Staff Report

DALLAS – Prognosticators have not let the loss of 11 first and second-team all-league players from last year’s co-championship squad stop them from picking Troy State University as the Southland Football League team to beat in 2000.

The Trojans must replace five first-team and six second-team All-Southland selections from last year’s 11-2 club which advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA I-AA playoffs. Those 11 seniors helped TSU post a 6-1 League record, tying with Stephen F. Austin State University for the championship.

The Southland’s head coaches and sports information directors view the Trojans as the top team heading into the 2000 season. Stephen F. Austin is a close second in both polls and McNeese State University third. Rank order in each poll is identical with the exception of a tie for fifth place in the coaches.

Northwestern State University, under the direction of first-year head coach Steve Roberts, has been picked fourth. After sharing the 1997 title and winning the 1998 crown outright, the Demons fell to fifth place last year. Roberts looks to bring Northwestern back into contention after posting a 25-6 record in three years at Southern Arkansas University.

Southwest Texas State University and Sam Houston State University will tie for fifth according to the coaches while the SIDs have them fifth and sixth, respectively.

Rounding out the polls in identical fashion are Jacksonville State University in seventh and Nicholls State University in eighth. JSU will be under the direction of first-year head coach Jack Crowe while Nicholls’ Daryl Daye is in his second season as a head coach.

COACHES

1. Troy State

2. Stephen F. Austin

3. McNeese State

4. Northwestern State

5. Southwest Texas

6. Sam Houston State

7. Jacksonville State

8. Nicholls State

SIDs

1. Troy State

2. Stephen F. Austin

3. McNeese State

4. Northwestern State

5. Southwest Texas

6. Sam Houston State

7. Jacksonville State

8. Nicholls State