Friday, July 3, 2009

UTM Football - Receiving National Attention


Ok...another noteworthy news nugget a day late...Sorry! I've had a lot of e-mails and press releases to get through since coming back from vacation.

This great news...UT Martin football receiving national recognition. good to see the program continuing to improve. Not long ago (like SIU Carbondale) they were the doormat of 1-AA Football.

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MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin Skyhawk football team was ranked among the top 20 in the nation in two preseason football publications. Athlon
Sports 2009 Preview has the Skyhawks picked 20th in the Football Championship Subdivision, while The Kickoff College Football 2009 Preview ranked the Skyhawks No. 17 in the nation.

Athlon calls the Skyhawks the 2008 surprise team in the OVC and “they won’t sneak up on anybody in 2009. Quarterback Cade Thompson directs a veteran offense.”

The Sporting News College Football Preview does not have the Skyhawks ranked among the Top 25 teams in its preseason poll, but has the Skyhawks tabbed second in the Ohio Valley Conference behind Jacksonville State. The magazine has Jacksonville State picked 24th in the nation, while defending FCS National Champion Richmond is the preseason No. 1 selection. Appalachian State is No. 2, while Villanova is picked third.

The Skyhawks return eight offensive starters including Thompson and wide receiver Mike Hicks. Both players earned All-OVC honors in 2008.

Thompson completed 190-of-329 passes for 2, 680 yards and 24 touchdowns. He completed 57.8 percent of his attempts and averaged 233 yards of passing per game. His passing efficiency was the 25th best in the nation.

Hicks led the Skyhawks with 66 catches for 894 yards and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 13.5 yards per catch and was ranked among the top 40 in the nation in receptions per game and receiving yards per game.

The Skyhawks open their 2009 season Thursday, Sept. 3 when they host Iowa Wesleyan at Hardy M. Graham Stadium on campus. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

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