Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University football team is the number 19 team in the d2football.com top 25 pre-season poll, officials announce this week. The Bulldogs were number 14 team in the AFCA top 25 pre-season poll. Two Bulldogs receive pre-season All-American laurels from d2football.com: redshirt senior offensive lineman Mike Arndt (Matthews, N.C.) and redshirt junior safety Robert Fletcher (Lancaster, S.C.). Wingate redshirt senior quarterback Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.) was named a pre-season All-American by the Collegiate Development Football League (CDFL) and the D2vsNAIA Senior Bowl selection committee.
Mike Arndt is a three-year starter on the Bulldog offensive line (right tackle). In 2010, the Bulldogs were second in the South Atlantic Conference in passing offense (332.7 yards per game) and total offense (443.3 yards per game). The Bulldog O-Line helped 2011 graduate Nelson Woods rush for 1000 yards for the third time in his career.
In his three years as a starter, Arndt has blocked for 15 100+ yard performances by Wingate running backs. Arndt has helped the Bulldog offense put up big numbers. In 2009, Wingate averaged 395.3 total offense yards per game. The Bulldogs were second in the SAC in scoring offense (33.6) and passing offense (241.1) following the 2009 season.
Robert Fletcher led the Bulldogs defense with three interceptions in 2010. He was third on the defense with a total of 87 tackles, including 43 solo tackles. He made four tackles for loss and added seven passes defended, four pass break-ups and one fumble recovery on the season.
Earlier this summer, Cody Haffly was named a pre-season honorable mention All-American by Consensus Draft Services (CDS) this week. Haffly was one of 24 candidates in the running for the 2010 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II college football Player of the Year. For the 2010 season, Haffly was 274-of-448 for 3952 yards and 42 touchdowns. He had 300-plus passing yards in nine of his 12 games last season.
A second team All-South Atlantic Conference performer, Haffly earned Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-Super Region 2 second team laurels last year. The “D2vsNAIA Senior Bowl” is a post-season all-star game showcasing the talent of senior players from the NCAA Division II and the NAIA football levels. This bowl game is presented by the Collegiate Development Football League and will be held Dec. 3, 2011 in the New York City-metro area.
For the first time in school history, Wingate (9-3 overall) won the SAC regular season championship and qualified for the NCAA Division II play-offs in 2010. The Bulldogs defeated number 23 Morehouse College 63-41 before falling to number five Albany State University 30-28 in the second round.
In the historic 2010 season, Wingate broke 35 school records on offense and special teams. Offensively, Wingate gained 5,320 yards of total offense and scored 418 points, both school records. The Bulldogs scored 56 touchdowns in 2010, eight more than the previous record.
Wingate opens the 2011 campaign Saturday, Sept. 3, hosting Valdosta State (Ga.) University at 1:30 p.m. The Bulldogs begin SAC play Saturday, Sept. 24, entertaining Brevard College at 1:30 p.m. Wingate’s non-conference slate includes Valdosta State, Albany State (Ga.), UNC Pembroke and North Greenville University. The Bulldogs were picked by the league’s coaches as the pre-season favorite to win the 2011 SAC football regular season title.
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a comprehensive university with more than 2,300 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. The university offers 32 undergraduate majors, 36 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.
Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.
Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past five years.
Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 39 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 48 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.
2011 D2football.com
Pre-season Division II top 25 poll
1. Minnesota-Duluth 15-0
2. Delta State (Miss.) 11-4
3. Abilene Christian (Texas) 11-1
4. Grand Valley State (Mich.) 11-2
5. Northwest Missouri State 12-2
6. Texas A&M-Kingsville 10-2
7. Shepherd (W.Va.) 12-2
8. Central Missouri State 11-3
9. Augustana (S.D.) 11-2
10. Albany State (Ga.) 11-1
11. California (Pa.) 10-2
12. North Alabama 9-4
13. St. Cloud State (Minn.) 10-3
14. Valdosta State (Ga.) 8-3
15. Bloomsburg (Pa.) 10-3
16. West Texas A&M 8-4
17. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 10-3
18. Hillsdale (Mich.) 9-3
19. Wingate 9-3
20. Kutztown (Pa.) 10-2
21. Missouri Western 8-4
22. Washburn (Kan.) 8-4
23. Colorado Mines 9-3
24. Wayne State (Mich.) 9-2
25. Nebraska-Kearney 9-2
