BOWLING GREEN — The Patriot football program will see its athletes returning to campus this weekend as preseason camp for the 2018 year is on the horizon. UC finished the 2017 season at 6-4 overall with a 3-3 mark in Appalachian Division play. As with each year, the coaches of the Mid-South Conference are polled on their projections on how the teams enter the 2018 season. This year’s preseason coaches’ poll has been released and Cumberlands found themselves in the middle of the Appalachian Division pack.

UC would receive 17 total points to earn the fourth spot out of seven teams in this year’s preseason poll, conference officials announced Thursday. The Eagles of Reinhardt University, who are coming off a 12-1 season (6-0 MSC Appalachian) and a NAIA Football Championship Series Runner-Up finish, are the favorites in this year’s preseason poll for the Appalachian Division. They would receive 36 total points including six of seven first-place votes.

Bluefield College, the surprise team in the Appalachian Division last year, received the final first place vote and 30 total points to earn the second spot in the poll. The University of Pikeville came in third with 27 total points. Following UC in the Appalachian Division poll are Union College (15 points), Point University (12 points), and St. Andrews (10 points) respectively.

“The MSC Preseason Poll is a great challenge to us, but we really focus more on this team and what we have to do to win the first game,” said head coach Matt Rhymer. “We are excited to play in this division and our goal is to be ranked at the top in the postseason poll.”

Lindsey Wilson College is the favorite to top the Bluegrass Division of the MSC this year. Last season, the Blue Raiders went 11-1 overall, 6-0 in the MSC Bluegrass Division, and were eliminated in the NAIA Football Championship Series quarterfinals. In the Sun Division, it is Southeastern University who was voted as the favorite with 36 total points and six of seven first place votes. The Fire went 8-2 last year, 5-0 in the Sun Conference play, but was ousted by in the opening round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.

The Patriots will open up their 2018 campaign on Saturday, Aug. 25 as they travel to Lakeland, Florida to take on Sun Division favorite Southeastern University. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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