University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Ranked No. 5 in AP Preseason Poll
August 11, 2002 | Football
Aug. 10, 2002
Complete 2002 AP Preseason Poll
All-Time AP Preseason No. 1 Teams
Tennessee is ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press preseason college football poll relased Saturday. Earlier this month, the Vols were selected No. 4 in the ESPN/USA Today-Coaches Poll.
The defending national champion Miami Hurricanes stand atop the rankings in the AP preseason poll, hoping to become the first team to repeat as champions since Nebraska in 1994-95.
Despite the return of only 10 starters, Miami edged Oklahoma for the top spot by 14 points in voting by the 74 sports writers and broadcasters on the AP panel.
Miami had 27 first-place votes and 1,746 points to Oklahoma's 21 first-place votes and 1,732 points.
"Being voted No. 1 is always a great honor," Miami coach Larry Coker said. "Having the media recognize our program and our returning players as the preseason No. 1 team not only acknowledges our potential but also gives us another reason to try and repeat as national champions."
Rounding out the Top 10 were Florida State at No. 3 with 10 first-place votes, followed by Texas (13 first-place votes), Tennessee (three first-place votes), Florida, Colorado, Georgia, Washington and Nebraska. The Big 12 Conference has four Top-10 teams - Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and Nebraska.
The Vols began last season ranked No. 8 in the AP Preseason Poll and finished the season ranked No. 4 after compiling an 11-2 slate.
Miami also was the No. 1 preseason pick in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, released last week.
Twice before, Miami was No. 1 in the preseason poll - in 1990 and 1992. Both times the Hurricanes were unable to win the title, but they have won five national crowns, the first in 1983.
The first regular-season AP poll will be released on Monday, Aug. 26.
