Panther Briefs: Football drops out of national polls

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Posted: 10/7/08

Eastern's football team ended its streak of 36 straight weeks ranked in a national poll when it dropped out of the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches' poll following its bye week this weekend.

The Panthers were ranked No. 25 in the Coaches' poll after their 23-10 loss to Jacksonville State on Sept. 27. Eastern dropped out of The Sports Network Poll following the loss to the Gamecocks.

Eastern had been ranked in one of the two national FCS polls since the second-to-last week of the 2005 season after a win against Jacksonville State. The Panthers were the second unranked team receiving votes in the Coaches' poll this week (No. 27) and the fifth team receiving votes in The Sports Network poll (No. 30).

James Madison remained No. 1 in both polls after a 56-0 win against Hampton on Saturday. Appalachian State is ranked No. 2 in both polls. McNeese State, New Hampshire and Richmond round out the top five in both national polls.

-Compiled by Sports Editor Scott Richey. He can be reached at 581-7944 or at srrichey@eiu.edu.