VERMILLION - The University of South Dakota football team continued its opening week of practice with a two-hour session on the practice field east of the DakotaDome on Monday afternoon. The Coyotes donned full pads for the first time this fall.

"Our guys are practicing hard," USD head coach Ed Meierkort said. "I thought offensively we are a little behind where we should be, but defensively we are quite a bit further ahead than I thought we would be."

Meierkort noted that several Coyotes on the defensive side of the ball have practiced well so far, including the defensive backs.

"The kids are very aggressive," he said. "The secondary is covering well. Shane Potter makes a big difference back there and Jim Thompson is playing much better."

The Coyotes have their first two-a-day practice sessions on Tuesday, as the squad will practice 15 times in the next 10 days before receiving their first day off on Aug. 29.

"You just try to mix it up as much as you can," Meierkort said. "It is a necessary evil. We could have been here a week earlier than we were, but I would rather have a fresh team than a real tired team."

USD opens its season at home against William Penn on Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. MDT.

Coyote football team picked third in Great West Conference Coaches Poll: The University of South Dakota football team has been picked to finish third in the Great West Conference in a vote of the league's coaches, the conference announced Monday.

The Coyotes, who finished 6-5 overall and 1-2 in the Great West Conference (tied for third), received 12 points in the preseason poll.

Defending champion Cal Poly is picked to repeat in 2009 after receiving 24 points, followed by UC Davis (20 points). Cal Poly was 8-3 in 2008 and advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs. The team returns 13 starters and four specialists for first-year coach Tim Walsh.

UC Davis is picked second after earning one first-place vote. The team returns 16 starters and six specials for Coach Bob Biggs, who is in his 17th year at the school.

The Coyotes return 58 lettermen, including 15 starters and two specialists. Head coach Ed Meierkort enters his sixth season with USD and led the Coyotes to a 6-5 record a year ago. South Dakota hosts William Penn on Sept. 3 to open its 2009 campaign.

Rounding out the poll are North Dakota and Southern Utah at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, with 10 and nine points.

UND return nine starters and one specialist for head coach Chris Mussman, who guided the Sioux to a 6-4 mark in his first year in 2008.

Southern Utah improved to 4-7 after a winless 2007 season. Ed Lamb returns for his second season at the school.

The first game for the 2009 GWC championship will be held on Oct. 3 when North Dakota hosts South Dakota in the Fighting Sioux's homecoming game.

2009 Great West Conference Preseason Football Poll

First place votes in parentheses

1. Cal Poly (4) 24 pts.

2. UC Davis (1) 20 pts.

3. South Dakota 12 pts.

4. North Dakota 10 pts.

5. Southern Utah 9 pts.