DETROIT - The reigning Mid-American Conference West Division champions find themselves in a familiar place, despite the most successful season in Ball State University football history.
The Cardinals were picked by the media to finish fifth in the MAC West one season after running the table in conference play. Central Michigan University was selected as the preseason MAC West Division favorites and the University at Buffalo is expected to repeat as MAC East Division champions.
The poll was released Friday at the conference's media day, taking place in Ford Field, site of the MAC Championship Game.
"As long as I've been at Ball State we've never been given much preseason hype and our players have never been given much preseason hype," coach Stan Parrish said. "I'd say we're probably used to that."
Parrish, in his first season as head coach, said he was surprised when he first saw the poll, but pointed out the Cardinals weren't the favorite before last season.
"When they did this deal last year, they had us picked third," Parrish said. "If our lady luck continues with their predictions we should be in good shape."
Last year coach Brady Hoke and quarterback Nate Davis were leading the team, now both have moved to the West Coast. Hoke took over as San Diego State University's coach, and Davis was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by San Francisco.
Many coaches said they don't put much stock in the preseason media polls, but Central Michigan coach Butch Jones acknowledged there is now a larger target on his team's back.
"I can't remember the last to win [the MAC title] that was picked to win," Jones said. "I don't put any stock in that."
Buffalo coach Turner Gill said he was happy his team is receiving more preseason recognition, after the Bulls turned in their best year in school history, defeating Ball State the MAC Championship Game and going to their first bowl game.
"It shows us the media respect our program," Gill said. "That's the way I look at it. To be able to respect what you are and how you're doing it is a great thing."
Gill and other coaches noted that the conference should be more competitive this year, with more than the usual suspects competing for a division title.
"The gap is narrowing," Gill said. "In every single game you don't know who's going to win. Every game is exciting and every game has good talent."
Preseason MAC rankingsMAC West Division1. Central Michigan - 154 votes2. Western Michigan - 126 votes3. Northern Illinois - 103 votes4. Toledo - 71 votes5. Ball State - 58 votes6. Eastern Michigan - 34 votes MAC East Division1. Buffalo - 155 votes2. Temple - 144 votes3. Akron - 128 votes4. Ohio - 116 votes5. Bowling Green - 101 votes6. Kent State - 51 votes7. Miami - 33 votes
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