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BAY CITY -- Courtesy:  Michigan Tech

The Michigan Tech football team has been picked second in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division in the league’s 2011 preseason coaches poll. The Huskies, who finished 8-2 a year ago and in second place in the GLIAC North, trailed only Grand Valley State in the poll.

The No. 2 pick is the school’s highest rank in a GLIAC preseason poll, although 2011 is the first year the league has done its preseason poll by division. There are seven teams in each division. The Huskies were selected ninth of 14 teams a year ago and third of 14 teams in the 2009 poll.

Grand Valley State tallied 85 poll points and all but one first place vote in the poll. Tech garnered 67 poll points and the other first-place vote. Saginaw Valley State (44 points) was third in the North followed by Northern Michigan (43), Northwood (38), Ferris State (37) and Indianapolis (29).

Wayne State, Tech’s week three opponent, was picked to win the GLIAC South Division with 80 poll points and 10 of the 14 possible first-place votes. Ashland was a close second with 73 points. Hillsdale (66), Ohio Dominican (38), Findlay (36), Lake Erie (36) and Tiffin (13) rounded out the GLIAC South poll.

The 2011 GLIAC Football Preseason Poll was released on the league’s football preview website at gliac.org. Video interviews with each of the league’s 14 head coaches as well as written season previews for each team are available on the site.

Michigan Tech opens its 2011 campaign with a non-conference game at Winona State on Sept. 3. The Huskies open at home and in GLIAC play on Sept. 10 vs. Lake Erie.

2011 GLIAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank Team (First-place votes) Points 2010 Record

North Division
1    Grand Valley State (13)    85    11-2
2    Michigan Tech (1)    67    8-2
3    Saginaw Valley State    44    4-7
4    Northern Michigan    43    5-6
5    Northwood    38    5-6
6    Ferris State    37    5-6
7    Indianapolis    29    6-5

South Division
1    Wayne State (10)    80    9-2
2    Ashland (4)    73    8-3
3    Hillsdale    66    9-3
4    Ohio Dominican    38    2-8
5    Findlay    36    1-10
5    Lake Erie    36    3-8
7    Tiffin    13    1-10