WACO, TEX.– The Saginaw Valley State University football team was ranked #24 by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) this week (Sept. 1) after their upset victory over California (Pa.) last week. The Cardinals will travel to face Wayne State this weekend (Sept. 5) as they open the GLIAC portion of their 2009 GLIAC schedule.

Grand Valley State (Mich.) opened the 2009 season with a 37-23 win at No. 11 West Texas A&M and remains the top team in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Lakers received 21 of 25 first place votes to remain in the top spot. Minnesota-Duluth received three first place votes and moves up one spot to No. 2. Abilene Christian received the final first place vote and jumps two spots to No. 3 after knocking off then-No. 2 Northwest Missouri State on Thursday. North Alabama and Pittsburg State round out the top five.



2009 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll
August 31, 2009


Rank School (1st votes)
1. Grand Valley St. (21) 1-0
2. Minnesota-Duluth (3) 1-0
3. Abilene Christian (1) 1-0
5. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 1-0
6. Bloomsburg (Pa.) 1-0
7. Chadron St. (Neb.) 1-0
8. Northwest Missouri St. 0-1
9. Central Washington 1-0
10. Minnesota St.-Mankato 1-0
11. Delta St. (Miss.) 0-1
12. Tuskegee (Ala.) 1-0
13. West Texas A&M 0-1
14. West Chester (Pa.) 1-0
15. Edinboro (Pa.) 1-0
16. Albany St. (Ga.) 1-0
17. California (Pa.) 0-1
18. Texas A&M-Kingsville 1-0
19. Central Missouri 1-0
20. Valdosta St. (Ga.) 0-1
21. Glenville St. (W.Va.) 1-0
22. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 0-1
23. Ashland (Ohio) 0-1
24. Saginaw Valley St. 1-0
25. Catawba (N.C.) 1-0

Dropped Out: Central Oklahoma (16), Tusculum (Tenn.) (23), Fayetteville St. (N.C.) 25.

Others Receiving Votes: Newberry (S.C.), 71; Nebraska-Omaha, 63; Winona St. (Minn.), 62; Wayne St. (Neb.), 54; Tarleton St. (Texas), 51; Indiana (Pa.), 49; Central Oklahoma, 38; Washburn (Kan.), 34; Augustana (S.D.), 28; Wayne St. (Mich.), 24; Charleston (WVa.), 22; Wingate (N.C.), 21; Missouri Western, 17; North Carolina-Pembroke, 16; Arkansas Tech, 16; Adams St. (Colo.), 14; Tusculum (Tenn.), 12, Michigan Tech, 11; Missouri S&T, 9; Southeastern Okla., 5; Midwestern St. (Texas), 5; Seton Hill (Pa.), 2; Colorado School of Mines, 2.