NORMAL – Already picked third to finish in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division, the Bulldogs were chosen ninth in the 2013 Boxtorow FCS HBCU Preseason football coaches' poll.
AAMU, which went 7-4 last season, losing four of its last five after starting out 6-0. The Maroon & White lost more than 20 seniors from their 2012 squad, including four-year starter quarterback Deaunte Mason and running back Kaderius Lacey, the school's all-time leading rusher.
"The motivation is the same every year, to be the best whether we're picked first or picked last," Jones said. "Every time you step out on the field you want to compete to be the best.
"You're going to use anything you can for fuel because different things motivate different people," he continued. "You use an array of things to motivate your entire team. You hope along the way that some of these things touch some guys. Of course, this (prediction) will be used. But I'm not surprised, considering the number of games that we've lost."
The Bulldogs are 19 days away from their season opener vs. Grambling State, August 31st.
For more information on the Alabama A&M soccer team, visit aamusports.com. Fans can also find the Bulldogs on Twitter at @aamubulldogs or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Alabama-AM-Bulldogs.
Other facts about the Boxtorow FCS HBCU Coaches poll:
-No team that has started the season No.1 has finished the season atop the poll.
-Despite not finishing in the top 10 last year, South Carolina State is the only team that has been in all five preseason polls. The No. 10 ranking is also the Bulldogs lowest preseason ranking.
-This is the first year that Grambling, Florida A&M, Norfolk State, nor Hampton are in the preseason poll.
-This marks the first year that North Carolina Central, Howard, and North Carolina A&T are in the preseason poll.
- Bethune-Cookman's margin of 19 poll points on No. 2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff is the biggest preseason lead for No. 1 since South Carolina State's 24-point edge on Prairie View A&M heading into the 2010 season.
The Boxtorow HBCU FCS coaches' poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW and is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches.
2013 Boxtorow FCS HBCU Preseason Football Coaches Poll
Rank School W-L Pts. Previous Rank
1. Bethune-Cookman (10) 9-3 160 2
2. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (5) 10-2 141 1
3. Tennessee State (2) 8-3 140 3
4. Alabama State 7-4 97 6
T-5 Jackson State 7-5 89 4
T-5 North Carolina A&T 7-4 89 5
7. North Carolina Central 6-5 42 10
8. Howard 7-4 41 7
9. Alabama A&M 7-4 33 8
10. South Carolina State 5-6 32 NR
Others receiving votes: Delaware State (6-5) 31, Southern (4-7) 11,
Florida A&M (4-7) 9, Savannah State (1-10) 7, Alcorn State (4-7) 5,
Mississippi Valley State (5-6) 2, Prairie View A&M (3-8) 2, Hampton (3-7)
