RELEASE DATE: 8/2/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MANSFIELD RANKED 5^TH IN PSAC EAST PRESEASON FOOTBALL POLL

BLOOMSBURG – The Mansfield University football team was picked to finish fifth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division in the 2004 PSAC East Coaches Poll. The poll was released at the PSAC East Football Media Day held at Bloomsburg University on Monday afternoon.

“I think the ranking will be a great incentive for us,” said first year head coach Jim Shiffer. “Coming off the record season last year, some may feel we should be ranked a little higher, but this is a tough conference with three teams that have appeared in preseason national rankings. This team showed last season that the preseason rankings didn’t mean a lot and I’m confident that will be the case again this season.”

It marks the second straight season the Mountaineers have been ranked fifth in the preseason poll. Last year, Mansfield finished fourth in the PSAC East with a 3-3 mark and 8-3 overall record.

Mansfield returns 17 starters and 16 seniors off last season’s team including All-Americans Earnest “Poohbear” McNeal and Joe Bennett. McNeal led the nation in all-purpose yardage while rushing for a school record 1,684 yards and 19 touchdowns. Bennett ranked among the national leaders last season catching 53 pass for a school record 1,184 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The Mountaineers will report to preseason camp this Wednesday evening. They open the 2004 season at California University on August. 28.

2004 PSAC-East Coach’s Poll

1. Bloomsburg

2. West Chester

3. East Stroudsburg

4. Kutztown

5. Mansfield

6. Millersville

7. Cheyney