Aug. 10, 2000

CONTACT: Rob Meyers

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team has been picked eighth in the nation in this week's edition of Sports Illustrated. SFA finished last season with an 8-3 record and ranked eighteenth in the nation in I-AA polls.

The magazine ranks Georgia Southern, the defending national champion, as the nation's top team as the year begins. Also included among the top 10 are Troy State at number four, and Northern Iowa at number seven.

The `Jacks travel to Northern Iowa for a September 23 meeting that will feature two of the nation's top teams early in the season. SFA will also face conference rival Troy State on November 4 in Nacogdoches.

SI also picks the ten best Division II programs in the nation in this week's edition and ranks Central Oklahoma fourth in the country among all Division-II programs. SFA and Central Oklahoma meet September 9, in Nacogdoches.

All told, SFA will face three opponents ranked among the top 10 in the nation according to preseason predictions.