The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) held their eighth annual football media day on Monday, August 6, at the Marina Inn located in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The day featured comments from all twelve of the league’s football coaches in preparation for the 2007 season. Dordt College is set to enter their first season as a club team. The Defenders will begin varsity play in 2008.

One of the highlights of the day is the release of the preseason coaches’ poll. Sioux Falls is preseason pick to win the GPAC championship. The Cougars totaled 100 points and 10 first place votes. Northwestern, after going 11-2 (9-1 GPAC) in 2006, was picked second with 88 points. Morningside was picked third with 83 points and one first place vote, while Nebraska Wesleyan was cited fourth with 75 points.

Sioux Falls, coached by Kalen De Boer, has won five GPAC titles since the league began in 2000. Last fall the Cougars went 14-0 and posted a 10-0 conference record. The Cougars won the NAIA National Football Championship, the second title in the history of the school. Sioux Falls, Northwestern, and Morningside all advanced into the NAIA Championship Series last fall. The Red Raiders and Mustangs each won first round games before ending their seasons in the quarterfinal round. The 2007 GPAC football season kicks off on Saturday, September 1, with five league games. The GPAC schedule will consist of ten games over eleven weeks. Non-conference games for 2007 include: Dakota State at Hastings (September 1), Bethany at Briar Cliff (September 15), and Dana at Waldorf (September 29).

A complete GPAC Preseason Football Prospectus is available:
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