September 19, 2011

Golden Eagles getting votes in both FCS polls; Benford another honor

Tennessee Tech is getting the attention of voters around the country, earning points on both national FCS Top 25 polls. Meanwhile, senior Tim Benford has received another weekly nod from the College Football Performance Awards.

Tech gears up to host SEMO Saturday at 7 p.m.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Senior receiver Tim Benford has received recognition from the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) for the second consecutive week, and the Tennessee Tech football team is beginning to gain attention from the voters across the nation, earning points on both the Sports Network Top 25 and the FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll.

Following its 31-20 victory at Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Tech received 41 points on The Sports Network/Fathead.com poll, placing the Golden Eagles 38th among all Football Championship Subdivision teams. On the FCS Coaches Poll, Tech received seven votes to rank 39th.

Georgia Southern held the top spot on both polls while Jacksonville State is the highest ranked OVC school, placing 15th on one poll and 16th on the other.

Benford was one of six OVC players to receive CFPA recognition. He made eight catches for 124 yards at EIU, and has climbed into the OVC Top 10 in career receptions and career receiving yardage. Other OVC players listed were Eastern Kentucky tight end Matt Lengel, Jacksonville State quarterback Coty Blanchard, Murray State's quarterback Casey Brockman and receiver Patrick Robertson, and UT Martin tight end Ben Everett.

The Golden Eagles hope to continue their climb Saturday when they host the defending OVC champion Southeast Missouri Redhawks at 7 p.m. in Tucker Stadium. For tickets, please call (931) 372-3940 or visit the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center.

The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25

Team (First-place votes)	Record	Points	Previous Rank
1. Georgia Southern Eagles (115)	2-0	3,742	1
2. Northern Iowa Panthers (15)	1-1	3,485	2
3. Appalachian State Mountaineers (9)	2-1	3,402	3
4. Montana State Bobcats (1)	2-1	3,179	5
5. Richmond Spiders (11)	3-0	3,082	6
6. William & Mary Tribe (1)	2-1	3,078	4
7. Delaware Blue Hens (1)	2-1	2,918	7
8. North Dakota State Bison (1)	2-0	2,728	8
9. Wofford Terriers	1-1	2,637	9
10. Montana Grizzlies	2-1	2,353	12
11. New Hampshire Wildcats	1-1	2,290	11
12. James Madison Dukes	2-1	1,927	13
13. Chattanooga Mocs	2-1	1,855	14
14. Southern Illinois Salukis	1-1	1,614	15
15. Lehigh Mountain Hawks	2-1	1,596	16
16. Jacksonville State Gamecocks	2-1	1,466	17
17. Massachusetts Minutemen	2-0	1,247	21
18. South Dakota Coyotes	2-1	955	24
19. McNeese State Cowboys	1-1	846	23
20. Sam Houston State Bearkats	2-0	688	NR
21. Eastern Washington Eagles	0-3	594	10
22. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks	1-2	568	19
23. Southern Utah Thunderbirds	2-1	546	NR
24. Murray State Racers	2-1	446	NR
25. South Carolina State Bulldogs	1-2	336	25

Others receiving votes: Liberty 332, Jackson State 260, Central Arkansas 249, Old Dominion 240, Youngstown State 228, Towson 184, Maine 105, Indiana State 102, Sacramento State 101, Holy Cross 82, Weber State 52, Bethune-Cookman 50, TENNESSEE TECH 41, Alabama State 41, Eastern Kentucky 37, Yale 37, Hampton 37, Elon 31, South Dakota State 27, North Dakota 26, Portland State 26, Cal Poly 23, Brown 20, Rhode Island 19, Western Illinois 18, UC Davis 13, Central Connecticut Stae 13, Stony Brook 11, Penn 10, Villanova 9, Dartmouth 8, Idaho State 7, Campbell 7, Delaware State 6, UT Martin 6, Lafayette 4, Monmouth 3, Southeastern Louisiana 2, Jacksonville 2, Dayton 1, San Diego 1, North Carolina Central 1.

2011 FCS Coaches Week 3 Poll (September 19, 2011)
Team (No. 1 Votes)                Record                             Points                      Last Week
1. Georgia Southern (25)             2-0                                  697                               1
2. Northern Iowa (3)                    1-1                                  666                               2
3. Appalachian State                  2-1                                  642                               3
4. Montana State                        2-1                                  615                               4
5. William & Mary                       2-1                                  568                               5
6. Delaware                                2-1                                  515                               7
7. Richmond                              3-0                                  514                               9
8. Wofford                                 1-1                                  488                               8
9. Montana                                2-1                                  462                              11
10. James Madison                    2-1                                  383                              14
11. New Hampshire                    1-1                                  369                              12
12. North Dakota State               2-0                                  359                               6
13. Southern Illinois                    1-1                                  342                              15
14. Chattanooga                        2-1                                  314                              17
15. Jacksonville State                2-1                                  284                              16
16. Lehigh                                  1-1                                  235                              19
17. Stephen F. Austin                 1-2                                  220                              13
18. McNeese State                     1-1                                  190                              22
19. Massachusetts                     2-0                                  171                              25
20. South Dakota                       2-1                                  165                              23
21. North Dakota                        1-2                                  136                              NR
22. Eastern Washington              0-3                                  117                              10
23. Liberty                                 1-2                                   83                               20
24. Youngstown State                2-1                                   70                               NR
25. South Carolina State             1-2                                   69                               21

Others receiving votes: Sam Houston State (66); Murray State (63); Southern Utah (51); Central Arkansas (45); Jackson State (38); Indiana State (33); South Dakota State (32); Weber State (12); Cal Poly (10); Coastal Carolina (10); UC Davis (10); Jacksonville (7); Holy Cross (7); TENNESSEE TECH (7); Sacramento State (7); Eastern Kentucky (6); Old Dominion (6); Bethune-Cookman (4); Pennsylvania (4); Dayton (3); Central Connecticut (1); Duquesne (1); Villanova (1);