Aug. 14, 2006

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Sioux Falls, SD - North Dakota has been picked as North Central Conference football favorite in both the preseason media and coaches polls released today.

The two samples agreed on the top spot, but none of the other eight slots were the same in the two polls.

The 2006 season season marks the introduction of two new teams, Central Washington and Western Washington, into the NCC.

In 2005, Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota and South Dakota tied for the NCC title while Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota made the field for the NCAA Division II Championship. North Dakota downed Minnesota Duluth before falling to Grand Valley State in the playoffs while Nebraska-Omaha received a first-round bye before being defeated by Saginaw Valley State.

This season's media poll marks the 52nd time that the media have made their predictions about the nine-team league that spans five states. The media have correctly picked the NCC champion in 15 of the past 24 seasons.

In all, the media have successfully chosen the NCC champion 27 times in the 51 years in the poll's existence.

The NCC coaches have made predictions for the past 23 years. They have picked the champion 12 times.

2006 North Central Conference

Preseason Media Poll

Team    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   TotalNorth Dakota    11  3   5   0   0   0   0   0   0   158South Dakota    3   8   4   0   2   2   0   0   0   137Nebraska-Omaha  4   3   2   5   4   1   0   0   0   128Minnesota Duluth    1   4   3   6   0   3   2   0   0   116Central Washington  0   0   4   3   5   4   3   0   0   96St. Cloud State 0   0   1   4   5   6   3   0   0   89Augustana   0   1   0   2   3   2   8   2   1   72Western Washington  0   0   0   0   0   0   2   9   8   32Minnesota State 0   0   0   0   0   0   1   8   10  29

2006 North Central Conference

Preseason Coaches Poll

Team             1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   TotalNorth Dakota        4   2   2   1   0   0   0   0   0   72Nebraska-Omaha      3   3   2   1   0   0   0   0   0   71South Dakota        2   4   2   1   0   0   0   0   0   70St. Cloud State     0   0   1   2   5   1   0   0   0   53Minnesota Duluth        0   0   1   2   2   4   0   0   0   45Central Washington  0   0   1   2   2   3   0   1   0   31Augustana           0   0   0   0   0   1   5   2   1   24Minnesota State     0   0   0   0   0   0   3   3   3   18Western Washington  0   0   0   0   0   0   1   3   5   14

> Note: Points were awarded 9 for 1st, 8 for 2nd, etc. in both polls.