SEC Coaches Pick Tide as Preseason Favorites
2/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ?? After receiving recognition as a top-five team last week in both of the nation’s softball preseason polls, the University of Alabama softball team earned another preseason honor by being selected as the favorite to win the Southeastern Conference by the league’s coaches in their preseason poll.
The Tide, who went 55-10 last season and finished third in the SEC, received eight of 11 votes for the overall champion after being selected to win the SEC West division. Florida received two overall first-place votes and LSU got one.
In the West division, Alabama was selected first over the defending champions from LSU. Mississippi State was chosen for third, with Auburn, Ole Miss and Arkansas rounding out the division. Florida was selected to win the East, followed by Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky.
Alabama returns nine starters and 13 letterwiners from last year’s squad that advanced to the NCAA Super Regional, one of five league teams to do so. Three All-Americans, Lauren Parker, Chrissy Owens and Brittany Rogers, are also back for Murphy and his staff.
The Tide opens the regular season on Friday, Feb. 8 against South Alabama. The SEC opener is set for March 8 at the Alabama Softball Facility when UA hosts Tennessee, who advanced to the NCAA Women’s College World Series finals last year.
SEC Coaches Preseason Poll
Conference Champion: Alabama (8), Florida (2), LSU (1)
Eastern Division:
1. Florida (11 points)
2. Tennessee (19 points)
3. Georgia (29 points)
4. South Carolina (35 points)
5. Kentucky (46 points)
Western Division:
1. Alabama (11 points)
2. LSU (19 points)
3. Mississippi State (33 points)
4. Auburn (35 points)
5. Ole Miss (48 points)
