
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 29, 1993                   TAG: 9307290019
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FOOTBALL WESTERN CAROLINA NO. 1, VMI LAST IN SOUTHERN CONFERENCE POLL

Western Carolina was made the preseason favorite to win the Southern Conference football championship, edging national champion Marshall by two points. VMI was picked last.

The Catamounts (7-4) received 20 of a possible 35 first-place votes for 292 points from media members attending the league's annual preseason football kickoff in Greensboro, N.C. Marshall (12-3) received 14 top votes for 290 points.

Western Carolina returns 18 starters, including 2,468-yard passer Lonnie Galloway and 1,079-yard rusher Kevin Thigpen.

Georgia Southern, playing a conference schedule for the first time in school history, received the remaining first-place vote and finished third with 250 points.

Defending conference champion The Citadel was picked to finish fourth with 189 points, followed by Furman with 184 points, Appalachian State's 151, Tennessee-Chattanooga's 100, East Tennessee State's 81 and VMI's 40.

by CNB