After another record-breaking 9-2 season for the Emporia State football team, the 2014 MIAA Pre-season Media Day polls have put them in the #4 spot in the Media Poll and #4 in the Coaches Poll. The stream, released Aug. 5, had ESU sitting behind Northwest Missouri and Pittsburg State for the one and two spots in both polls.  

A lot of familiar faces will be back on the field for the Hornets with 21 returning players. Five defensive starters and four offensive starters, including starting junior quarterback Brent Wilson and senior receiver Austin Willis, both second-team All-MIAA picks last season, are set to return to the Hornet lineup. 

The team’s schedule was released early this summer and has the Hornets starting off the year with a home opener against Missouri Southern on Thursday, Sept. 4. The eleven-game lineup has the Hornets at home for five weeks. 

Training camp started last Monday, and the first practice was the following Tuesday. The Hornets have a busy first semester and have kicked off the 2014 season with a Monday Night Football Jam that took place on Aug. 18. Football Media Monday will be Aug. 25. The Applebee’s Fall Sports Autograph Day will be Sept. 3. 

Practices are open and free to the general public for those who want to check out the nationally-ranked Hornet football team before the season opens.