Two-time defending NCAA Division II National Champion Ferris State University was picked to finish first in the 2023 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Standings as the league unveiled its 2023 preseason coaches poll on Monday (July 31) in conjunction with its football media day event in Grand Rapids.
The Bulldogs received five of a possible seven first-place votes and totaled 34 points in being chosen as the favorite among the league's seven conference football institutions. The votes were made by the conference member head coaches, who could not vote for their own team.
Rival Grand Valley State, which was the league's 20212 champion before falling to FSU in the NCAA Division II Super Region Three Championship Game, earned one first-place vote and 31 points in finishing second. Meanwhile, Davenport also claimed a first-place mention and notched 27 points in placing third following a playoff season a year ago. The remaining teams in the standings in
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will kick off the 2023 football season with an in-person media day in Grand Rapids on Monday (July 31) at the Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel with reigning back-to-back NCAA Division II National Champion Ferris State University set to take part.
The media day activities will include the release of the preseason coaches' poll, a live webstream, and various social media events.
Along with each GLIAC football coach, schools will bring two player representatives from each team. Players and coaches will be interviewed by the show host, Adam Jaska, that will be streamed live across the GLIAC's Youtube page. The stream is scheduled to begin at 12:50 p.m. (ET) with opening comments from GLIAC Commissioner Kris Dunbar.The Coaches and athletes will also be made available to media attending the event.
Ferris State will be represented by two-time National Coach of the Year Tony Annese, along with a pair of West Michiga