The Official Home of Stephen F. Austin Athletics

    'Jacks Picked 15th In One Preseason Poll
    SFA one of four SLC teams ranked in preaseason football poll.
    Zeke Dixon
    Zeke Dixon

    Aug. 8, 2003

    NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team will open the season Sept. 6 as the nation's 15-ranked I-AA program according to a preseason poll conducted by College Sporting News, Inc. SFA is one of four Southland Conference schools listed among the nation's top 20.

    McNeese State tops the list as the preseason number one team in the nation with SFA as the next highest rated Southland team at number 15. Nicholls State enters the poll at number 16, with Northwestern State rounding out the SLC representation at number 19. The Cowboys return 17 of 22 starters from last year's national championship appearance team and are the preseason favorites to win the Southland Conference.

    The publishers of I-AA.org conducted the poll and also named Zeke Dixon as a preseason first team all-conference selection in an unofficial preseason all-conference team. They list Dixon as the best quarterback in the SLC and among the best young quarterbacks in the nation. SFA sophomore wide receiver was also listed as one of the rising stars of the conference after leading the SLC in all purpose yardage last season as a true freshman.

    The Lumberjacks open the season Sept. 6 against the University of Louisiana-Monroe, and report for the start of fall camp Aug. 12.