CANYON, TEXAS -- West Texas A&M will enter the 2012 football season ranked 24th in the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Preseason Division II Coaches’ Poll, the AFCA announced Monday.
“Being ranked 24th was a fair place to start us in the poll this year,” eighth-year head coach Don Carthel said. “We have a good nucleus back on offense and some quality players back on defense.”
The Buffaloes were picked third in the Lone Star Conference at the annual league media day last month. League favorite Midwestern State is fourth in the AFCA poll, while Abilene Christian is 10th who was second in the preseason league coaches’ poll. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference member Colorado State-Pueblo is sixth in the first AFCA poll, rounding out three opponents in the AFCA Top 10 for the Buffaloes.
West Texas A&M will open the 2012 season at CSU-Pueblo Thurs., Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. CT in Pueblo, Colo. The Thunderwolves went undefeated during the regular season, going 11-0 and were ranked No. 1 in the final regular season poll before losing to Minnesota-Duluth 24-21 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. CSU-Pueblo edged the Buffaloes 26-24 in the season opener last year in Canyon.
“To get three opponents in the top 10 on our schedule is pretty typical for us,” Carthel added. “CSU-Pueblo has a lot of talent coming back and are a tremendous team. “They don’t make mistakes and are very well coached and it’s going to be a big test for the Buffaloes the opening weekend in Pueblo.”
In addition to those three teams, the Buffaloes also will face three teams receiving votes in the preseason poll. Lone Star Conference rival Texas A&M-Kingsville had 32 votes, while Tarleton State and Gulf South Conference member West Georgia each had nine votes. The Buffaloes and TAMUK will again battle in the Lone Star Football Festival at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. WTAMU won last year’s meeting 42-21 over the then-No. 5 Javelinas.
WTAMU went 8-3 overall last season finishing the season ranked 25th in the final AFCA poll after a 26-7 victory over then-No. 23 Central Missouri in the Lower Kanza Bowl on Nov. 27, 2011, in Topeka, Kan.
2012 American Football Coaches Association Preseason Division II Coaches’ Poll
August 13, 2012
1. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) (21)
2. Minnesota-Duluth (5)
3. Northwest Missouri St. (1)
4. Midwestern St. (Texas) (1)
5. Wayne St. (Mich.) (1)
6. Colorado St.-Pueblo
7. Grand Valley St. (Mich.)
8. Valdosta St. (Ga.)
9. Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) (1)
10. Abilene Christian (Texas)
11. California (Pa.)
12. Kutztown (Pa.)
13. New Haven (Conn.)
14. Delta St. (Miss.)
15. West Alabama
16. St. Cloud State (Minn.)
17. Hillsdale (Mich.)
18. Missouri Western St.
19. Shepherd (W.Va.)
20. Washburn (Kan.)
21. Humboldt St. (Calif.)
22. Albany St. (Ga.)
23. North Greenville (S.C.)
24. West Texas A&M
25. Bloomsburg (Pa.)