Coastal picked third

CHARLOTTE | Let the wide-open race for Big South Conference supremacy begin.

Two-time defending champion Liberty was tabbed by the league's coaches and media members as the preseason favorite on Friday, but a league-record five teams received at least one first-place vote, meaning parity may reign in the conference's eighth season. Coastal Carolina was picked to finish third behind Stony Brook.

The Flames return eight starters from a team that narrowly missed qualifying for the postseason, but several key players,including tailback Rashad Jennings and quarterback Brock Smith, graduated following their 10-2 campaign.

Despite obvious holes to fill on both sides of the ball, Liberty received 10 of 17 first-place votes and only one voter projected them to finish below second.

``I could very easily see a number of different schools feeling very confident about their opportunity to not just compete for but win the Big South Conference championship,'' Liberty coach Danny Rocco said. ``The odd thing is that I'm the guy that lost the most players. We lost a lot of seniors.''

Upstart Stony Brook, which tied for second in its first season in the league, received four first-place votes and trailed Liberty by 22 points overall (109-87). Led by two 1,000-yard tailbacks -- preseason all-conference picks Conte Cuttino and Ed Gowins -- the Seawolves are expected to compete for the championship in 2009.

Third-place Coastal, Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern also picked up first-place votes. VMI and Presbyterian were sixth and seventh, respectively, though nobody is doubting their ability to spring an upset.

VMI hammered Coastal last year and Presbyterian beat the Chants in 2008 and Liberty in 2009, a win that likely kept the Flames out of the postseason.

``I think even the ones that picked Liberty this year aren't real sure,'' Gardner-Webb coach Steve Patton said. ``You look at the national magazines. One picked us. Lindy's picked Coastal. So, you've got to go with Liberty I guess until somebody knocks them off, but it's not a [sure thing].''

In the history of the Big South, which dates to 2002, three teams were the most to receive first-place votes in the preseason poll. Last year, Liberty received 12 of 13 and backed it up by extending its conference-record winning streak to 11 games.

But Liberty could struggle early as its youngsters adapt to their roles. However, Gardner-Webb (20 returning starters), VMI (19), Coastal (16) Stony Brook (15), Charleston Southern (13) and Presbyterian (11) won't have to fill as many vacated holes, potentially giving every team a shot at the title.

``I believe there will be more parity in this league this year than there has ever been,'' Coastal coach David Bennett said. ``Anybody can beat anybody on any given Saturday.''

The Flames return eight starters from a team that narrowly missed qualifying for the postseason, but several key players,including tailback Rashad Jennings and quarterback Brock Smith, graduated following their 10-2 campaign.

Despite obvious holes to fill on both sides of the ball, Liberty received 10 of 17 first-place votes and only one voter projected them to finish below second.

``I could very easily see a number of different schools feeling very confident about their opportunity to not just compete for but win the Big South Conference championship,'' Liberty coach Danny Rocco said. ``The odd thing is that I'm the guy that lost the most players. We lost a lot of seniors.''

Upstart Stony Brook, which tied for second in its first season in the league, received four first-place votes and trailed Liberty by 22 points overall (109-87). Led by two 1,000-yard tailbacks -- preseason all-conference picks Conte Cuttino and Ed Gowins -- the Seawolves are expected to compete for the championship in 2009.

Third-place Coastal, Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern also picked up first-place votes. VMI and Presbyterian were sixth and seventh, respectively, though nobody is doubting their ability to spring an upset.

VMI hammered Coastal last year and Presbyterian beat the Chants in 2008 and Liberty in 2009, a win that likely kept the Flames out of the postseason.

``I think even the ones that picked Liberty this year aren't real sure,'' Gardner-Webb coach Steve Patton said. ``You look at the national magazines. One picked us. Lindy's picked Coastal. So, you've got to go with Liberty I guess until somebody knocks them off, but it's not a [sure thing].''

In the history of the Big South, which dates to 2002, three teams were the most to receive first-place votes in the preseason poll. Last year, Liberty received 12 of 13 and backed it up by extending its conference-record winning streak to 11 games.

But Liberty could struggle early as its youngsters adapt to their roles. However, Gardner-Webb (20 returning starters), VMI (19), Coastal (16) Stony Brook (15), Charleston Southern (13) and Presbyterian (11) won't have to fill as many vacated holes, potentially giving every team a shot at the title.

``I believe there will be more parity in this league this year than there has ever been,'' Coastal coach David Bennett said. ``Anybody can beat anybody on any given Saturday.''