Wildcats ranked nationally
ACU ranked No. 33 in national publication
ABILENE -- ACU will open the 2004 football season ranked No. 33 in NCAA Division II, according to Tuesday's poll released by Don Hansen's Football Gazette, the same organization that also named by Danieal Manning and Clayton Farrell pre-season all-America players.
The Wildcats, who were picked to finish third in this year's Lone Star Conference South Division race, are one of six LSC teams ranked in the magazine's pre-season top 40. Leading the list is Texas A&M-Kingsville, which is picked to win the LSC South Division after going 11-2 and reaching the NCAA Division II national semifinals in 2003.
Other LSC teams ranked in the poll are No. 9 Central Oklahoma (9-3 and national quarterfinalist in 2003), No. 22 Tarleton State (9-3 and national playoff team in 2003), No. 28 Southeastern Oklahoma State (7-3 in 2003) and No. 31 Midwestern State (7-3 in 2003).
ACU -- 6-4 in each of the last two season -- will play each of those teams during the 2004 season, with Southeastern Oklahoma State and Midwestern State both playing at Shotwell Stadium.
The Wildcats will open the 2004 season on Sept. 4 when they travel to Edmond, Okla., to take on the Bronchos at 6 p.m. at Wantland Stadium. ACU's first home game of the season will be Sept. 11 when it hosts Northeastern State at 6 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium.
