FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

June 1, 2009 - The North Central College football team will enter the 2009 season as one of the top-rated NCAA Division III programs in the nation by two national publications, as the Cardinals are ranked third in the Lindy's Sports Preseason Division III Top 25 Poll, along with a No. 8 preseason national ranking by The Sporting News.

The Cardinals were ranked second in both the American Football Coaches Association and D3football.com Top 25 Polls at the close of last season. North Central ranks only behind defending Division III champion Mount Union College (Ohio) and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the Lindy's Sports poll. UW-Whitewater is the top-ranked team by The Sporting News.

North Central was the only College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin team ranked in the top 25 by Lindy's Sports. CCIW rival Wheaton College (Ill.) was ranked 19th by The Sporting News, which also listed the Cardinals' Oct. 24 game against Wheaton as one of nine 'Games to Watch' in Division III this season.

The Cardinals finished the 2008 season with an overall record of 11-1, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs and establishing a new school record for single-season victories. North Central posted a perfect 7-0 record to win its third straight CCIW Championship. The 2009 season begins Sept. 5, when the Cardinals travel to face Ohio Northern University.