Albany State picked to repeat in SIAC; Dominates preseason team
Stone Mountain, GA Albany State University, who won its last six conference games last season to overtake Kentucky State and grab the 2003 title, has been predicted to repeat as Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) football champions in 2004. 
The Golden Rams won their final eight contests
including a 52-30 shellacking of CIAA
champion Fayetteville State in the 8th
Pioneer Bowl to end its season on a high
note. The Rams, who finished 10-2, 7-1 in the SIAC, were ranked sixth in the
final Black College Sports Page Top Ten.
Tuskegee, who fell to a 5-6 overall mark and 4-4 conference record last year after winning three straight SIAC titles, was the second choice for conference honors. Fort Valley State, who finished fourth last year (7-4, 5-3 SIAC) was chosen third. Miles (7-3, 6-2 SIAC), coming off a tie with Kentucky State (7-4, 6-2) for second place, was picked fourth.
KSU, who made a strong run at the title before losing its last two conference games, has the conference's only new head coach in Cornell Burbage. The Thorobreds were chosen seventh, behind Benedict and Morehouse.
Albany State head coach James "Mike" White's squad's position as the preseason top pick was confirmed with the announcement of the preseason all-conference teams. Led by Golden Rams' 2003 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Walter Curry and all-SIAC first team QB Uyl Joyner, the Golden Rams had 15 players selected to the first and second squads, easily outdistancing Miles (8) and Fort Valley State (7).
Fort Valley State running back Derrick Wimbush, last year's offensive player of the year (1,348 yards, 14 TDs), was also picked for the first team along with Morehouse running back John David Washington.
The predicted order of finish and the preseason all-SIAC squad was selected in voting from conference head coaches and sports information directors. The announcements were made as part of the conference Football Kickoff Luncheon at the Evergreen Resort and Convention Center.
| Predicted Order of Finish |
| 1. Albany State
2. Tuskegee 3. Fort Valley State 4. Miles 5. Benedict 6. Morehouse 7. Kentucky State 8. Lane 9. Clark Atlanta |
Under the shadow of the world's largest mass of exposed granite with a carving depicting three heroes of the Civil War, the luncheon featured presentations from football coaches and a stirring speech by MBC (Black Family Channel) Chairman and CEO Willie Gary.
Provisional conference-member Stillman College was welcomed to the luncheon by SIAC Commissioner William Lide and Stillman head football coach Theo Danzy made a presentation along with the other nine conference coaches. Stillman is slated to become a full member of the SIAC in 2005.
FVSU kicker Andrew Jacas earned two spots on the team as first team place kicker and second team punter.
| 2004 SIAC Preseason All-Conference Teams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| First Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Defense
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Offense
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| Second Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Defense
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Offense
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© 2004 Azeez Communications, Inc.