Tight LSC South Football Race Predicted

RICHARDSON, Texas -- After just missing on a share of the conference title a year ago, Tarleton State has been picked as the Lone Star Conference South Division favorite for 2006, according to the annual preseason poll released by league officials.

Tarleton, which has emerged as a perennial power with 40 wins, three NCAA playoff appearances and three LSC divisional titles in the past five seasons, was the voters' pick despite dropping a 30-26 decision to West Texas A&M in last year's regular-season finale that kept the Texans from sharing the LSC overall and South Division crowns.

Tarleton had the most first-place (5) and second-place (5) votes in the poll, finishing with 86 points to hold off well respected Texas A&M-Kingsville's 80-point total in the balloting of LSC head coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives.

WTAMU, which went 10-2 last year in winning its first-ever LSC South Division title and first LSC overall championship since 1986, earned just four first-place votes and finished with 78 points to come out third in the balanced poll. Midwestern State was fourth with 77 points, followed by Angelo State 61, Abilene Christian 36 and Eastern New Mexico 30.

Despite posting a 10-win season for the first time since 1950 and advancing to its first-ever NCAA Division II playoff appearance, West Texas A&M did not command the respect of all voters. The Buffaloes were picked everywhere from first to seventh in the 16 ballots cast, but finishing third is still a vast improvement after being picked last a year ago.

Besides Tarleton's five and WTAMU's four first-place votes, Midwestern State notched three first-place nods, while TAMUK and last year's South Division runner-up Angelo State had two first-place votes each.

The 2006 football season will begin in late August, and the LSC has 13 teams set to compete. Joining the seven South Division teams are their six North Division counterparts ù Central Oklahoma, East Central (Okla.), Northeastern State (Okla.), Southeastern Oklahoma, Southwestern Oklahoma and Texas A&M-Commerce.

In the LSC North preseason poll, Southeastern Oklahoma is a heavy favorite to win its third straight divisional title.