for sixth place between the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southern Arkansas University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

The Boll Weevils, Savage Storm, Muleriders and Bulldogs all earned 22 points in the voting.

This season will mark the second football campaign in GAC history, but it will be the first time that teams have played a complete league schedule.

The 2011 Great American Conference football schedule was truncated as the GAC members from Arkansas fulfilled their exit agreement with the Gulf South Conference by playing some games against GSC members.

The Great American Conference was accepted as the 23rd NCAA Division II conference on March 9, 2011. Arkansas Tech won the inaugural GAC All-Sports Trophy.

Click here to view the complete GAC preseason football poll news release.

Click here to learn more about Wonder Boys football.

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