Bridgeport (WV.) – Ahead of their annual Mountain East Conference (MEC) Football Media Day, the MEC released their pre-season football poll, and the Wheeling University Football team was picked to finish seventh in the conference, receiving 55 points.
 
Wheeling played their introductory season in the MEC in 2019 and finished 12th in the standings with a 1-10 record. A team that was comprised mostly of freshman and sophomores battled throughout that first season and ended it on a high note when they defeated Concord University 27-20 for their first win in program history. They followed it up in 2020 by going 2-2 over their four games, including wins over West Liberty University (42-19) and Alderson Broaddus (34-6).
 
The team reported for Training Camp on Sunday, as second-year head coach Zac Bruney leads the team in their third season as members of the MEC. Despite the pandemic, the spring of 2021 allowed the team to grow and develop and saw them set several program records along the way. They broke the single-game scoring record in their game against West Liberty with 42 points and picked up the program's first wins against both West Liberty University and Alderson Broaddus.
 
The theme of this year's camp is to apply pressure to their opponents, which means Bruney will be pushing his players every day. With a lot of competition all over the field this season, it is a chance for the team to go out and compete every day.
 
"We now know what it takes to take that next step in the conference," said Bruney. "We finally do have age & experience, and we are excited to get back out there and compete just like everyone else."
 
Notre Dame College was picked to win the MEC with 10 first-place votes and 119 points overall. They were followed by Charleston (112) and Frostburg State (101) as the top three teams in the MEC poll. The poll rounds out with UNC Pembroke (91), West Virginia State (79), Fairmont State (62), Wheeling (55), Glenville State (54), West Liberty (44), Concord (43), Alderson Broaddus (19), and West Virginia Wesleyan (13).
 
The Wheeling University Cardinals will open their season with non-conference play in week one, when they go on the road to face Seton Hill on September 2nd before returning home for their MEC opener against the MEC Pre-Season Poll's pick to win the conference, Notre Dame College, on September 9th. The Cardinals' home slate features five games at Bishop Schmitt Field with games against Alderson Broaddus (Sept. 18th), West Virginia Wesleyan (Oct. 2nd), and West Liberty (Oct. 23rd).
 
The season kicks off on September 2nd as the Cardinals go on the road to face Seton Hill University, with kick-off scheduled for 7 PM.