Sun Belt Conference Releases 2014 Preseason Coaches Poll

The Sun Belt Conference office announced the 2014 Preseason Coaches Poll, July 19. NM State was selected No. 11 in the poll with 26 points.

“Right now all we can worry about is ourselves,” head coach Doug Martin said. “There is a reason why you play the games. We know that this is a much improved football team right now then from this time last year. We understand the challenges we have ahead of us and we look forward to those challenges and getting back on the football field.”

NM State went 2-10 in 2013 during Martin's first season as head coach after playing one of the toughest schedules in the school's history. The Aggies faced five teams that had participated in a bowl game the previous season while also playing two teams ranked in the top 15 in the nation.

UL Lafayette was selected as the preseason favorite in the conference, garnering all 11 first-place votes in the poll. Arkansas State received 102 points, followed by South Alabama (98), Troy (84), UL Monroe (78), Texas State (70), Appalachian State (47), Georgia Southern (44), Idaho (29), Georgia State (27) and NM State.

The annual Sun Belt Football Media Days will be held in New Orleans, La., inside the Superdome, July 22. Coach Martin, along with center Valerian Ume-Ezeoke and safety Travaughn Colwell will be in attendance.

Season tickets are available now and start at only $50, while kids 12 and under are just $5 a game. Tickets can be purchased through the Pan American Center ticket office, by calling 575-646-1420, or visiting Ticketmaster.com and searching for NM State football. The Ticketmaster website now allows Aggie fans to pick their specific seats directly from their computer.

NM State opens the season with Cal Poly on Thursday, Aug. 28, at 6 p.m.

Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll- First Place Votes in Parenthesis