1999 Football Preseason Poll

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - Augustana, which won its final five games a year ago, was selected today as the favorite to win the 1999 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin football championship. The Vikings, 7-2 overall in 1998 and 5-2 in the league, will start the season with defensive coordinator Larry Johnsen in the position of interim head coach. Johnsen, the team's defensive coordinator since 1987, will have the reigns while Tom Schmulbach recovers from surgery. Schmulbach, who was the "Coach of the Year" in 1997 when he led his team to the league title, is expected back during the early part of the season.

The Vikings received five first place votes and a total of 46 points which just nosed out defending league champion Millikin. The Big Blue went 8-2 last year under 1999 "Coach of the Year" Doug Neibuhr and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Millikin picked up 42 points and two first place votes. Illinois Wesleyan, with veteran head coach Norm Eash starting his 13th year, picked up 41 points for third place and grabbed the remaining first place vote. The Titans were 7-2 last year which was good for a second place tie with Augustana and Wheaton.

Wheaton was fourth with 30 points while Carthage was fifth with 26. North Central and Elmhurst tied for sixth with 15 points and North Park was eighth with nine.

1999 COLLEGE CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS & WISCONSIN

FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1998 COLLEGE CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS & WISCONSIN FOOTBALL FINAL STANDINGS