Aug. 04– The defending champions of the Northern Sun were picked to finish second in the 2006 Preseason NSIC Football Coaches Poll as announced by the league office. The Golden Bears received one first place vote and 77 points overall and only trailed Winona State, who received the maximum of 90 points and nine first place votes.

Last season, the Golden Bears upended the Warriors 35-21 in the Metrodome Football Classic to secure a co-conference championship with WSU as both teams finished 6-1 in league play. The win for the Bears earned them a berth to compete in their second Mineral Water Bowl game in three seasons.

The Bears edged out Northern State, who finished third in the poll with 75 points followed by Bemidji State with 63 and Wayne State with 60 to round out the top five.

The Bears are picked second in the league for the second consecutive season and they have been picked fourth or higher every year since 2002.