8/4/2008 - FOOTBALL Bemidji State picked eighth in 2008 Preseason Coaches' Poll

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MANKATO, Minn. - The Bemidji State University football team was picked eighth in the 2008 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Monday by league officials at the NSIC Media Day held in conjunction with the Alltel Wireless Vikings Training Camp in Mankato, Minn.

NSIC newcomer University of Minnesota Duluth was selected first overall with seven first place votes and 151 points and was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the North Division, while defending NSIC champion Winona State University pulled down four first place votes and was predicted to finish second overall with 148 points and earned top billing in the South Division.

The newly expanded 14-team conference will be broken into two seven-team divisions for 2008. The Beavers, who will call the North Division home, were selected fourth in the division (21) behind UMD (36), University of Mary (29), and St. Cloud State University (27). Northern State University (17), Minnesota State University Moorhead (11) and University of Minnesota, Crookston (6) rounded out the northern divisional rankings.

League coaches also voted UMD quarterback Ted Schlafke North Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and U-Mary linebacker Shawn Melland North Division Preseason Defensive Player of the Year while Silas Fluellen, quarterback for Wayne State College and Southwest Minnesota State University's Tyler Reed pulled down Preseason Offensive and Defensive laurels respectively for the South Division.

In addition to the preseason rankings, BSU sophomore kicker/punter Paul Potemra (So., Poolesville, Md.) and junior linebacker Jake Anderson (Karlstad, Minn.) were tabbed Preseason Players to Watch.

Anderson appeared in nine of the Beavers’ 11 games in 2007, which included seven starts in the middle of the BSU defensive unit. He finished his sophomore campaign ranked second on the team with 34 solo tackles and third among his teammates with 68 total tackles. Anderson also piled up 13.0 tackles for a loss and registered 1.5 sacks, six pass break-ups and an interception, which he returned 31 yards for his first career touchdown (Oct. 27). Anderson showed his nose for the ball by leading the team with four fumble recoveries while forcing one. He led BSU with seven tackles in the season opener at Minnesota Duluth (Sept. 1).

Potemra won kicking and punting duties out of camp and went on to earn First-Team All-NSIC honors at both positions as well as Daktronics, Inc. Second-Team All-Northwest Region accolades at the conclusion of his freshman campaign. Potemra led the team in scoring with 71 points on 10-of-13 field goal attempts and a perfect 41-of-41 on point after attempts. His 71 points is tops on BSU’s all-time single-season kicker scoring list, while his 10 field goals was good for second on BSU’s single-season list. Potemra also paced the league with a punting average of 41.3 in NSIC games, twice registering punts reaching 75 yards (9/22 and 10/26). His average of 51.3 on six attempts at Minnesota, Crookston (9/22) set a new single-game school record at BSU while his 40.5 yards per punt was the best since Danny Kraus averaged 41.3 in 1984. Potemra gained NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week honors Sept. 17 and was selected d2football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week Sept. 25.

Under the direction of head coach Jeff Tesch, who is in his 13th year at the helm of the BSU football program, the Beavers are set to open fall camp Aug. 6 when student-athletes are expected to report to campus for check-in. BSU begins play Aug. 28 in Minot, N.D. in a battle with Minot State University in the 11th annual Beaver Bash. Opening kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. under the lights at Herb Parker Stadium.

2008 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Football Coaches' Preseason Poll

1. Minnesota Duluth (7) - 151
2. Winona State (4) - 148
3. Minnesota State (3) - 141
4. Augustana - 127
5. St. Cloud State - 120
6. U-Mary - 116
7. Wayne State - 109
8. Bemidji State - 96
9. Concordia - 76
10. Northern State - 60
11. Southwest Minnesota State - 46
12. MSU Moorhead - 37
13. Upper Iowa - 32
14. Minnesota, Crookston - 15

First place votes in ()

-bsu-