St. Norbert Tabbed As Favorite in 2013 Football Poll
Grinnell College Athletics
After winning a share of the Midwest Conference (MWC) Championship in 2012 the St. Norbert Green Knights were picked to repeat in 2013 in the MWC Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll. St. Norbert has played in the NCAA Playoffs two of the last three years and has 14 MWC Championships in school history.
St. Norbert topped all MWC teams with 92 points and earned four first place votes to just edge out Illinois Col. for the top spot. The Blueboys also garnered four first place votes and tallied 89 points after an 8-2 season, good for a fourth place finish. Carroll picked up the other three first place votes for 83 points and along with Illinois Col. were only one game out of capturing a share of the MWC Championship last season. Monmouth gathered 71 points which was only one point better than Lake Forest, who earned the other half of the MWC Championship last season. Ripon followed with 52 points and barely edged out Cornell who had 52 points a year after coming back to the MWC. Grinnell (32 points), Knox (25), Lawrence (23), and Beloit (14) round out the preseason list.
Coming back this year are 42 players from the 2012 MWC All-Conference team which includes 13 from the First Team, 17 from the Second Team, and 12 Honorable Mention. Offensively three skill position players return after being named to the First Team including Illinois Col. quarterback Michael Bates, Carroll running back Lamont Williams, and Knox running back Derek Mortensen. A.J. Ulrich (Monmouth), Keith Lane (Illinois Col.), and Jordan Willits (Knox) are all back for their senior seasons after earning First Team accolades on the offensive line while Matt Newman (Illinois Col.) and Ace Henricks (Monmouth) were both First Team kickers.
On the defensive side of the ball Kurt Frischman (Illinois Col.) and Jake Rotkvich (Lake Forst) are back after earning First Team honors on the defensive line while Lake Forest linebacker Jordan Cruz is the only linebacker coming back. Ed Dobernig adds to the Foresters returning depth at defensive back while Monmouth punter Brik Wedekind was the First Team punter while also handling the quarterbacking duties for the Fighting Scots.
Voting is done by the MWC head football coaches. Each coach votes for the ten other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (ten points for first, nine for second, etc.). Coaches may not vote for their own teams.
