PETERSBURG, Va. -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association announced its Pre-season All-CIAA Football Team and Predicted Order of Finish at the Football Press Conference and Luncheon, Thursday afternoon.

This year's press conference featured the 2008 season theme, "Conference of the Quarterbacks." Several of the returning quarterbacks for this season were in attendance and held interviews with the media.

Nine starting quarterbacks return including Harlon Hill Candidate (Division II Most Valuable Player Award) Lamar Little of Virginia Union who has amassed 4103 passing yards and 51 TDs over his illustrious career.

The versatile quarterback has also rushed for 1138 yards and 20 TDs in just two seasons. With so many outstanding returning quarterbacks like VUU’s Little, the level of play should be as high as any conference in college football.

The 2008 CIAA Football Championship Game will return to Durham and Durham County Stadium on Saturday, November 8. The Championship Game enjoyed its greatest success in the Bull City having hosted six of the eight Championships that have been played since the Game was resurrected in 2000.

The 2007 Season was an exciting one culminating in the first overtime CIAA Championship Game ever. In Charlotte, Shaw upset favorite Virginia Union, 31-24 in double overtime, to win its first title since its 2004 upset of then two-time defending champ Fayetteville State.

Subsequently, both Shaw and Virginia Union were invited to postseason play. Shaw was defeated in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs by Delta State.

Virginia Union fell short in its furious fourth quarter rally against eventual Black College National Champ Tuskegee. The Panthers dropped a heartbreaking 58-51 defeat to the Golden Tigers in the Pioneer Bowl.

“We look forward to the Football Championship returning to Durham in November. The City of Durham has been the host of some of the most exciting Championship Games and we expect the 2008 version to be no different,” Commissioner Leon Kerry said.

“The Championship Game has been great for our fans who have watched the game all over the country, whether at the stadium or on television.”

“The Stadium Authority and the County of Durham are extremely happy that the CIAA has chosen Durham County Memorial Stadium as the site of their 2008 Championship Game,” Durham County Stadium Authority Chairman Tommy Hunt said. “Durham County Stadium hopes their choice of Durham County will be an ongoing relationship.”

The All-CIAA Pre-Season Team and Predicted Order of Finish are listed below:

Western Division

1. Shaw University

2. Fayetteville State University

3. Saint Augustine's College

4. Johnson C. Smith University

5. Livingstone College

6. Chowan University

Eastern Division

1. Virginia Union University

2. Elizabeth City State University

3. Bowie State University

4. Virginia State University

5. Saint Paul's College

2008 CIAA Preseason Football Team

Offense

Defense