So you want to be among the best in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference?

You better be among the best in the country.

During the past 15 years alone, nine PSAC schools have competed in 52 NCAA Division II playoff games, nine semifinal games and three national championship games.

Last year, four PSAC teams made the Division II playoffs for the first time in league history. Seven of the top 35 active Division II coaches in career winning percentage are in the PSAC, including six of the top 13 in career wins nationally.

"With 14 schools and 22 sports, we're one of the biggest conferences in the country," PSAC commissioner Steve Murray said. "And we're one of the best."

Edinboro is picked to win the PSAC West by a preseason poll of the league's coaches. The Fighting Scots shared the league title with Shippensburg and Indiana (Pa.) last year and are predicted to finish in the top 10 nationally by most national publications."A lot of that stuff is based on last year," Edinboro coach Lou Tepper said. "But if we play well, we can beat anybody on our schedule."What we've been able to do the past two years is not get upset by anybody. Our losses have been to either Division I-A schools or national-level Division II teams."The Scots return six starters on offense, including Knoch graduate and preseason All-American senior Greg Bzorek at tackle. Younger brother Josh, a redshirt freshman, will start at the other tackle.Senior quarterback Justin Bouch threw for 2,281 yards and 20 touchdowns.Freeport graduate Bobby Woods, a receiver on the roster last year, had shoulder surgery recently and will not play this year.Eight defensive starters return, including PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year Seth Fragale at outside linebacker. He had 100 tackles last year, including 15 tackles for loss.Three other Butler County products are on the roster. Tight end Josh Wachter of Butler and inside linebacker Josh Fiscus of Karns City figure to be redshirted as freshmen. Offensive tackle Scot Christie of Karns City is a 6-foot-4, 295-pound redshirt freshman."Our program's made big strides the past few years," Tepper said. "When we won at IUP in 2003, I thought that was the turnaround game for the program."Edinboro has been to the Division II playoffs the past two years and won its first playoff game since 1990 last year.

The Vulcans appear loaded with 11 starters back on offense and 10 on defense.Antoine Bagwell, a senior this year, was PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year last fall, rushing for 1,765 yards and 20 touchdowns."We need to find more balance this year and not rely on the running game so much," Bagwell said. "Our goal this year is to become more versatile.""Our play at quarterback will dictate our success," coach John Luckhardt said. "We have a few candidates there and we need to get consistent play out of that position."Matt Humbert and Joe Ruggiero both saw time at quarterback. Cecil Howard is a transfer from Syracuse University and Greg Dapper, a junior, returns from injury."Cecil can play a number of positions," Luckhardt said. "Believe me, we'll get him on the field."Leading tackler Lloyd Price (66 tackles, 40 solos) returns to anchor the defense at linebacker."

The Indians have won or shared the PSAC West title five straight years, but have missed the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1987."We only have four seniors," IUP coach Frank Cignetti said. "This is the youngest team I've had in all my (19) years here."Only five starters return on both sides of the ball. Tailback Chris Morgan gained 950 yards and scored eight TDs a year ago and is the only returnee at a skilled position.Three freshmen, North Allegheny product Andrew Krewatch, Thomas Jefferson product Brad Dawson and Jordan Parr of Williamsport, are vying for the quarterback spot."This is a sophomore-junior football team," Cignetti said. "We're very young at wide receiver, quarterback and linebacker, three critical positions."

The Red Raiders earned a share of the league title for the first time since 1988 and reached the playoffs for the first time since 1991, but they return only three starters on offense and defense.Tailback Walter Crump rushed for 681 yards a year ago, and quarterback Tony Gomez threw for 1,564 yards and seven TDs.Cornerback Brent Grimes had seven interceptions and strong safety Josh Sharbaugh had 70 tackles and three picks last year.

The Golden Eagles return five starters on their offensive line, including tight end Dan Tucker, and nine starters defensively.Free safety Bo Busch had 119 tackles last year and linebacker Matt Morris had 17 tackles for loss, tops among all PSAC West returnees.

The Bald Eagles are the only team in the West with a new head coach, as John Klacik comes over from Division I-AA Youngstown State.Klacik inherits a team with eight returning starters on offense, including standout receiver Rafael Smith (37 catches for 502 yards). Sophomore safety David Show paced Lock Haven with 79 tackles from his safety position.Danny Hagerman has 17 career field goals, including nine last year, and was perfect on all 18 PAT attempts in 2004.