The University of Minnesota-Duluth claimed the No. 12 spot in the first 2003 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll released today. UMD, which ranked 11th in the final AFCA Division. II 2002 regular season poll, is the only Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team to earn a place in the top 25 poll.



The Bulldogs, who turned in an 11-1 overall record last fall, including a perfect 9-0 NSIC mark (for their first league championship in six years), will open their 2003 season on Sept. 6 when they travel to Minnesota State University-Mankato for a non-conference game.