Christopher Newport Picked USA South Preseason Football Favorite

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - Christopher Newport University, under the direction of fifth-year Head Coach Matt Kelchner, was picked in the preseason coaches' poll to win the USA South Athletic Conference football title in 2005.  The Captains have shared all four regular season championships since the inception of USA South football in 2001. 

Christopher Newport received six of eight first place votes (48 points) as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.

Shenandoah University, the 2003 and 2004 co-champions with Christopher Newport, finished second in the balloting with 44 points and two first place votes.  Methodist rounded out the top-three as the Monarchs collected 31 points.

For the second-year in a row, the USA South welcomes a new football member to the Conference race.  Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn. joins the Conference as a football-only member and will play their inaugural USA South game on Sept. 3 when they host Averett University at 1:30 p.m. 

On August 2, Shenandoah will host the fifth annual USA South Football Media Day at the Winchester Country Club in Winchester, Va. as the event will kickoff at 10:30 a.m.