CHARLESTON, SC NEWS - LIVE 5 WCSC Breaking News, Weather, SportsCSU picked fourth in 2010 Big South preseason poll

CSU picked fourth in 2010 Big South preseason poll

Charleston Southern picked fourth in Big South preseason poll

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charleston Southern was picked to finish fourth in the Big South, while 2009 co-champion Liberty was picked as the League's favorite, it was announced Thursday at the 2010 Big South Media Day held at the Renaissance Suites in Charlotte, N.C.

The fourth-place mark in the preseason poll, just three points behind third place Coastal Carolina, is the highest CSU has been voted in the preseason since the 2007 year. The Bucs finished third in the league last year with a 4-2 record in the Big South. Additionally, Charleston Southern had three athletes selected to the 2010 Preseason All-Big South team.

"There are two schools of thought, on one hand you don't mind being underestimated because you hope you can sneak up on people, but on the other hand you would like to be able to enjoy some of the respect that you feel like you have earned over the years," said Mills. "As we've told our coaches and players for the past few years, though, we need to remember that it is where you finish, not necessarily where you start."

The biggest buzz around media day was that for the first time, the Big South Conference will receive an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.

"We all want this," said senior linebacker David Jackson, who was representing the Buccaneers at the event. "You come to school hoping that you are able to represent your school and play at the highest level and now we know that if we take care of business on the field we will have that opportunity.

The season begins for the Buccaneers on September 4, when they host North Greenville for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.

Preseason Poll (Points)
1. Liberty (103)
2. Stony Brook (81)
3. Coastal Carolina (68)
4. Charleston Southern (65)
5. Gardner-Webb (54)
6. VMI (31)
7. Presbyterian (18)

Three Buccaneers make All-Big South preseason team

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charleston Southern had a trio of senior Buccaneers selected to the Preseason All-Big South team, it was announced Thursday at the 2010 Big South Media Day held at the Renaissance Suites in Charlotte, N.C.  Wide receiver Gerald Stevenson and offensive lineman Jordan Lancaster were each named to the offensive team, while Joel Walton earned a spot on the defensive line. Stevenson was also selected as the preseason all-conference punt returner.

Stevenson earned first team all-conference honors last season and finished third in the offensive player of the year voting in 2009. He is the school's leader in kick return yards and sits fourth all-time at CSU with 112 receptions and second with 12 receiving touchdowns going into his senior campaign.

Lancaster, who became just the second player in Big South football history to be nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, has 32 games and 26 starts under his belt going into his senior season. He was named the 2009 most improved offensive lineman and was a key part of last year's offensive line that helped CSU to its second-highest rushing total in school history, and finished tied for sixth in the nation in sacks given up.

Walton made an immediate impact at CSU after transferring in, earning a spot on Phil Steele's preseason all-conference team before playing a down for the Bucs. He lived up to the hype in 2009, starting all 11 games and finishing with 22 tackles and a team-high eight quarterback hurries, earning him All-Big South honors at years' end.

The three preseason all-conference selections are the most since the 2008 season when four Buccaneers were honored. Charleston Southern was picked to finish fourth in the league, the highest preseason ranking since 2007.

Courtesy:  CSU Sports Information and Big South