Football | 7/17/2023 4:18:00 PM
ROANOKE, Va. (July 20) – Shaw is picked to finish fourth in the CIAA and second in the Southern Division for the 2023 season as voted on by the conference's head football coaches. The Predicted Order of Finish was announced Thursday during CIAA Football Media Day at the Holiday Inn Roanoke-Tanglewood.
The CIAA coaches foresee the Bears bouncing back from last year's 4-6 overall record and 4-4 CIAA mark. HBCU Gameday agrees.
The Bears are tied for ninth in the HBCU Gameday Division II Preseason Poll. A perennial Southern Division contender under Head Coach Adrian Jones, Shaw returns 39 lettermen including 16 starters.
The Bears kick off the season Sept. 2 against Benedict in Columbia, S.C., at 6 p.m. Their home opener is Sept. 9 against Virginia Union at Durham County Stadium starting at 1 p.m.
Below is the 2023 CIAA Predicted Order of Finish:
- Fayetteville State
- Bowie State
- Virginia Union
- Shaw
- Virginia State
- Johnson C. Smith
- Winston-Salem State
- Elizabeth City State
- Bluefield State
- Lincoln (Pa.)
- Livingstone
- Saint Augustine's
Northern Division
1. Bowie State
2. Virginia Union
3. Virginia State
4. Elizabeth City State
5. Bluefield State
6. Lincoln (Pa.)
Southern Division
1. Fayetteville State
2. Shaw
3. Johnson C. Smith
4. Winston-Salem State
5. Livingstone
6. St. Augustine's
