Bucs Picked Fourth in Preseason Poll at 2010 Big South Media Day

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charleston Southern was picked to finish fourth in the Big South, while 2009 co-champion Liberty was picked as the League’s favorite, it was announced Thursday at the 2010 Big South Media Day held at the Renaissance Suites in Charlotte, N.C.

The fourth-place mark in the preseason poll, just three points behind third place Coastal Carolina, is the highest CSU has been voted in the preseason since the 2007 year. The Bucs finished third in the league last year with a 4-2 record in the Big South. Additionally, Charleston Southern had three athletes selected to the 2010 Preseason All-Big South team.

“There are two schools of thought, on one hand you don’t mind being underestimated because you hope you can sneak up on people, but on the other hand you would like to be able to enjoy some of the respect that you feel like you have earned over the years,” said Mills. “As we’ve told our coaches and players for the past few years, though, we need to remember that it is where you finish, not necessarily where you start.”

The biggest buzz around media day was that for the first time, the Big South Conference will receive an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.

“We all want this,” said senior linebacker David Jackson, who was representing the Buccaneers at the event. “You come to school hoping that you are able to represent your school and play at the highest level and now we know that if we take care of business on the field we will have that opportunity.

The season begins for the Buccaneers on September 4, when they host North Greenville for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.

Preseason Poll (Points)
1. Liberty (103)
2. Stony Brook (81)
3. Coastal Carolina (68)
4. Charleston Southern (65)
5. Gardner-Webb (54)
6. VMI (31)
7. Presbyterian (18)