WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Aug. 15, 2011) - Ranked as high as No. 1 nationally in the preseason polls, the William and Mary football team garnered a No. 3 national ranking in The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS preseason poll released today.

Eastern Washington earned the top spot with 90 first-place votes, while the Tribe's 20 first-place votes were the second most. Although it totaled six fewer first-place votes than W&M, Appalachian State was slotted second in preseason poll.

In total, seven teams from the Colonial Athletic Association garnered a top-25 ranking while six were among the top 16.

W&M enters 2011 campaign as the preseason pick to defend its CAA title and will look for its third-consecutive postseason appearance after earning the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Playoffs last fall.

The Tribe will kickoff the 2011 campaign at Virginia on Sept. 3. Season tickets are available for purchase by calling the W&M Ticket Office at 757-221-3340 or by visiting TribeAthletics.com.

The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top-25 Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)

1.    Eastern Washington (90)
2.    Appalachian State (14)
3.    William and Mary (20)
4.    Georgia Southern (11)
5.    Delaware (2)
6.    Montana State
7.    Northern Iowa
8.    Wofford
9.    Jacksonville State
10.  New Hampshire (1)
11.  North Dakota
12.  Montana
13.  Lehigh
14.  Villanova (2)
15.  James Madison
16.  Richmond
17.  Stephen F. Austin
18.  Central Arkansas
19.  Southern Illinois
20.  McNeese State
21.  Chattanooga
22.  Liberty
23.  South Carolina
24.  Sacramento State
25.  Massachusetts