By Corey J. Corbin

Allied News Sports Editor

LATROBE — The world of football is full of jinxes.

There’s the Sports Illustrated jinx; there’s the Madden Football curse; and the least famous one of all — but just as bad — the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Media Day jinx.

The first two are well documented nationally, but the PAC jinx is becoming just as well known regionally.

In each of the past five years, the PAC football team picked to win the conference by the conference’s coaches, sports information directors and media personnel has failed to win the conference.

Consider that good news for Grove City, Thiel and Westminster colleges and not so good news for defending conference titlist Washington and Jefferson, who return 44 letterwinners from a 10-2 team.

The Presidents, who advanced to the Division III second round in 2006 and finished conference play unde- feated at 6-0, easily outdistanced Waynesburg 196-148 in voting at the conference’s media day in Saint Vincent College’s Westmoreland Room Tuesday afternoon.

Rounding out the conference were Thiel (147), Thomas More (115), Grove City (73), Bethany (68) and Westminster (67).

“We are honored to be selected as the preseason favorite, but the last four preseason poll leaders have not won the title, including us twice,” W&J fifth year coach Mike Sirianni said. “We are going to work hard starting in a few weeks and we hope the voting is correct at the end of the season.”

Coming off a 5-5 season, the Thiel Tomcats could contend for the conference title if its offensive line gels early and sophomore quarterback Willie Bova utilizes his full potential.

Thiel returns just two experienced blockers for running backs senior Steve Minton (537 yards and six touchdowns) and junior Danny Hess (445 yards and five scores).

“We’re young up front and looking to solidify the quarterback position,” said Thiel coach Jack Leipheimer, who returns 16 starters and 29 letterwinners from 2006. “We have a chance to be solid offensively if the offensive line grows up early. It’s no secret we’re counting on Steve and Danny to carry the load for us offensively this fall. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have than those two.”

The Grove City College Wolverines return 12 starters — six apiece both offensively and defensively — and 28 letterwinners for its 113th year of competition under 24th year head coach Chris Smith.