July 25, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Samford senior free safety Cortland Finnegan was named to the preseason All-Conference team for the Ohio Valley Conference when the league released its preseason All-Conference team Monday at its annual Football Media Day at The Coliseum in Nashville.

Finnegan was named first-team All-Conference each of the last two seasons, and he was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year and a third-team All-American in 2003. Finnegan led Samford in tackles in both 2003 and 2004, and he led the team in interceptions in 2003.

The conference also released its preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Samford was picked sixth in the poll with 49 points. Two-time defending champion Jacksonville State was picked to win the conference with 127 points.

Below is a breakdown of the voting for the conference's preseason rankings.

Order of Finish, Points
1. Jacksonville State (15 first-place votes), 127
2. Eastern Kentucky (1 first-place vote), 108
3. Murray State (2 first-place votes), 94
4. Eastern Illinois, 81
5. Tennessee Tech, 72
6. Samford, 49
7. Tennessee State, 47
8. Southeast Missouri, 45
9. Tennessee-Martin, 25