LEBANON -– Cumberland University seniors Connor McChurch and Ryan Wood have been voted Third Team on the 20th annual USA Football News Preseason All-American Teams as selected by coaches, sports information directors, certified players' agents, pro scouts, media and staff of USA Football News.

McChurch is one of six returning starters on defense after compiling 83 tackles in 2011, second-most on the club. The senior from Mt. Juliet added eight tackles for loss with three sacks, two pass breakups, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception. The linebacker has registered 153 tackles in 20 career contests on defense for the Bulldogs.

Wood has been a stalwart on the offensive line for CU, starting the last 29 games at four different positions. The senior from Kennesaw Mountain, Ga., has started 24 of those outings at right guard while playing in all 32 career contests at CU.

All members of the Class of 2013 with no remaining college eligibility who have been chosen to the All-American teams are candidates to participate in the 2013 Hansen Bowl – USA Football Holiday Bowl, a four-day, three-night event that is the only post-season football game approved by the NAIA will be held December 14 – 17.

The complete list of Preseason All-Americans may be found at http://www.usacollegefootball.org/naiafb.htm.

Season-opener is Sept. 1
Cumberland opens the 2012 football season in Dyersburg September 1 at Noon against Kansas Wesleyan in the annual Big River Bowl.

Advance tickets are on sale for $10 and all money collected is kept by the University, so fans are encouraged to buy their tickets before making the trip to west Tennessee. Children age five and under are admitted free to the contest but all others must have a ticket.

Fans may purchase tickets by calling Jo Jo Freeman at 615-547-1350 or at the Dallas Floyd Recreation Center on the CU campus from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Tickets may also be purchased during the August 25 scrimmage for the Bulldogs at Nokes-Lasater Field.

For those fans ordering via phone, tickets may be picked up at the Dallas Floyd Recreation Center before August 31 or on the east side of J.C. Sawyers Stadium near parking area and baseball field in Dyersburg from 10:30 a.m. until the Noon kickoff on the day of the game.