'Berg Football Tabbed Seventh in OAC Preseason Polls
The Heidelberg College football team, under the guidance second-year head coach Mike Hallett, has been tabbed to finish seventh in the 2008 Ohio Athletic Conference according to polls voted on by the league head coaches and members of the media that were attendance at the annual OAC Football Media Day hosted by the league office at the Holiday Inn in Independence, Ohio.
In the coaches’ poll Mount Union College was selected to finish first with eight first-place votes, while Ohio Northern University was second with one first-place vote and Capital University stood third and received one first-place vote. In a tie for fourth place was John Carroll University and Otterbein College, as Baldwin-Wallace College held down the number six spot. Rounding out the coaches’ poll behind Heidelberg was Wilmington College, Marietta College and Muskingum College.
According to a poll of 27 media members in attendance Mount Union received 25 first-place votes to be tabbed first followed by Capital, Ohio Northern, John Carroll and Baldwin-Wallace. B-W picked up the final two first-place votes. Voted sixth was Otterbein and seventh was the Berg. Standing in eighth was Wilmington followed by Muskingum and Marietta.
Hallett, the reigning OAC and D3fotoball.com North Region Coach of the Year, helped guide Heidelberg to a 4-6 overall record and a 3-6 mark in the rugged Ohio Athletic Conference in 2007, marking the best season since 1999. In his second year Hallett welcomes back 31 letter winners, including seven of its eight all-league performers.
Heidelberg possesses strong leadership at all positions on the field for the upcoming season. “Every position group has players that set a great example and communicate in a positive way,” stated Hallett “The positive attitudes are making their way all the way through the program with an immense outcome.”
Joining Hallett at the OAC Media Day was senior wide receiver and all-league performer on the field and in the classroom Lucas Bauer (Huron, Ohio / Huron). Bauer spoke highly of the determination that Heidelberg has to reign among the leaders in the OAC. “A 4-6 record is not satisfying in the least bit, but it was a start. Our goal is to get better each day. We cannot afford to take any steps backwards, especially with all the good teams and talent in the OAC.”
Heidelberg opens its 2008 schedule with a non-conference match up with Westminster College Sept. 6 beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin. For those that cannot make the game can you can catch the contest on SportsTime Ohio that evening following the Cleveland Indians game. The Berg opens play in the OAC at home with Capital Sept. 20.
Coaches' Poll (first-place votes) |
Media Poll (first-place votes) |
|
| 1. Mount Union (8) | 1. Mount Union (25) | |
| 2. Ohio Northern (1) | 2. Capital | |
| 3. Capital (1) | 3. Ohio Northern | |
| T4. John Carroll | 4. John Carroll | |
| Otterbein | 5. Baldwin-Wallace (2) | |
| 6. Baldwin-Wallace | 6. Otterbein | |
| 7. Heidelberg | 7. Heidelberg | |
| 8. Wilmington | 8. Wilmington | |
| 9. Marietta | 9. Muskingum | |
| 10.Muskingum | 10.Marietta |