COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – On Monday at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Media Day, Western State Colorado University was picked seventh in the Coaches' Preseason Poll.
 
The Mountaineers are coming off their best season in nearly 20 years. Western finished with a 7-4 record in 2016, with a 7-3 record against RMAC opponents to finish the season fourth in the conference.
 
Colorado State University – Pueblo was picked first in the preseason poll, garnering 93 votes. Colorado Mesa University was one point shy of the ThunderWolves, getting picked second with 92 points.
 
Western will face the Mavericks of CMU in their first contest of the season on Aug. 31. The Thursday matchup will be played under the lights of Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction, Colorado. Tickets for the season opener can be purchased online.
 
2017 RMAC Coaches' Preseason Poll
CSU-Pueblo (4) - 93
Colorado Mesa (4) - 92
Colo. School of Mines (3) - 82
Dixie State - 69
Black Hills State - 62
South Dakota Mines - 51
Western - 43
Chadron State - 41
Fort Lewis - 37
Adam State - 25
New Mexico Highlands – 10
 
2017 RMAC Preseason All-Conference Teams
Offense
QB Jake Sullivan** Jr. South Dakota Mines
RB David Tann** Gr. Colorado Mesa
RB Bernard McDondle Sr. CSU-Pueblo
WR Brody Oliver* R-Jr. Colorado School of Mines (RMAC Preseason All-Conference Offensive Player of the Year)
WR Josh Brown** Jr. Colorado Mesa
WR Chad Hovasse** R-Jr. Adams State
TE Zach Boyd* Sr. CSU-Pueblo
OL Austin Fleer* Sr. Colorado Mesa
OL Corbin Feenstra* Sr. CSU-Pueblo
OL Ty McCulley* Sr. CSU-Pueblo
OL Levi Cecil** Sr. Colorado School of Mines
OL Tim Ah Hee Sr. Dixie State
 
Defense
DL Blake Nelson* Sr. Colorado Mesa
DL Josh Croy Sr. CSU-Pueblo
DL OJ Thompson Sr. Fort Lewis
DL Matthew King R-Sr. Colorado School of Mines
LB Brandon Payer* Jr. CSU-Pueblo (RMAC Preseason All-Conference Defensive Player of the Year)
LB Tom Saager Sr. Colorado Mesa
LB Collin Eisenman** Ar. Chadron State
LB Grant Gale R-Jr. Colorado School of Mines
DB Drew Hebel* R-Jr. Black Hills State
DB Dustin Rivas* Sr. Colorado Mesa
DB Darius Williams* Jr. CSU-Pueblo
DB Tyneil Cooper* Sr. Dixie State
 
Special Teams
PK Robbie Jo Geraden Jr. South Dakota Mines
P Austin Toussaint R-So. Colorado School of Mines
RET Dustin Rivas Sr. Colorado Mesa (RMAC Preseason All-Conference Special Teams Player of the Year)