Two CCIW Teams Earn Spot on D3Football.com Pre-Season Poll

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Coming off NCAA Division III playoff appearances in 2005, Augustana and North Central enter the 2006 campaign having earned some respect from its peers after D3Football.com announced its pre-season poll Friday.

Augustana (10-2 in 2005) placed 14th in the poll and are coming off a conference championship in 2005 as the Vikings went 7-0 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) games. North Central (9-2 in 2005) placed 21st after going 6-1 against CCIW competition last season.

Wheaton (7-3, 4-3 in 2005) earned a spot in the "others receiving votes" section of the poll as the Thunder had 43 votes, placing them 31st.

Voting for the D3Football.com poll is done by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country. The poll is published on a weekly basis.

Augustana advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs, losing to eventual champion Mount Union. North Central lost in a first round game against Capital (Ohio).

The CCIW football season begins September 2.