Montgomery, Ala. - The USA South's 2016 Football Media Day was held Monday, August 1st, at Huntingdon College. Each of the Conference's eight football coaches addressed the media and gave their thoughts on the upcoming season. The USA South preseason poll was also unveiled at the beginning of the event, with the Battling Bishops earning a 3rd-place billing.
Last season, the Bishops tied for 2nd-place in the USA South standings after posting a 5-2 record in league play. Wesleyan returns 15 starters from that squad, six on offense and nine on defense. Offensively, the Bishops will be led by 2015 USA South Offensive Player of the Year Malik Adams, who led the nation with 19 touchdown receptions last season. Joining him will be the league's 2015 Offensive Rookie of the Year Adrian Minondo at running back.
Entering his fourth season at the helm of the program, head coach Jeff Filkovski returns 73 letterwinners overall and has high hopes that their experience will compliment a host of talented newcomers.
"We have 17 seniors returning this season, which should result in a great deal of growth on both sides of the ball," said Filkovski. "Our coaching staff has been working hard to prepare for the upcoming season ... Hopefully, we can stay healthy and be ready when we take the field September 2nd at Stevenson."
Defending league champion Huntingdon College topped the poll with seven first-place votes and 49 total points. The Hawks were followed by Maryville College with 43 points and the remaining first-place vote, while the Bishops finished third overall with 36 points.
Prior to the press conference, each coach offered remarks about a potential "Impact Player" for the 2016 season. Filkovski spoke briefly about Adams, who holds nearly every receiving record in Wesleyan history, as well as the USA South conference single-season and career records for touchdown receptions entering his senior year.
Also in preparation for the event, the league released its 2016 Football Media Guide, which previews the upcoming seasons of all eight USA South football institutions. The guide can be found on the football page of the USA South website (www.usasouth.net/sports/fball), which also houses the complete preseason coaches poll, as well as photos and videos from the event.
The 2016 USA South football schedule kicks off on Friday, September 2nd, when Wesleyan travels to Stevenson University for a 7:00pm kickoff. The remaining USA South teams begin their seasons with non-League action the following day.
The Bishops open the home portion of their '16 slate the following weekend on Saturday, September 10th, with a 12:30pm tilt versus defending DIII National Champion Mt. Union. Continue to check www.ncwcsports.com for updates about NCWC's much-anticipated home opener against the Purple Raiders.