(CLEVELAND, Ohio) - Capital University's football team was selected second by the media and third by the coaches in preseason voting at the 2008 Ohio Athletic Conference Football Media Day Tuesday.
The Crusaders earned 222 points from the media and 64 points in the coaches poll, as well as a first place vote by the coaches. Mount Union was picked first in both polls, garnering 266 points and 25 first place votes from the media and 80 points and eight first place votes from the coaches.
Capital, which finished the 2007 season with an 8-3 record and a third consecutive appearance in the NCAA playoffs, returns 47 letterwinners and 16 starters this fall. Ten starters are back on offense, including quarterback Marty Assmann (Columbus/Bishop Hartley), receivers Derick Alexander (Grove City/Grove City), Mando Ancona (Johnstown/Northridge) and Evan Blake (Kingston/Logan Elm), and linemen Rodney Cyrus (Ashville/Teays Valley) and Chad Davis (Grandview Heights/Grandview Heights).
The defense, which ranked second in the nation last year, brings back five starters, including All-OAC safeties CJ Steele (Hilliard/Bishop Watterson) and Ronnie Smith (Columbus/Desales), as well as linebackers Pete Ankrom (Springfield/Springfield North), Brett Welch (Marietta/Marietta), Eric Andriacco (Cincinnati/Elder) and Matt Heagen (New Concord/John Glenn).
The Crusaders were ranked seventh in both the 2008 USA Today Sports Weekly Preseason Poll and D3football.com poll, eighth in the Lindy's Preseason Poll, and No. 14 according to the Sporting News Preseason Poll. The team kicks off its season at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 against Adrian (Mich.) College at Bernlohr Stadium. 
Coaches Poll
1. Mount Union (80) - 8 first place votes
2. Ohio Northern (68) - 1 first place vote
3. Capital (64) - 1 first place vote
T4. John Carroll (50)
T4. Otterbein (50)
6. Baldwin-Wallace (49)
7. Heidelberg (36)
8. Wilmington (21)
9. Marietta (19)
10. Muskingum (13)
Media Poll
1. Mount Union (266) - 25 first place votes
2. Capital (222)
3. Ohio Northern (217)
4. John Carroll (184)
5. Baldwin-Wallace (170) - 2 first place votes
6. Otterbein (133)
7. Heidelberg (120)
8. Wilmington (71)
9. Muskingum (53)
10. Marietta (49)