ADDISON – The Tarleton Texan football team has been selected to finish third in the annual Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll released Thursday at the LSC Football Media Day at the Crowne Plaza in Addison.

“It is always tough to say what the preseason polls are based on,” said Tarleton head coach Sam McElroy.  “I think we are going to have a good football team.  ACU and West Texas A&M are picked above us, and I think they deserve that.  We have to find a way to break through to get to the top, and of course, that is our goal.”

The Texans received 86 votes in the poll to finish behind Abilene Christian (135) and West Texas A&M (107).  The Wildcats received 16 first place votes while the Buffaloes had three first place nods.  Texas A&M-Kingsville was picked to finish fourth with 84 points while Midwestern State, who received one first place vote, had 82 points.  Angelo State was picked sixth with 42 points while Eastern New Mexico had 24.

“After the top two teams, you can probably put our names in a hat, shake it around and pull names out and probably come out and [the ranking] would probably be close.  We have to find a way to win in the end and get to the top.”

The head coach of last year's 8-3 Texans said his players probably don't put much stock in the polls either.

“Our guys have been around long enough to know that this is something you have to do on the grass,” McElroy said.  “We are excited and ready to go.  Wednesday can't get here quick enough.  Our kids have been working hard, and I think they have done what it takes to have a good season.  We just have to hope that when we play, they play in a way that counts.”

The preseason poll was voted on by the league's sports information directors, head coaches and various members of the media.