Aug. 16, 2006

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook Seawolves football team was picked to finish third in 2006 according to a preseason poll of Northeast Conference (NEC) head coaches, the NEC announced on Tuesday. Albany and Central Connecticut State are favored to win the 2006 NEC Football Championship.

Stony Brook, which shared the title with Central Connecticut last season, enters its first season under head coach Chuck Priore in 2006. Albany, which tied for third place in the league last season, received four first place votes. Central Connecticut State earned two first place nods after capturing back-to-back conference titles in 2004 and 2005. This year's poll saw four teams claim first place votes, including a single selection for Monmouth, and for the first time in league history, Saint Francis (PA) collects a lone vote. Monmouth was picked to finish fourth, Saint Francis (PA) in fifth, Wagner in sixth and Robert Morris and Sacred Heart tied for seventh.

This year's NEC champion will meet the winner of the Pioneer Football League (PFL) in the inaugural Gridon Classic, an exempted postseason football game that takes place on Saturday, November 18. The two-year agreement calls for the NEC champion to serve as host in 2006. The PFL winner will host the 2007 event.

2006 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Albany
Central Connecticut
3. Stony Brook
4. Monmouth
5. St. Francis (Pa.)
6. Wagner
7. Robert Morris
Sacred Heart