Huskies picked fifth in division at CAA Football Media Day
July 23, 2008
Baltimore, MD

Head coach Rocky Hager will be on CN8's "Out of Bounds" live on Wednesday, July 30 at 7 p.m.

The Colonial Athletic Association officially kicked off the 2008 football season today as Northeastern and the conference’s other 11 teams met for the CAA Football Media Day event at the ESPN Zone in Baltimore, Md. Representing the Huskies at the event were head coach Rocky Hager, senior tight end Brian Mandeville and senior nose guard Corey Thomas.

In addition to providing media with an opportunity to meet with the league’s head coaches and selected players, the 2008 preseason poll and All-Conference teams were announced. Northeastern was picked to finish fifth in the North Division behind Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Hofstra and Maine and ahead of Rhode Island. Richmond was picked to be South Division champion, and Massachusetts was picked as the overall champ. No Northeastern players were selected to the preseason All-Conference team.

To further publicize the start of the CAA Football season, CN8's "Out of Bounds" will air a special live one-hour CAA Football season preview hosted by Gregg Murphy on Wednesday, July 30 at 7 p.m. The "Out of Bounds" live show will feature Hager, as well as other coaches and players from CAA Football.

Northeastern also announced its television package for the 2008 season, and the Huskies will be seen on television in the New England region for four consecutive games between Sept. 27 and Oct. 18. The Huskies' home contests against UC Davis Sept. 27, Massachusetts Oct. 11 and New Hampshire Oct. 18 as well as their road contest at Towson Oct. 4 will all be televised by Comcast SportsNet. The UC Davis and Massachusetts contests, originally scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m., will now start at 12 p.m.

Northeastern returns 43 lettermen and 15 starters from last season's 3-8 squad that earned two victories over ranked opponents, beating No. 8 New Hampshire and No. 18 Hofstra in successive weeks. The Huskies return 2007 All-Conference second teamers Brian Mandeville and Kevin Newhall. Mandeville led Northeastern in receiving yards (411) and receiving touchdowns (5) last season while Newhall was the anchor of an offensive line that finished second in the country in fewest tackles for a loss allowed. Complete information on the team is available in the 2008 football media guide, which is now available at GoNU.com/mediaguides.

Northeastern opens the season against Ball State in Muncie, Ind., on Thursday, Aug. 28. The Huskies' home opener will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27 against UC Davis at Parsons Field.

2008 CAA Football Preseason Poll

North Division
1. Massachusetts (17)
2. New Hampshire (1)
3. Hofstra (1)
4. Maine
5. Northeastern
6. Rhode Island

South Division
1. Richmond (11)
2. James Madison (7)
3. Delaware (1)
4. Villanova
5. William & Mary
6. Towson

Overall Champion
Massachusetts

Northeastern's representatives at CAA Football Media Day: senior Corey Thomas, senior Brian Mandeville and head coach Rocky Hager

Head coach Rocky Hager talks Northeastern football with a reporter.