Nov. 6, 2005

Allendale, Mich. - #1-ranked Grand Valley State was awarded the number one seed in the NCAA DII Northwest Regional rankings it was announced by the NCAA on ESPN News Sunday afternoon. With the top seed, Grand Valley State will get a first-round bye and play the winner of the Minnesota-Duluth at North Dakota (Nov. 12) game on Saturday, Nov. 19 in Lubbers Stadium. Nebraska-Omaha was awarded the second seed and earned the second bye in the Northwest Region.

"We are excited to be competing in the NCAA playoff for the fifth straight year," said second-year head coach Chuck Martin who owns a 19-3 record as head coach. "This is an exciting time in our football program and we have a roster filled with players who know what it takes to win playoff games," said Martin. "We are also excited to be playing a playoff game in Lubbers Stadium before our vocal students and fans who fill Lubbers Stadium for each and every home game," added Martin.

Grand Valley State is 13-2 in the NCAA Playoffs since the 2001 season with two National Championships (2002-2003) and three title game appearances.

GVSU captured its first GLIAC Championship since 2002 with a 9-0 record. The Lakers' final regular season game of the year versus Michigan Tech which was to have been played on Nov. 5 in Lubbers Stadium, was canceled due to lightning. GVSU led 7-3 in the second quarter when the third stoppage of play forced the game to be called a no contest.

Ticket information for the playoffs can be obtained from the banner on the front page of the Laker athletic (www.gvsulakers.com) web site.