Football Lions to face 2 ranked teams
SAGU meets #24 Bethany in opener
NAIA announces Pre-Season Top 25 Poll
WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- The 2012 college football season kicks off for Southwestern Assemblies of God University in twenty-five days.
The Lions open camp on Monday, August 13, and head coach Jesse Godding’s squad has a 10-game schedule including a pair against nationally ranked teams.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Pre-Season Top 25 Coaches Poll was released on Monday, August 6. Saint Xavier University (Illinois), the defending champions, is #1 and the obvious team to beat.
The Cougars edged #2 Carroll College (Montana) in the 2011 title game, 24-20. During their 14-1 campaign, they averaged 44 points per game and yielded 19.
Xavier, from the Chicago area, lost only to #3 Marian University, 27-9, in Indianapolis. They rebounded to joust the Knights, 30-27, in the semi-finals.
SAGU launches the season on Labor Day weekend with a September 1 clash with Bethany College. The game is set for a 6:00pm (CST) kickoff. The Swedes, 8-3 a year ago, open as the #24 rated team.
Located in Lindsborg, Kansas, Bethany topped Southwestern, 29-21, in both team’s 2011 season debut. It was SAGU’s only setback during their 3-1 beginning when they made the NAIA Coaches Poll for the first time.
Southwestern is a member in the NAIA, the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) as well as the Central States Football League (CSFL).
The Lions travel to face #22 Langston University (Oklahoma) on November 3. LU (7-3) also shares the same mascot as
SAGU. It will be fifth consecutive year the Lions have met at Langston’s W.E. Anderson Stadium.
A pair of teams from the Central States, Southern Nazarene University (Ok) and Northwestern Oklahoma State University, are transitioning to join the NCAA's Division II.
Replacing them in the CSFL are Wayland Baptist University (Tx) and Oklahoma Baptist University. Both the Pioneers and OBU Bison are starting their football programs.
A team preview of Southwestern will be released the week before the game, as well as an on-line Media Guide.
(The remainder of the Coaches Pre-Season Top 25 Poll is posted below)
SAGU broadcasts all home games on the internet at www.sagu.edu/tv and are the NAIA’s only school to do so in High Definition.
Fans can also access LiveStats, a digital play-by-play account of the game and up-to-the-minute statistics. A new Twitter account will all fans to receive news and Score Alerts. Details will be published prior to the start of the season.
Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.
2012 NAIA Football Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll
| Rank | School (State) | 2011 Record | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Xavier Univ (IL) | 14-1 | 236 |
| 2 | Carroll College (MT) | 13-2 | 227 |
| 3 | Marian Univ (IN) | 12-1 | 217 |
| 4 | Georgetown College (KY) | 12-1 | 209 |
| 5 | MidAmerica Nazarene Univ (KS) | 10-3 | 201 |
| 6 | Univ of Saint Francis (IN) | 9-3 | 185 |
| 7 | St. Francis Univ (IL) | 11-4 | 178 |
| 8 | Morningside College (IA) | 9-3 | 142 |
| 9 | Missouri Valley College | 9-2 | 163 |
| 10 | Northwestern College (IA) | 9-2 | 142 |
| T11 | Ottawa Univ (KS) | 9-3 | 140 |
| T11 | Bethel Univ (TN) | 8-3 | 140 |
| 13 | Benedictine College (KS) | 9-3 | 137 |
| 14 | William Penn Univ (IA) | 9-2 | 136 |
| 15 | Grand View Univ (IA) | 8-4 | 100 |
| 16 | Eastern Oregon Univ | 8-3 | 91 |
| 17 | Valley City State Univ (ND) | 9-2 | 83 |
| 18 | Baker Univ (KS) | 7-3 | 75 |
| 19 | Univ of the Cumberlands (KY) | 7-3 | 62 |
| 20 | St. Ambrose Univ (IA) | 7-3 | 61 |
| 21 | Doane College (NE) | 8-2 | 58 |
| T22 | Cumberland Univ (TN) | 7-3 | 53 |
| T22 | Langston Univ (OK) | 7-3 | 53 |
| 24 | Bethany College (KS) | 8-3 | 38 |
| 25 | Campbellsville Univ (KS) | 7-5 | 16 |
Others Receiving Votes: Friends Univ (Kan) 11; Montana State Univ-Northern 11; Lindsey Wilson College (Ky) 10; Hastings College (Neb) 3.
