Aug. 6, 2003

Lancaster, PA - The Johns Hopkins football team is picked second in the Centennial Conference Preseason Football Coahes/Sports Information Directors Poll released Wednesday.

The Blue Jays, who set a school record for wins in a season by going 9-2 last year and went 5-1 in the conference to earn a share of the title with Muhlenberg and McDaniel, received four first place votes and 62 points. The Mules were selected to the top spot with the other 10 first place votes and 73 points, while the Green Terror were picked third and earned 54 points. Dickinson (32 points), Gettysburg (28 points), Franklin & Marshall (25 points), and Ursinus (23 points) rounded out the poll.

Hopkins made its first-ever postseason appearance in 2002, defeating Frostburg State, 24-21, in the ECAC Southwest Championship Game. The Blue Jays return five starters on offense, including all-conference honorable mention selection Brian Wolcott (Harding, PA/Wyoming Area), who led Hopkins with 715 yards receiving and seven touchdowns last season.

The Blue Jay defense, which ranked among the NCAA Division III leaders in rushing yards allowed and scoring defense in 2002, returns seven starters, including co-captains nose guard Paul Smith (Lafayette, NJ/Sparta) and linebacker Paul Longo (Kensington, MD/Bethesda-Chevy Chase). Smith recorded a team-high 14 tackles for loss and had three interceptions, while Longo, a second team all-conference selection last year, ranked third on the team with 68 tackles. Defensive back Matt Campbell (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough), who was named to the all-conference first team in 2002 and tied for the team lead with 85 tackles, also returns to lead a talented Hopkins secondary.

The Blue Jays open their 2003 season on September 6 when they travel to the University of Rochester for a 12 noon kickoff.

Centennial Conference Preseason Football Coaches/SID Poll1. Muhlenberg (10)  732. Johns Hopkins (4) 623. McDaniel 544. Dickinson    325. Gettysburg   286. Franklin & Marshall  257. Ursinus  23