MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois University was predicted to finish fourth the Gateway Football Conference race, according to the 2005 preseason poll released at today?s Gateway Media Day in St. Louis. Southern Illinois was picked to repeat at conference champions, followed by Western Kentucky and UNI. Missouri State fell one slot behind Western, followed by Youngstown State and Illinois State, while Indiana State was predicted to finish eighth. ?The Gateway is so competitive, it really doesn?t matter where you are picked,? remarked head coach Don Patterson. ?We?ve won our titles or shared our titles when we?ve been picked fourth or fifth. It does give you a little extra motivation, but it?s a preseason poll and it doesn?t mean much more than that. We?re comfortable with where we?re picked.?The Leathernecks were picked fourth in both the 2002 and 2004 preseason polls, winning a share of the Gateway title in 2002 and ending the 2004 season in a tie for fifth place. Western has finished at or higher than its prediction in 14 of the league?s 19 preseason polls since 1986.Running back Travis Glasford (Miami, Fla./Southridge), offensive lineman Perry Cox (Carrollton, Texas/Newman Smith) and linebacker Wyatt Green (Burnside, Ill./Carthage) were named to the Gateway Preseason All-Conference Team while wide receiver Reggie Gray (Chicago, Ill./Morton Park) earned honorable mention status. All four players are entering their fourth season with the Leathernecks.