FERRUM, Va. -- The USA South Athletic Conference held its annual Football Media Day July 30 at Averett University in Danville, Virginia.  Prior to the Media Day, head football coaches and sports information directors from the league convened annual business meetings.

During the media day, coaches were introduced in the decending order of the preseason poll.  Ferrum College landed the #2 spot in the poll behind Christopher Newport University.  The poll does not allow for coaches to vote for their own schools. The Captains grabbed six of the possible eight first-place votes and totaled 48 points.  Ferrum, led by second-year Head Coach Dave Harper, earned two first-place votes and 43 points.

North Carolina Wesleyan College was picked to finish third with 29 points, followed by LaGrange (Ga.) College with 27 points, a newcomer to the league this year.  Rounding out the bottom half of the poll were Averett University (26 points), Methodist University (23), Maryville College (21) and Greensboro College (7).

2012 USA South Football Coaches Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
1. Christopher Newport (6) 48
2. Ferrum (2) 43
3. N.C. Wesleyan 29
4. LaGrange 27
5. Averett 26
6. Methodist 23
7. Maryville 21
8. Greensboro 7

Christopher Newport and Ferrum finished first and second in last year's USA South football title chase.  CNU's 48-30 win over the Panthers Nov. 5 in Ferrum was the difference, and sent the Captains on to the NCAA Division III playoffs.  Harper's team closed out the season at 7-3 overall, 6-1 against USA South opponents.

Ferrum opens its season Sept. 1 at home against non-conference opponent Emory & Henry College.  The Panthers open USA South play Sept. 29 at Averett.  Both games kick off at 1 p.m.