July 31, 2008

Football Picked Third in RMAC Poll

Three Make Preseason Team

     Kearney, Neb. –  The Nebraska-Kearney football team received 28 points to be picked third in the 2008 RMAC Preseason Coaches poll.

     Additionally, senior receiver Eric Myrick (Jacksonville, Fla.), senior kicker/punter Geoff Carnahan (Kearney Catholic) and junior center Jack Hiett (Arvada, Colo.) represent the Lopers on the preseason team.

      The poll and team were released Friday (July 11th) at “media day” in Colorado Springs. The 10 RMAC head coaches voted on the team and poll.

     As expected, Chadron State (12 points) was picked to win a third straight league title with Mesa State second (16 points). Last year, both the Eagles (seven first place votes) and Mavericks (three first place votes) made the 16-team NCAA Division II playoffs.

       UNK edged Colorado School of Mines (29), who played in the 2007 Dixie Rotary Bowl, for third. Rounding out the poll are Western New Mexico (48), Adams State (53), New Mexico Highlands and Western State (62), Fort Lewis (65) and Colorado State-Pueblo (75).

      CSUP reinstated football last year and will take to the field this fall for the first time in over two decades.

      Despite being hobbled late last year, Myrick led UNK in catches (36) and led the RMAC in TD receptions (eight). Up front, Hiett was named first-team All-RMAC after being tabbed as the league’s top offensive freshmen in 2006.

      Carnahan, making the preseason team at punter, will again pull double duty for UNK this year. In 2007, he averaged 39.7 yards per punt, made 40 of 41 PAT’s and converted 11 of 13 field goals.

      Chadron State quarterback was selected as the Offensive Preseason Player of the Year while teammate and linebacker Austin Baily was tabbed as the Defensive P.O.Y. Finally, Mesa State kicker Jared Keating was named the Special Teams Preseason Player of the Year.

      The complete roll, and team, can be found at www.rmacsports.org.