Coaches poll puts USC 1st, Toledo 35th

7/31/2004

NEW YORK - The University of Toledo was ranked 35th in the nation in the preseason ESPN/USA Today coaches poll with 33 points.

Southern California, which received 49 first-place votes, was picked No. 1 with 1,500 points.

Oklahoma was second with 12 first-place votes and LSU third with five votes for first. Georgia and Miami rounded out the top five.

Michigan placed seventh and Ohio State ninth.

Four other Mid-American Conference schools received mention behind the Rockets -Bowling Green (39th), Miami (41st), Marshall (45th), and Northern Illinois (49th).

Toledo's season-opening opponent, Minnesota, is tied for 23rd with Purdue. The Rockets will battle the Golden Gophers Sept. 4 on ESPN2 at 9 p.m.