W&J Picked Second At 2012 PAC Football Media Day
LATROBE, Pa. – The 2012 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Football Media Day was held on Thursday at Saint Vincent College and Washington & Jefferson College was the second choice in the league’s preseason poll behind four-time defending champion Thomas More College.
The Presidents received 188 points in the poll, 35 behind Thomas More. The Saints earned 23 of the poll’s 25 first-place votes. Voting in the preseason poll was conducted by head coaches, sports information directors and members of the media.
Waynesburg (2 first-place votes) was third with 165 points followed by Bethany (117), Saint Vincent (114), Geneva (105), Westminster (101), Grove City (79) and Thiel (32).
Washington & Jefferson opens the 2012 season on Sept. 1 at Methodist (N.C.) in search of its 29th consecutive winning season. The Presidents’ offense will be led by senior running back Tim McNerney (Butler, Pa./Knoch), who represented the team at the media day. McNerney enters his senior season with 1,875 rushing yards (4.6 career yards per carry) and 26 touchdowns.
“I hope I can lead by example, by my actions on and off the field,” said McNerney, when asked about his role as team captain and experienced leader. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help us become a better football team.”
Head Coach Mike Sirianni will open his 10th preseason camp as head coach with 121 players on August 11 at Cameron Stadium. W&J recorded a 6-4 overall mark last fall, including a 5-3 record in the PAC.
"I feel we have the best skill players in the conference and I think we will see a different football team than we did last year,” said Sirianni, who owns an 85-18 career record. “After the spring practices, I think we have our confidence back and we’ll see on Aug. 11.”
The 2012 season marks the 121st varsity football season in Washington & Jefferson College history.
