July 25, 2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Samford football team was picked fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll released at the league's 2006 Football Media Day Tuesday morning at LP Field.

Samford returns nine starters on offense and nine on defense from a team that posted a 5-6 record last season. The Bulldogs finished in a tie for fourth in the OVC with a 4-4 conference mark.

"We feel pretty good about the players we have returning," Samford head coach Bill Gray said. "We do have a lot of experience back and we had a wonderful spring. We look forward to seeing what we can do on the field."

Eastern Kentucky was picked to win the conference with 120 points in the poll, voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Defending conference champion Eastern Illinois was picked second with 117 points, while Jacksonville State placed third with 102 points.

Samford received 75 points in the poll, placing the Bulldogs fourth. The full preseason poll is listed below.

2006 OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE PRESEASON FOOTBALL POLL
1. Eastern Kentucky (11 first-place votes), 120
2. Eastern Illinois (7 first-place votes), 117
3. Jacksonville State, 102
4. SAMFORD, 75
5. Murray State, 64
6. Tennessee-Martin, 46
T-7. Tennessee State, 45
T-7. Tennessee Tech, 45
9. Southeast Missouri, 34

(8 pts. awarded for a first-place vote, 7 for second, etc. - Coaches and SIDs could not vote for their own teams).