Marietta picked to finish sixth at OAC Football Media Day

Aug. 3, 2005
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - The Marietta College football team was selected to finish sixth overall in the 2005 media and coaches polls Wednesday (August 3) at the annual Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) football media day at the Hilton Cleveland South Hotel in Independence, Ohio.

The Pioneers finished 6-4 overall, 5-4 in the OAC, to place fifth in League play last year. Marietta will return 28 letterwinners and 13 seniors for the 2005 season when players report for preseason practice August 10.

Mount Union, who has won 13 straight OAC regular season titles, was selected atop the Coaches Poll with 81 points and nine first-place votes. Ohio Northern was second with 73 points and the other first-place vote. Capital (63 points), Baldwin-Wallace (51 points) and John Carroll (51 points) rounded out the top five teams, while Marietta (40 points) finished sixth in the poll.

The Purple Raiders (338 points) also were picked to finish first in the Media Poll. 34 members of the Ohio media attended the luncheon, the most ever in attendance at the annual event. Ohio Northern (302 points), Capital (256 points), Baldwin-Wallace (220 points), John Carroll (217 points) and Marietta (163 points) were selected to finished second through sixth, respectively.

The Pioneers open the 2005 season against Emory & Henry (VA) on September 4 at Don Drumm Stadium. Kickoff for the game is slated for 7 p.m. It will be their first meeting since 1968. For the second year in a row, the first home game will be Football Community Day. A full evening of fun is being planned for fans as they get their first chance to see the 2005 Pioneers.