By Tim Glon

Ohio Northern was selected to finish fourth in both the coaches and media polls at the 2012 Ohio Athletic Conference Football Media Day Wednesday afternoon at the Hilton Double Tree Hotel.

The Polar Bears received 234 votes from 31 media members in attendance to finish fourth in the media poll and received 54 points in the coaches poll.

Coaches could not vote for their own team in their poll.

Mount Union was voted atop both each poll, receiving 81 points and nine first place votes in the coaches poll and 309 points and 30 first place votes in the media poll.

Baldwin Wallace and Heidelberg tied for second in the coaches poll with 66 points, with BW receiving the 10th first place vote.

In the media poll, Baldwin Wallace was second with 250 points and one first place vote and Heidelberg was third with 236 points.

"The poll results usually follow closely the final standings from last year," ONU head coach Dean Paul said. "We probably have only earned a fourth place ranking based on what we have done on the field. But we feel very good about our team this year and will use this as motivation for our players to have an outstanding season."

The Polar Bears went 6-4 overall in 2011 and posted their 15th consecutive upper division OAC Regular Season finish with a 5-4 mark, ending the year in a three-way toe for fourth place with John Carroll and Capital.

Coaches Poll

Rank School                Points
1. Mount Union (9)         81
2. Baldwin Wallace (1)   66
Heidelberg                     66
4. Ohio Northern           54
5. Capital                      42
6. John Carroll               41
7. Otterbein                   38
8. Muskingum               28
9. Marietta                    24
10. Wilmington              10

Media Poll

Rank School              Points
1. Mount Union (30)     309
2. Baldwin Wallace (1)  250
Heidelberg                    235
4. Ohio Northern            234
5. John Carroll               172
6. Capital                      148
7. Otterbein                   143
8. Muskingum                98
9. Marietta                     84
10. Wilmington               31