LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Central Arkansas is picked to finish third in Southland Conference football this season, a forecast that coach Steve Campbell says the Bears hope to better.
Sam Houston State and McNeese State were picked one-two in polls of SLC head coaches and sports information directors released Wednesday at the conference's Media Day. Sam Houston received 10 first-place votes from the SIDs and nine by the coaches, McNeese getting the other first-place votes in both polls. UCA was picked third, Lamar fourth and Stephen F. Austin fifth.
"We're really excited about this upcoming season," said Campbell, beginning his third season at UCA. "But polls don't really mean anything until the end of the year. Our big deal is we want to be at the top of the conference at the end of the season and get in the NCAA playoffs. Once you make the playoffs, anything is possible.
"The polls are great for the fans to look at and talk about, and they do bring some excitement," Campbell said. "They are fun to look at but they don't really mean anything. Each year is a new season, each season has its own personality and identity. And we'll get to work on Tuesday on trying to solidfy our personality and see where that goes."
The Bears open the season Thursday, Sept. 1 with a conference home game against Houston Baptist. UCA plays its first three games at Estes Stadium in Conway before a Sept. 24 date at Jonesboro against Arkansas State.
UCA went 7-4 last season, winning four in a row before a last-game loss (42-13) to SLC champion Sam Houston State. The Bears went 7-2 in conference games, McNeese State (28-13) and Sam Houston State both winning at Conway.
Campbell outlined some key areas that will allow the Bears to finish at the level they were predicted, or higher.
"We need to stay healthy," he said. "I'm going on my third year and we have not stayed healthy at some key positions either year. I would love to see what we could do with this football team if we can stay healthy. But that's part of it. We've had guys step up for two years when we needed them to.
"And this team needs to mature. We have some guys who need to step into some new roles. And for us to reach the goals we have set, we need for the guys we're counting on to step into those roles, and to do it in a dominating and very productive manner. We have to have some guys break out this year, not just be the same player they were last year. They need to go from a supporting role to a leading role."
Sports on 07/28/2016