MonticelloLive

For the third straight season, the University of Arkansas at Monticello football team has been picked to finish last in the Gulf South Conference in a poll voted on by the league’s head coaches.

The Weevils responded correctly to the prediction in 2006 by going 1-7 in GSC games, but turned a few heads in 2007 by going 3-5 in league action to finish the season in a tie for sixth place with in-state opponent Arkansas Tech.

“For us to be picked last after the season we had last year, I’ve got to believe the head coaches in the league think that the assistants that were here played a huge role in our success,” said fourth-year head coach Gwaine Mathews. “If you look at it by the players we have this year, we are bringing back most of those offensive guys that allowed us to put up those big numbers against some of the best teams in the nation.”

Along with the pre-season poll, the 2008 Pre-Season All-GSC Team was released. There were no UAM players selected to the team, marking the only program in the league to not be represented.

“This is one of the toughest leagues in the nation, if not the toughest,” said Mathews. “There are a lot of stellar athletes in this league…I think a couple of our guys are good enough for this team, but with the low placement of our team in the poll, along comes less votes for UAM players.”

The pre-season release also included the listing of the 2008 top newcomers. Making the list from UAM is freshman kicker Derek Jambon (Marrero, La.), junior cornerback Augustus Ashley (Central Florida), junior defensive lineman Stephen Harris (Solano Community College) and junior defensive back Marcus Van Buren (Highland Community College).

UAM received three votes for last place (10th), four votes for ninth place, and one vote for both eighth and seventh place.

Defending NCAA Division II national champion Valdosta State was picked as the pre-season favorite, followed by North Alabama, 2007 GSC champion Delta State, Henderson State, Harding, Arkansas Tech, West Alabama, West Georgia, Southern Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist.