LATROBE, Pa. - Three-time defending conference champion Thomas More College has been picked to again capture the 2011 football championship in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), according to the preseason poll released at the 2011 PAC Football Media Day at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe today. Voters in the polls included conference head coaches, sports information directors (SIDs), and members of the media present at the conference media day.
The three-time defending PAC champion Saints of fifth-year head coach Jim Hilvert return 19 starters and 42 lettermen from last year's team which finished 11-1 overall, including a perfect 7-0 mark against conference competition. Thomas More earned 24 of 26 total first-place votes and 232 points in the conference poll to top second place Washington & Jefferson (200), followed by Waynesburg (165), Bethany and Grove City (tied with 117), Geneva (110), Saint Vincent (108), Westminster (78) and Thiel (43).
"It is an honor to be picked first again this year. This pick recognizes past and present players," said Hilvert. "But, last year is last year. We have a lot of hard work to do this year. We must play with a certain edge this year to accomplish the goals we set this off-season. In the PAC, you must be ready week in and week out. We must also stay healthy."
In the 2010 postseason, Thomas More topped Washington & Lee 42-14 in the NCAA first round before falling at Mary Hardin-Baylor in the second round. W&J captured the ECAC D-III Southwest Bowl with a 54-41 victory over Franklin & Marshall.
