W&L FOOTBALL PICKED FIFTH IN ODAC PRESEASON POLL

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- At the annual Old Dominion Athletic Conference football media day held Friday, July 26, on the campus of Hampden-Sydney College, the conference's preseason poll was announced.

Washington and Lee was picked to finish fifth overall of the league's seven football playing institutions in voting conducted by the league's coaches.

Bridgewater received the most first place votes and are the favorite to win the conference title after finishing last season as the national runner-up.

Hampden-Sydney was picked to finish second followed by Emory & Henry, Guilford, Washington and Lee, Randolph-Macon and Catholic.

W&L went 5-5 overall last season, but finished with a second place tie in the ODAC with a 3-3 conference record.

The Generals return 17 starters to the fold in 2002, nine on offense and eight on defense. Included in those totals are a pair of Preseason All-Americans in senior running back Chris Sullivan (San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights) and senior offensive lineman Mat Rapoza (Kill Devil Hills, N.C./Manteo).

Washington and Lee opens its season on September 14 as it hosts Johns Hopkins for a 1:00 pm contest.

-- GENERALS --