The Valparaiso University football team has been projected to finish in 10^th place in the Pioneer Football League in 2012, according to preseason polling of the league’s head coaches.

San Diego and Drake, PFL co-champions in 2011, were picked first and second, respectively, in this year’s preseason poll.  San Diego picked up eight of a possible nine first-place votes, while Drake received one first-place nod. 

Jacksonville was chosen third, with Dayton registering the final first-place vote in fourth position and Campbell rounding out the top half of the poll.  Marist was picked sixth, with Butler, Morehead State and Davidson coming in just ahead of the Crusaders.

Each of the coaches ranked the teams one through nine, omitting their own squad from the voting.  Teams received nine points for a first-place vote down to one point for a ninth-place vote.

Third-year head coach Dale Carlson’s squad returns 54 letterwinners from last year’s team in 2012, including six starters on each side of the ball.  Valparaiso’s 2012 season gets underway under the lights at Brown Field at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30 when the Crusaders host Saint Joseph’s (Ind.).