The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) held their thirteenth annual football media day on Thursday, August 2, at the Country Inn and Suites in Lincoln, Nebraska. The day featured comments from all ten of the league's football coaches in preparation for the 2012 season.
One of the highlights of the day is the release of the preseason coaches' poll. Northwestern is preseason pick to win the GPAC championship. The Red Raiders totaled 78 points and six (6) first place votes. Defending champion Morningside was picked second with 76 points and the final four (4) first place votes. Hastings was third with 53 votes. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Here is the complete 2012 GPAC Preseason Football Coaches' Poll:
| Place | School | Points | First Place Votes |
1. | Northwestern | 78 | 6 |
2. | Morningside | 76 | 4 |
3. | Hastings | 53 | |
4. | Dakota Wesleyan | 51 | |
5. | Doane | 51 | |
6. | Midland | 51 | |
7. | Nebraska Wesleyan | 38 | |
8. | Concordia | 24 | |
9. | Briar Cliff | 16 | |
10. | Dordt | 12 |
New this year a media poll was conducted among those present at the press conference. Morningside was tabbed in the media poll to win the GPAC with 76 points and five (5) first place votes, while Northwestern was two points back in second with 74 points and three (3) first place votes. Doane was picked third by the GPAC media with 60 points.
Inaugural 2012 GPAC Media Poll
Place | School | Points | First PlaceVotes |
1. | Morningside | 76 | 5 |
2. | Northwestern | 74 | 3 |
3. | Doane | 60 | |
4. | Hastings | 49 | |
5. | Midland | 47 | |
6. | NebraskaWesleyan | 45 | |
7. | Dakota Wesleyan | 34 | |
8. | Concordia | 31 | |
9. | Briar Cliff | 15 | |
10. | Dordt | 9 |
Games for the 2012 season kick off on Saturday, August 25, with Concordia hosting Benedictine (KS) in non-conference play. The GPAC schedule will consist of nine games with week one (September 1) a bye week in the conference (except Doane vs. Briar Cliff). The rest of the GPAC begin league play on September 8.
A complete GPAC Preseason Football Media Guide is available here:
2012 GPAC Football Media Guide
For a video replay from today's GPAC Media Day:
2012 GPAC Football Media Day Video on Livestream (Replay)
More Information:
GPAC Football Master Schedule for 2012:
Click Here
GPAC Football Record Book:
Click Here
NAIA Football Spring 2012 Top-25 Poll:
Click Here
| Doane at | 3rd of 62 |
| NAIA Championships | |
| Doane at | 5th of 60 |
| NAIA Championships | |
| Doane at | No Team Score |
| NAIA Championships | |
| Doane at | No Team Score |
| NAIA Championships | |
| Doane | 27th of 27 |
| NAIA Championship - 3rd Round (Wilderness Ridge GC) | |
| Doane at | No Team Score |
| NAIA Championships | |
| Hastings at | 45th of 60 |
| NAIA Outdoor Championships | |
| Doane at | No Team Score |
| NAIA Championships | |
| Hastings at | 12th of 60 |
| NAIA Outdoor Championships | |
| Doane | 27th of 27 |
| NAIA Championship - 2nd Round (Wilderness Ridge GC) | |
| Doane | 27th of 27 |
| NAIA Championship - 1st Round (Wilderness Ridge GC) | |
| Northwestern at | 17th of 28 |
| NAIA Championship - Final Round (Creekside Golf Club) | |
| Northwestern at | 17th of 28 |
| NAIA Championship - 3rd Round (Creekside Golf Club) | |
| Northwestern at | 9th of 28 |
| NAIA Championship - 2nd Round (Creekside Golf Club) | |
| Northwestern at | 6th of 28 |
| NAIA Championship - 1st Round (Creekside Golf Club) | |
| (RV) Central Methodist College vs | 9 |
| (RV) Morningside | 4 |
| NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round (Claremore, Okla.) (Elimination Game) | |
| Hastings at | 2 |
| (17) Freed-Hardeman | 9 |
| NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round - Elim. Game | |
| Doane vs | 0 |
| (10) Concordia University | 9 |
| NAIA National Championships | |
| (13) Concordia University vs | 8 |
| (25) Nebraska Wesleyan | 1 |
| NAIA National Championship (Mobile, Ala.) | |
| Hastings vs | 1 |
| (4) Oklahoma City University | 6 |
| NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round | |
| Midland vs | 7:30pm |
| University of Great Falls | CST |
| Midland vs | 11:00am |
| University of Great Falls | CST |
| Carroll College Tournament | |
| Midland vs | 3:00pm |
| Montana State University-Northern | CST |
| Carroll College Tournament | |
| Midland vs | 9:00am |
| University of Great Falls | CST |
| Iowa Central CC at | 1:00pm |
| Midland | CST |
| Midland vs | 10:00am |
| Montana Tech of the Univ of Montana | CST |
| Carroll College Tournament | |
| Midland at | 2:00pm |
| Carroll College | CST |
| Carroll College Tournament | |
| Hastings at | 10:30am |
| Regis University | CST |
| Mount Mercy University at | 3:30pm |
| Dordt | CST |
| Concordia vs | 8:00am |
| Northwood University | CST |
| Montreat College Volley in the Mountains | |
| Concordia vs | 12:00pm |
| College of Coastal Georgia | CST |
| Montreat College Volley in the Mountains | |
| Dickinson State University vs | 12:30pm |
| Hastings | CST |
| Red Raider Classic | |
| Jamestown College vs | 12:30pm |
| Doane | CST |
| Red Raider Classic | |
| Baker University vs | 2:30pm |
| Dordt | CST |
| Northwestern Classic | |
| Morningside vs | 2:30pm |
| Valley City State University | CST |
| Northwestern Red Raider Classic | |
| Midland vs | 4:00pm |
| Indiana Wesleyan University | CST |
| Grand View University Tournament | |
| Tabor College vs | 4:30pm |
| Hastings | CST |
| Red Raider Classic | |
| Baker University vs | 6:30pm |
| Doane | CST |
| Red Raider Classic | |
| Morningside vs | 6:30pm |
| Jamestown College | CST |
| Northwestern Red Raider Classic | |
| Midland vs | 8:00pm |
| Taylor University | CST |
| Grand View University Tournament | |
