(STATS) -- Chattanooga was picked to capture a fourth straight Southern Conference championship on Wednesday -- the favorite in both the preseason coaches and media polls at media day in Spartanburg, South Carolina.If Mocs coach Russ Huesman had his way, his players would never learn about it.With the SoCon expected to be particularly strong this season, Huesman wants his team to take on a certain identity.Emphasis on the word team.I want it to be about our football team, and not about how people predict us or about anybody else that is on our schedule. We have to take care of us, the eighth-year coach said. We have to prepare and practice and just worry about Chattanooga. Not worry about where we are ranked, not worry about what people are saying about us, good or bad. We need to just make it about our football team.Chattanooga shared the conference title with The Citadel last year. The Citadel, now coached by former offensive coordinator Brent Thompson, was picked second in the preseason polls.Both teams placed a conference-high 10 players on the coaches preseason all-conference team. Chattanooga defensive end Keionta Davis was selected as the preseason defensive player of the year, while Western Carolina running back Detrez Newsome gained offensive honors.VMI junior Al Cobb was the first-team selection at quarterback. Thats the position in which Chattanooga goes through its most important change. Jacob Huesman, the coachs son, has graduated after starting for the last four seasons and winning three consecutive SoCon offensive player of the year awards.Well, weve got 12 good seniors coming up that we feel are really good players and good leaders for us. I think all of those guys have stepped up, said Russ Huesman, whose team went 9-4 (6-1 SoCon) and finished ninth in the final STATS FCS Top 25 last season.A lot of it comes from the quarterback. Alejandro (Bennifield, the new starter) has stepped up big. His leadership role, his work ethic and how he has handled himself has been excellent. Ive seen a lot of leadership come from him in this offseason. I think Alejandro is going to be a really good leader for us, but, obviously, the 12 seniors are the guys.The Mocs surround Bennifield with a veteran offense, including All-America lineman Corey Levin and workhorse running back Derrick Craine. The defense will feature linebacker Nakevion Leslie and safety Lucas Webb in addition to Davis.It is a deep, deep year in the league, Russ Huesman said. There are a bunch of teams that if they end up Southern Conference champions at the end of the year, it would not shock me.When I filled out the preseason poll, it was extremely hard. There are so many quality teams. We learned that last year. We tied for the league title with The Citadel and I think every one of our games was a battle. We lose to Mercer and beat Wofford on a last-season field goal. We understand that this league is strong and deep. If you dont come to play, you will lose a football game.---=SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLLS=Head Coaches Poll=(Coaches not permitted to vote for their team)1. Chattanooga (7 first-place votes), 63 points2. The Citadel (1), 523. Samford (1), 504. Western Carolina, 415. Mercer, 386. Wofford, 337. Furman, 248. VMI, 149. East Tennessee State, 14---=Media Poll=1. Chattanooga (26), 2502. The Citadel (2), 2083. Western Carolina, 1794. Mercer, 1485. Samford, 1476. Wofford, 1367. Furman, 1028. VMI, 629. East Tennessee State, 28---=SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON TEAM=(Coaches not permitted to vote for their players)Offensive Player of the Year -- Detrez Newsome, RB, Western CarolinaDefensive Player of the Year -- Keionta Davis, DE, Chattanooga---=First Team Offense=QB -- Al Cobb, VMI, Jr.RB -- Derrick Craine, Chattanooga, Sr.RB -- Detrez Newsome, Western Carolina, Jr.OL -- Isaiah Pinson, The Citadel, Jr.OL -- Brett Niederreither, Mercer, Sr.OL -- Armando Bonheur, Samford, Sr.OL -- Corey Levin, Chattanooga, Sr.OL -- Jacob Revis, Chattanooga, Jr.OL -- Anton Wahrby, Wofford, Sr.TE -- Tyler Sexton, Western Carolina, Sr.WR -- Karel Hamilton, Samford, Sr.WR -- Aaron Sanders, VMI, Sr.---=First Team Defense=DL -- Joe Crochet, The Citadel, Sr.DL -- Ahmad Gooden, Samford, So.DL -- Keionta Davis, Chattanooga, Sr.DL -- Miles Brown, Wofford, So.LB -- Tevin Floyd, The Citadel, Sr.LB -- Nakevion Leslie, Chattanooga, Sr.LB -- Tyson Dickson, Western Carolina, Sr.LB -- Daniel Riddle, Western Carolina, Jr.DB -- Dee Delaney, The Citadel, Jr.DB -- Trey Robinson, Furman, Sr.DB -- Jamerson Blount, Samford, Sr.DB -- Lucas Webb, Chattanooga, Jr.---=First Team Specialists=PK -- Henrique Ribeiro, Chattanooga, Sr.P -- Ian Berryman, Western Carolina, So.RS -- Dane Forlines, VMI, Sr.--=Second Team Offense=QB -- Devlin Hodges, Samford, So.RB -- Tyler Renew, The Citadel, Sr.RB -- Lorenzo Long, Wofford, Sr.OL -- Ryan Bednar, The Citadel, Sr.OL -- Josh Cardiello, Chattanooga, Jr.OL -- Andrew Lewis, VMI, Sr.OL -- Nathan Dalton, Western Carolina, So.OL -- Dequan Miller, Wofford, Sr.TE -- Sam Walker, Mercer, So.WR -- Kelvin McKnight, Samford, So.WR -- Spearman Robinson, Western Carolina, Sr.---=Second Team Defense=DL -- Tosin Aquebor, Mercer, Sr.DL -- Isaiah Buehler, Mercer, So.DL -- Xavier Forrest, Samford, Jr.DL -- Vantrel McMillan, Chattanooga, Sr.LB -- Carl Rider, Furman, Sr.LB -- Ryan Francis, VMI, Jr.LB -- Dylan Weigel, VMI, So.DB -- Cedric Nettles, Chattanooga, Sr.DB -- Fred Payne, Western Carolina, Sr.DB -- Malik Diggs, The Citadel, Sr.DB -- Trey Morgan, Western Carolina, Sr.---=Second Team Specialists=PK -- Logan Howard, Western Carolina, So.P -- Austin Barnard, Samford, Jr.RS -- Chandler Curtis, Mercer, Jr. Wayne Chrebet Jersey . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. LaDainian Tomlinson Jersey . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. http://www.authenticnyjetspro.com/Cj-mosley-jets-jersey/ . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. LaDainian Tomlinson Womens Jersey . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Keyshawn Johnson Jets Jersey .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St.Barry Cowan believes players no longer fear Rafael Nadal following the Spaniards latest setback on the ATP Tour. Nadal loses to Cuevas Report as world number five suffers semi-final defeat Nadal has suffered semi-final defeats in each of the last two ATP events, both on his favoured clay surface, but after losing to talented Dominic Thiem at the Argentina Open, it was defeat to seasoned campaigner Pablo Cuevas at the Rio Open that should set alarm bells ringing.Cowan claimed last week that Nadal needed to win in Rio to rebuild his shattered confidence but rather than a morale-boosting fortnight on the red dirt, the world No 5 has been left with more questions to answer after a first-round exit to Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open For me this is his toughest test as a tennis player. Is he going to come out of it? said Cowan.A year ago I said yes, I felt that great things were there for Rafa. Five in the world is no disaster but we are judging him on winning Slams and going through clay court seasons without even losing a match or even coming close to losing a match, but at the moment he is a long long way off that.For Rafa I really really worry that he is losing his nerve. At no stage on Saturday did he look confident, even when he won that first set. He keeps doubting himself. Whether he has lost a half yard of pace and thats affecting him, I think its more that hes lacking self belief and he is second guessing himself. Rafael Nadals opponents arent afraid to play him anymore - according to Sky tennis expert Barry Cowan It is sad to see a great player and a great champion struggle as much aas he is at the moment.dddddddddddd.While world No 1 Novak Djokovic prepares to return at this weeks Dubai Championships, live on Sky Sports, after his triumph in Melbourne, Cowan believes 11-time Grand Slam champion Nadals dip coincides with some of the brightest prospects in the game now beginning to fulfil their potential.At the moment when you look at the game as a whole, there is a bit of a shift going on, added Cowan. Dominic Thiem is one of the new breed that do not fear fading Nadal Djokovic is head and shoulders above the rest, Andy has started the year playing superbly in the Australian Open. Roger [Federer] is injured at the moment and Nadal...there are massive question marks over.Then there is this young crop who week-by-week are starting to win titles - it was Dominic Thiem a week ago. [Nick] Kyrgios won his first title and didnt lose serve all week.It has been a good couple of weeks for the next generation of stars on the ATP Tour, Nick Kyrgios winning his maiden title in Marseille over the weekend, after Thiem claimed the Argentina Open having ousted Nadal in the last four - and Cowan believes the young guns are now playing without fear, including against Nadal. Nadal: More work needed Rafa Nadal reflects on another early exit I felt it was a tournament Rafa had to win and he didnt but it was just what happened and the way the scenarios built up through the week, said Cowan.At no stage on Saturday did he [Cuevas] have doubts about being able to cross the finish line and this is an old campaigner - what about the younger breed, the Kyrgios of the world, they are not going to fear playing Nadal because its about Nadal now, not Nadal five years ago.Rafa won so many of his matches on clay before he even walked onto the court, players didnt believe they could beat him but now players like Cuevas, who is 30 years of age, believes he can. Kyrgios victorious in France Aussie ace claims maiden ATP crown Also See: Kyrgios victorious in France Nadal crashes out in Rio Sky Live: Dubai Championships More work needed, says Nadal ' ' '