UCA picked 2nd, 4th in polls
By The monitor Staff
Friday, August 15, 2008 1:28 PM CDT
HOUSTON — The University of Central Arkansas Bears were picked second in one preseason football poll and fourth in the other when they were announced Tuesday at the 2008 Southland Conference Football Media Days.
The Bears, who finished tied for second place a year ago in their first full season in the SLC, were second behind McNeese State in the poll by the league’s sports information directors. In the coaches’ poll, UCA was fourth behind McNeese State, Sam Houston State and Northwestern State. The Bears, ranked in the Top 25 in the nation in two preseason publications this summer, have beaten Sam Houston in their only two meetings in 2006 and 2007.
“As a head coach, you use those things for motivation,’ said Conque, beginning his ninth season at UCA with a 58-34 record. “When you get a little recognition around the country in a couple of Top 25 polls, then you’re picked fourth in your league... But the bottom line is you have to tee it up on Saturday, every Saturday. It’s all about where you end up at the end of the season.
“I think last year we were picked last and we played for the conference championship in the last week of the season. That’s really more for the media and the fans to debate. We know you have to play well week in and week out in this league, top to bottom. It’s a grind. But we do feel like our personnel is a little bit better, a little bit deeper, this year.’
The Bears had five players named to the preseason All-SLC first team and two more to the second team. Senior quarterback Nathan Brown, last year’s SLC Offensive Player of the Year, was joined on the first team by senior offensive guard Brad Gordon, a preseason All-American in one publication, senior tight end Marquez Branson, junior offensive tackle Lane Freiwald and junior defensive tackle Taylor Scott.
The second-team selections were senior offensive guard Jeremy Ford and junior wide receiver Preston Echols.
“Certainly I was pleased to see us get five first-team All-Conference selections,’ Conque said, “and two more on the second team. That was a very positive thing for these young men and for our team. And having only one defensive player indicates that we definitely need to grow there.
“Taylor Scott is a great player and he responded last year replacing some great players at his position. We feel like at the end of the year, there will be some other individual honors for some of our guys. But all these guys would certainly give up these honors to win a conference championship.’
