GREENVILLE, S.C. n The Southern Conference’s coaches picked Appalachian State University to win its fourth-straight SoCon championship and named 12 Mountaineers preseason all-conference, the league office announced on Wednesday at the annual SoCon Football Rouser.

Appalachian was a unanimous choice of its rival conference coaches to win the 2008 SoCon title, receiving 8-of-9 first-place votes (coaches may not vote for their own team) in the preseason poll.

The three-time-defending NCAA Division I national champion was followed in the preseason SoCon poll by Elon (which received the other first-place vote), 2008 conference co-champion Wofford, Georgia Southern, Furman, The Citadel, Chattanooga, Western Carolina and league newcomer Sanford.

The 12 Apps on the preseason all-conference team are highlighted junior quarterback Armanti Edwards, the coaches’ selection for preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and senior linebacker Pierre Banks, the coaches’ preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Ten of the 12 Mountaineers tabbed as preseason all-SoCon honorees are first-team selections: Edwards, junior running back Devon Moore senior offensive lineman Brad Coley, junior offensive lineman Mario Acitelli), wide receiver CoCo Hillary, junior defensive end Tony Robertson, junior defensive tackle Anthony Williams, Banks, senior defensive back Lenoard Love and Hillary, who also earned first-team recognition as a return specialist. Junior linebacker Jacque Roman and junior defensive back Cortez Gilbert are second-team preseason all-conference selections.

Appalachian opens the 2008 season on Aug. 30 at defending Bowl Championship Series national champion LSU and kicks off defense of its three-straight SoCon titles on Oct. 4 versus The Citadel.