A trio of recently-announced NCAA Division II preseason football polls -- Street and Smith Magazine, Don Hansen's Football Gazette, and Lindy Magazine -- all list the University of Minnesota Duluth among their top 25 teams.

The defending North Central Conference co-champion Bulldogs were slotted in the No. 21 position by the prognosticators at Street and Smith and at No. 24 by Don Hansen's Football Gazette while Lindy Magazine had UMD ranked 19th.

\"Any time we can be recognized on the national level, it's great for our football program,\" said UMD's Kyle \"Bubba\" Schweigert, the 2005 NCC Coach of the Year who directed the Bulldogs to an 8-4 overall record and their second NCAA II playoff berth in four seasons. \"I would like to think that this recognition is due to the fact that we were a playoff qualifier last year and are a team which returns a strong nucleus of players.

\"As nice as this notoriety is, however, our focus will still be on preparing ourselves for the 2006 seasons. Like I've always said, the most important poll is the one which comes out in November before the NCAA II playoffs.\"

The Bulldogs, who will begin pre-season drills on Aug. 9 before kicking off their 2006 schedule with an Aug. 31 matchup at Bemidji State University, return some 41 lettermen from a year ago, including 18 starters (nine defense, seven offense and two special teams). Headlining that list is senior wide receiver Greg Aker and senior linebacker Kevin Krenz, both of whom attained All-NCC second team honors last fall and sophomore quarterback Ted Schlafke, who in 2005 completed more passes (305) for more yards (3,335) than anyone in the 73-year history of Bulldog football.

Street & Smith's NCAA Division II Preseason Poll

1. Grand Valley State (MI)

2. East Stroudsburg (PA)

3. North Carolina Central

4. Saginaw Valley State (MI)

5. Northwest Missouri State

6. Pittsburg State (KS)

7. North Dakota

8. North Alabama

9. Bloomsburg (PA)

10. Presbyterian (SC)

11. West Texas A&M

12. Shepherd (WV)

13. South Dakota

14. Nebraska-Omaha

15. Carson-Newman (TN)

16. Valdosta State (GA)

17. Ashland (OH)

18. Washburn (KS)

19. Minnesota Duluth

20. Nebraska-Kearney

21. Winona State (MN)

22. Concordia-St. Paul (MN)

23. C.W. Post (NY)

24. California (PA)

25. Southern Connecticut

Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA Division II Preseason Top 40

1. Grand Valley State (MI)

2. Saginaw Valley State (MI)

3. Albany State (GA)

4. Northwest Missouri State

5. East Stroudsburg (PA)

6. Pittsburg State (KS)

7. Bloomsburg (PA)

8. North Alabama

9. Presbyterian (SC)

10. Nebraska-Omaha

11. South Dakota

12. West Texas A&M

13. North Dakota

14. Washburn (KS)

15. North Carolina Central

16. Shepherd (WV)

17. Valdosta State (GA)

18. Edinboro (PA)

19. Tuskegee (AL)

20. Northwood (MI)

21. CW Post (NY)

22. Carson-Newman (TN)

23. California (PA)

24. Minnesota Duluth

25. Ashland (OH)

26. Central Washington

27. West Georgia

28. Delta State (MS)

29. Winona State (MN)

30. Concordia-St. Paul

31. Nebraska-Kearney

32. Central Missouri State

33. Missouri Western

34. Angelo State (TX)

35. Southeastern Oklahoma

36. Tarleton State (TX)

37. Michigan Tech

38. West Chester (PA)

39. Arkansas Tech

40. Texas A& M-Kingsville

Lindy's Magazine NCAA Division II Preseason Poll

1. Grand Valley State (MI)

2. Saginaw Valley State (MI)

3. Bloomsburg (PA)

4. Albany State (GA)

5. Presbyterian (NC)

6. East Stroudsburg (PA)

7. South Dakota

8. Northwest Missouri State

9. West Texas A&M

10. Nebraska-Omaha

11. Valdosta State (GA)

12. North Alabama

13. Washburn (KS)

14. Pittsburg (KS) State

15. Edinboro (PA)

16. North Dakota

17. Shepherd (WV)

18. Tuskegee (AL)

19. Northwood (MI)

20. CW Post (NY)

21. Minnesota Duluth

22. West Georgia

23. Delta State (MS)

24. Central Washington

25. Texas A&M Kingsville