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Defending champion Hampden-Sydney acquires five of seven first-place votes SALEM, VA (August 8, 2008)—Hampden-Sydney head football coach Marty Favret was the last head coach to approach the podium for comments and questions Friday afternoon at the annual Old Dominion Athletic Conference Football Media Day. On any normal, competitive occasion, Favret would despise being last, especially when it involves his Tiger football team. This time, however, it was a safe bet that Favret didn't mind bringing up the rear. Being the final coach to talk about his new-look squad simply meant that Favret's Tigers had been picked to finish atop the ODAC in the 2008 Preseason ODAC Football Poll, and consequently, picked to repeat as conference champions for the first time since legendary gridiron leader Stokeley Fulton's troops did so in 1982 and 1983. Hampden-Sydney received 47 overall votes and five first place nods en route to vaulting to the poll's top position. "I think the selection just adds to the excitement surrounding this year," said Favret. "We've known since last November that we'll be a team the rest of the league will be gunning for. Hopefully, we'll be up to the challenge." Randolph-Macon College, with 41 votes and the remaining two top selections, occupies the second slot while Bridgewater College and Washington and Lee University are third and fourth, respectively. The 2007 Tigers made the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division III Playoffs since 1977 while last season's conference title was the first in twenty years for Hampden-Sydney, as the Tigers also boasted the league's 2007 Coach of the Year in Favret and 2007 Offensive Player of the Year in recent graduate Drew Smith. Although Hampden-Sydney will have to replace Smith, its all-time leading receiver, running back Josh Simpson and quarterback Corey Sedlar return to The Hill in hopes of delivering a back-to-back title. In just eight games played in 2007, Simpson rushed for 1,042 yards and set ODAC single-season records with 21 rushing touchdowns and 164 total points. Simpson already holds conference records for total touchdowns (52) and career points (318) and enters 2008 with a chance to become Hampden-Sydney's all-time leading rusher. Sedlar was magnificent in his Tiger debut, throwing for 3,426 yards, the second-best single-season performance in school history, in addition to 24 touchdowns and a 65 percent completion percentage. Defensively, the Tigers welcome a new defensive coordinator in former secondary coach Wes Dodson, as well as an experienced defensive front and athletic secondary. Seniors Sam Rosten and Zack Sanchez are set to anchor a talented defensive line, while senior Andrew Sellers and junior Boaz Young-el return to action in their respective linebacker and cornerback positions. The Tigers open the 2008 campaign on the road, as Hampden-Sydney will travel to Rocky Mount, North Carolina to tangle with defending USA South Conference champion North Carolina Wesleyan on September 6. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm and, as always, the action can be heard through the air waves on WFLO-FM 95.7 or on the internet via Hampden-Sydney webcast. 2008 ODAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll (#) Denotes First Place Votes
1. Hampden-Sydney (5)
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