CIAA football coaches aren’t yet believers in a resurgence by Livingstone.
Livingstone, 3-7 under coach Daryl Williams last fall for its best record in a decade, was picked sixth in the six-team Southern Division at Thursday’s media day in Durham.
Winston-Salem was picked first. The Rams were followed by Fayetteville State, Shaw, Johnson C. Smith and St. Augustine’s.
The predicted order of finish in the Northern Division: Virginia State, Elizabeth City State, Bowie State, Chowan, Virginia Union, Lincoln.
The preseason All-CIAA team includes Livingstone’s senior linebacker Kenneth White.
Livingstone’s three wins all came on the road last season, including a CIAA victory at Lincoln.
The Blue Bears open the season at Millersville (Pa.) on Thursday, Sept. 4. The first home game is Sept. 20 vs. University of Virginia-Lynchburg.