Friday, June 14, 2002

Johnson City, Tenn. (June 14, 2002) - East Tennessee State's football team has been ranked eighth nationally by Street & Smith magazine in the publications preseason NCAA I-AA football poll. The Buccaneers, coming off their third straight 6-5 season and an upset of top-ranked Georgia Southern in 2001, are making their first appearance in a national poll since the 1999 season. ETSU returns 13 starters from last season's squad, including all 11 on defense, and 42 letterwinners overall. East Tennessee State will open 2002's 12-game schedule with a visit to ACC foe North Carolina State on August 31. The Bucs will open their six-game home schedule on September 7 when they host Mars Hill. For ticket information contact the ETSU athletic ticket office at (423) 439-5371.

Street & Smith's Top 1-AA Top 25 
1. Montana 
2. Eastern Kentucky 
3. Lehigh 
4. Northern Iowa 
5. Eastern Illinois 
6. Portland State 
7. Appalachian State 
8. East Tennessee State 
9. Youngstown State 
10. Murray State 
11. William & Mary 
12. Delaware 
13. Tennessee Tech 
14. Montana State 
15. Western Kentucky 
16. Florida A&M
17. Tennessee State 
18. Grambling 
19. Colgate 
20. Villanova 
21. Northern Arizona 
22. Western Carolina 
23. Hofstra 
24. Sam Houston State 
25. Georgia Southern