Grand Valley State will open the 2009 season as the No. 1 ranked team in the American Football Coaches Association DII coaches’ poll that was released Monday. This is the sixth time since the AFCA Division II coaches’ poll started in 2000 that the Lakers have begun the season ranked No. 1 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009). GVSU has won the NCAA DII National Championship four times since 2002 (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) and three times when opening the season ranked No. 1 (2002, 2003, 2006).

The Lakers received 12 first place votes and 601 points, while No. 2 Northwest Missouri State received four first place votes and 575 points. Minnesota-Duluth, the defending DII National Champion is No. 3 with eight first place votes and 552 points. Delta State (Miss.) and Abilene Christian (Texas) round out the top five. Grand Valley State’s season-opening opponent, West Texas A&M, is ranked No. 11 in the poll.

The Lakers have been ranked number one in the country 74 times (out of 97 polls) since the preseason poll in 2002. In the 110 polls that have been released since the 2001 season GVSU has been ranked in the top five 94 times, top 10 99 times, top 15 105 times and top 20 109 times.

2009 Preseason AFCA Division II Coaches Top 25

1. Grand Valley State (12) (11-1)
2. Northwest Missouri State (4) (12-2)
3. Minnesota-Duluth (8) (15-0)
4. Delta State (10-2)
5. Abilene Christian (1) (11-1)
6. North Alabama (12-2)
7. Pittsburg State (11-2)
8. California (PA) (12-2)
9. Carson-Newman (7-4)
10. Chadron State (11-2)
11. West Texas A&M (11-2)
12. Valdosta State (9-3)
13. Bloomsburg (11-2)
14. Central Washington (10-2)
15. Ashland (9-4)
16. Central Oklahoma (7-4)
17. Minnesota State-Mankato (9-3)
18. Tuskegee (10-1)
19. Albany State (7-4)
20. West Chester (9-4)
21. Edinboro (9-2)
22. Glenville State (8-3)
23. Tusculum (9-4)
24. Fayetteville State (8-2)
25. Central Missouri (7-4)

Others Receiving Votes:
Catawba, Southern Connecticut State, Michigan Tech, Wayne State (NE), Texas A&M-Commerce, Tarleton State, Indiana (PA), Texas A&M-Kingsville, Augustana, Colorado School of Mines, Nebraska-Omaha, Washburn, Wayne State (MI), Nebraska-Kearney, Missouri S&T, Arkansas-Monticello, St. Cloud State, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Wingate, North Carolina-Pembroke, Missouri Western State, Seton Hill, Charleston, American International, Arkansas Tech, East Stroudsburg, Midwestern State, Western Oregon

–Courtesy GVSU Sports Information and AFCA.com