Concordia Wisconsin tabbed to win inaugural Northern Athletics Conference football title
MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Concordia University Wisconsin is selected to win the 2008 Northern Athletics Conference Football Championship, according to the conference's preseason coaches' poll.

The fall of 2008 will mark the first season of conference competition for football in the Northern Athletics Conference, which began competition in 2006 for the 17 other conference sports. Eight of the 13 member institutions sponsor football, but have competed in three separate conferences for the sport.

The Northern Athletics Conference champion will automatically qualify to the NCAA Division III Football Championship Tournament beginning this 2008 season.

CUW received five of the eight first place votes and 59 total points in the poll, which was released at NAC Football Media Day at Wisconsin Lutheran College. The Falcons return 16 starters (6 offensive/10 defensive) and 28 letterwinners from last year's 7-4 squad which captured a share of the Illini-Badger Football Conference (IBFC) championship and earned a berth to the NCAA tournament.

Lakeland College is picked second in the poll, receiving two first place votes and 54 total points. The Muskies have won or earned a share of the IBFC title in there of the last four years, including a share last season. Lakeland (6-4) returns 13 starters from last season, including 8 on defense.

The Spartans of Aurora University received the remaining first place vote in the poll and 40 total points for third place. AU tied for third in the IBFC last season with a 4-3 conference record and 5-5 overall mark. The Spartans return 68 letterwinners and 20 starters from 2007, losing only one starter  on each offense and defense.

Benedictine University is tabbed fourth receiving 39 points. The Eagles tied AU for third in the IBFC last season at 4-3, and also finished 5-5 overall. Sixty-eight letterwinners return from last season's squad which includes eight offensive and six defensive starters.

Rockford College, the 2007 champions of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) South Division, received 27 points in the coaches' poll for fifth place. The Regents are coming off their fifth-straight 7-3 season in the program's short history.

Wisconsin Lutheran College is picked sixth in the poll with 26 points. The Warriors finished seventh in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association with a 1-6 conference mark and 1-9 overall in 2007.

The Cougars of Concordia University Chicago are selected to finish seventh receiving 25 points. The Cougars went 3-7 in 2007, including 2-5 in the IBFC.

Maranatha Baptist Bible College is picked eighth and received eight points in the poll. The Crusaders went 2-7 last season and 1-6 in the UMAC South.

More information on the eight teams and the Northern Athletics Conference can be found in the 2008 Northern Athletics Conference Football Media Day Guide.

Northern Athletics Conference, Sports Information Department, August 6, 2008.