NEW ORLEANS – A year ago, not much thought was given to the University of South Alabama football program when the Sun Belt Conference office released its annual preseason poll; the Jaguars were voted to finished seventh among the eight teams in the league.  But after ending the campaign tied for third with a 4-3 mark — earning Joey Jones SBC Coach-of-the-Year honors in the process — expectations have changed.

The conference office released this year's preseason poll Saturday, and in a vote of head coaches the Jags have been selected to finish third in 2014.  Eleven teams will be competing in the SBC this fall.

USA recorded 98 points in the voting, coming in behind only the Sun Belt's defending co-champions; Louisiana-Lafayette posted 121 points — earning all 11 first-place votes — while Arkansas State collected 102.  Following the Jaguars in the preseason poll are Troy (84), Louisiana-Monroe (78), Texas State (70), Appalachian State (47), Georgia Southern (44), Idaho (29), Georgia State (27) and New Mexico State (26).

The league office will announce the preseason all-conference team on Monday, while all 11 schools will take part in SBC Media Day Tuesday at the Mercedes-Benz Louisiana Superdome.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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