Charlotte, N.C. - Stony Brook University's football team could make a big splash in its first season in the Big South Conference. In a preseason poll of the league's head coaches and media released at the annual Big South Football Media Day, the Seawolves were predicted to finish fourth in the six-team race. In addition, four Seawolves were named to the preseason all-conference teams; junior running back Conte Cuttino (Uniondale, N.Y.), senior wide receiver Lynell Suggs (Bronx, N.Y.), senior defensive lineman Adam Soivilien (Dorchester, Mass.) and senior placekicker Luke Gaddis (East Patchogue, N.Y.).
Coming off a 6-5 campaign as an independent in 2007, head coach Chuck Priore and the Seawolves will begin their first season as members of the Big South on October 11 when they play at preseason favorite Liberty. Stony Brook will play its first home Big South game the next week when it hosts Charleston Southern on October 18. Stony Brook received 38 points in the poll, with Liberty taking the top spot with 77 points.
Cuttino and Suggs led Stony Brook in rushing and receiving respectively last season and will be two important parts of the offense in 2008 for the Seawolves. Cuttino totaled 940 yards as a sophomore and cracked the 100-yard mark four times, including a 204-yard outing at Albany. Suggs set school records with his 75 catches and 962 yards receiving, finishing among the nation's top-20 in both receptions and yards per game.
Soivilien will be one of the mainstays on the Stony Brook defensive front in 2008 after leading the team in tackles (70), tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (3.0). Gaddis was the only placekicker selected for preseason honors after his record setting season in 2007. He hit on 32-of-34 PATs and 10-of-12 field goals, setting a school record with 62 total points. He also matched the school mark with a 47-yard field goal at Youngstown State.
2008 BIG SOUTH PRESEASON FOOTBALL POLL (POINTS)
1. Liberty (77)
2. Coastal Carolina (58)
3. Gardner-Webb (52)
4. Stony Brook (38)
5. Charleston Southern (30)
6. VMI (18)
Big South Football Media Day Quotes
Head coach Chuck Priore
On joining Big South: "We're obviously very excited about joining the Big South. This is a very competitive conference that will present our football program with a great opportunity to compete with some of the top NCAA Football Championship Subdivision programs in the country."
On team: "We have 20 seniors and we're going to rely heavily on their experience. We want to be attack-oriented on both sides on the ball and we're going to try to run the ball and stop the run."
On schedule: "Our schedule is going to be very challenging but I think we're better equipped to handle that this year especially with our increase from 35 to 55 scholarships."
Stony Brook senior offensive lineman Lawrence Lovell
On teams feeling heading into Big South play: "The whole team is excited to be part of a new conference. There is going to be some great competition and we've been working hard all summer to get ready for it."
