The Case Western Reserve University football team has been selected as a co-favorite in the 2012 University Athletic Association Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Spartans have won four of the past five UAA Championships, including last season.

Washington University, runner-up in 2011, received one first-place vote, while the Spartans received two. The University of Chicago picked up the other first-place vote and tied for third in the poll with Carnegie Mellon University.

“Our goals for the season always begin with winning the UAA,” said ninth-year Head Coach Greg Debeljak. “The competition level within the conference has developed into the toughest during my time here, and we know it’s crucial to be at our very best for each game. As we’ve seen in the past several years, it only takes a few plays during key moments to determine whether a team goes 3-0 or 0-3 in the UAA.”

In addition to four UAA Championships in five seasons, the Spartans (9-1 overall, 3-0 UAA in 2011) boast an overall record of 48-6 during that span. Of the 27 lettermen back from last year’s group, Case returns five starters on offense, seven on defense, and one on special teams.

The Spartans open the season on the road on Saturday, Sept. 1, versus Marietta College at 7 p.m. at Don Drumm Stadium.