Thunder football picked to repeat in CCIW Coaches pre-season poll

Wheaton, Ill. (8/10) The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) has announced the results of its annual CCIW Coaches Poll for football and the Thunder football team is picked to win its fourth consecutive league title, among a crowded field atop the poll. A 2005 CCIW Championship would give the Thunder its fourth consecutive league title, something that has not been done since Augustana won eight straight CCIW crowns from 1981 to 1988. In addition to three straight league titles (2002-04) head coach Mike Swider's (LEFT) program also won a share of the 2000 CCIW Championship to give the Thunder four out of the last five conference crowns.

Each of the eight coaches in the CCIW vote in the preseason poll, with seven points going to a first-place selection, six points for second place, etc., down to one point. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team. Wheaton tallied 43 points, with two first place votes. 2004 co-Champions Carthage and North Central received 40 total points to tie for second place, with North Central receiving three first place votes and Carthage picked up two. Augustana finished in fourth with 35 points and the final first place vote, Millikin is picked to finish fifth with 25 points, Illinois Wesleyan picked up 21 points in sixth place, Elmhurst took seventh with 12 points and North Park received eight points in eighth place.

Wheaton posted a 10-2 overall record last year, with a 6-1 CCIW mark to tie for the CCIW Title. Wheaton made its third consecutive NCAA Playoff appearance with a 31-7 victory against Mount St. Joseph in the First Round before bowing out in a 27-6 loss at top-ranked Mount Union. The Thunder is picked 20th in the D3Football.com Top 25 preseason poll.

Carthage was 11-2 in 2004, tying Wheaton for the league title with an identical 6-1 CCIW record. The Redmen made a first-ever Division III Playoff appearance, making it to the Quarterfinals, where Mount Union defeated Carthage 38-20. Carthage is picked 13th in the D3Football.com preseason poll. North Central finished tied for fourth in the CCIW in 2004 with a 4-3 record and a 7-3 overall mark, while Augustana was also 7-3 overall with a 5-2 CCIW record to finish third. Millikin was 5-5 overall and posted a 4-3 league record to tie North Central for fourth, Illinois Wesleyan was 3-7 overall and sixth in the league with a 2-5 conference mark, Elmhurst was 4-6 overall and 1-6 in the CCIW to take seventh place, while North Park was 1-9 overall with a 0-7 league record.

Click here for the CCIW Coaches Poll on the CCIW Website