WCU favored to win PSAC East

It’s a position Bill Zwaan is comfortable with, but it’s also something the veteran West Chester football coach has experienced many times before.

In a Friday press release by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, the Golden Rams were picked to repeat as the PSAC East champion in a poll of the division head coaches.

“It’s nice to be picked (first) by the other teams,” Zwaan said. “It’s a little target on our back, which is OK. We can deal with it.”

Coming off a 9-4 campaign that included a trip to the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs, WCU returns six all-league recipients and two preseason All-Americans: linebacker Tyler Morrisey and punter Brendan Paulison. In addition, eight of the Rams’ 16 returning starters are on defense.

“I like our team,” Zwaan said. “I think we have a lot of potential. We have a pretty good defensive group, with a lot of guys with a ton of experience.”

West Chester – who has won two division crowns in the last three seasons -- claimed six of the possible seven firstplace votes. Zwaan is entering his 16th season at the helm and 25th overall as a collegiate head coach.

“I feel pretty good about where we could go, but being picked number one means nothing,” Zwaan acknowledged. “It means we now have to go out there and do it.

“I like our kids’ attitudes so far in the off-season and I am excited about getting camp started.”

The Rams open the 2018 slate on Aug. 30 at Bentley (Mass.) University.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA West Chester head coach Bill Zwaan knows the Golden Rams will have a target on their back when they open the season August 30 at Bentley.