The Colorado School of Mines football team was picked to finish fourth out of nine teams in the 2006 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Poll announced July 7 at the RMAC Football Media Day in Colorado Springs.
In addition, CSM had four players chosen to the Preseason All-RMAC Team.
Earning the honors were senior running back Bryan Florendo (Crete, Neb./Crete), junior kicker Aaron Abel (Cheyenne, Wyo./East), senior linebacker Danny Sprague (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge) and senior defensive lineman Charles Yarbrough (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain).
Fort Lewis was picked to win the conference as it totaled 14 points and four first place votes. The Skyhawks also boasted the RMAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Matt Gutierrez, as well as the Preseason Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Year in defensive back and punt returner Reed Duvall.
FLC was followed in the poll by 2005 RMAC champion, Nebraska-Kearney, which totaled 21 points and four first place votes. Chadron State received the final two first place votes and finished third with 22 points.
CSM garnered 24 points to finish fourth and was followed by Adams State (36), Mesa State (38), New Mexico Highlands and Western New Mexico (55) and Western State (58).