To no one’s surprise, Kennesaw State was picked to finish last of the seven teams in the Big South preseason football poll released Thursday.
“It’s just a number, we have to go out and play football,” Kennesaw State defensive back Taylor Henkle said. “We were realistic about what was going to happen.”
The league’s coaches and media were the poll panelists at the Big South media day in Cobb County.
The Owls are playing their first year of football and will open the season at East Tennessee State on Sept. 3.
Henkle said they will use the poll as motivation during the season. The Owls will open the conference season hosting Gardner-Webb on Oct. 17.
Coastal Carolina, which reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs last season, were picked to finish first. Liberty, which also made the playoffs last year, were picked to finish second.
Henkle said the goal for next year is to not see the team picked to finish last.
“As long as we keep moving up and don’t’ stay the same, that’s a win,” Henkle said.
The Owls had no players make the preseason all-conference team.
“Nope,” coach Brian Bohannon answered when asked if he was surprised.
Alpharetta’s Alex Ross, a quarterback at Coastal Carolina, was named the preseason offensive player of the year after earning the offensive player of the year last year after setting conference single-season records for passing yards (3,389), completions (271), yards of total offense (4,080), and total offensive plays (576).
Ross, who played at Buford High, hadn’t looked at Kennesaw State’s roster yet to see how many players he knew, but he said he and Owls quarterback Trey White used to work out with the same position trainer at St. Pius.
“He’s a great kid, I look forward to playing him this year,” Ross said. They Owls will play at Coastal Carolina on Nov. 14.
TV games: Kennesaw State will play several games on TV or Internet platforms this season.
The Owls’ home-opening game against Edward Waters on Sept. 12 will be televised by WUPA-CW 69.
The Oct. 17 home game against Gardner-Webb will be broadcast on ESPN3.
The Oct. 24 game at Liberty will be broadcast on the Liberty Flames Sports Network.
The Oct. 31 home game against Monmouth will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Injuries: Bohannon said the only player who was injured during the spring who hasn't yet been cleared to play when preseason camp starts Friday is offensive lineman Brett Gillespie (foot). Ninety-five players are supposed to report Friday. The first practice will be Saturday.
Cleared to participate include quarterback Chandler Burks (knee) and linebacker Dez Billingslea.
Transfer: Former Georgia Tech defensive end Chaz Cheeks will join Kennesaw State's team Friday. He will have one season of eligibility remaining. He moved from linebacker to end in the spring of 2013.
Sun Belt rumors: Coach Joe Moglia said the recent news that Coastal Carolina is being tied with a possible move to the Sun Belt won't affect his team this year. The Sun Belt is the home of Georgia State and Georgia Southern and is considering expanding.
“Whatever happens won’t happen right now,” he said. “My job and the job of everybody on the team is to focus on the 2015 season. That other piece might be a part of the future but has nothing to do with now.”
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