A&M-Commerce Picked to Win LSC North Division

At the annual Lone Star Conference media day in San Antonio, the Texas A&M University-Commerce football team was picked to repeat as Lone Star Conference North Division champions in a preseason poll conducted by members of the media, head coaches and sports information directors. 

The Lions who closed out the 2009 season with five-straight wins to win the LSC North Division were picked as the pre-season favorite. Second-year head coach Guy Morriss and A&M-Commerce return seven all-LSC North Division selections including senior linebacker Cory Whitfield. 

The Palestine, Texas native was picked as the preseason LSC North Division Defensive Player of the Year. Whitfield led the Lions with 111 tackles, including six-straight games of double-digit tackles. Plus, he was third on the team with 13.5 tackles for minus yardage. The selection of Whitfield marks the second-straight year that A&M-Commerce has been represented with the LSC North Division Defensive Player with William Green earning similar honors prior to the 2009 season.

A&M-Commerce received 12 of the 19 first place ballots for a total of 123 points in the poll ahead of Southeastern Oklahoma, who finished second with 110 points and three first-place votes. Central Oklahoma (95) was third with two first-place votes; Eastern New Mexico (76) was fourth including two first-place tallies. Northeastern State (63) fifth and East Central (25) rounded out the poll. 

In the South Division of the conference, West Texas A&M was the preseason favorite. The Buffs earned nine of the 19 ballots to finish with 105 total points just in front of Abilene Christian’ 103-point tally with three first-place tallies in the poll. Midwestern State finished third (91 and three first-place votes), Tarleton State was fourth (87 and two first-place votes), Texas A&M-Kingsville fifth (84 and two first-place votes), Angelo State sixth (42) and conference newcomer Incarnate Word seventh (20).