By unanimous votes, Northwest Missouri State is the favorite in the MIAA football preseason polls
The Bearcats, defending NCAA Division II champion and four-time defending MIAA champion, received nine of 10 first-place votes in the coaches’ poll. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their team, and Bearcats head coach Mel Tjeerdsma voted Washburn No. 1.
In addition, Northwest Missouri received all 33 first-place votes in the media poll.
The polls were announced Monday as the conference’s Football Kickoff Weekend at the Downtown Marriott in Kansas City, Mo.
Missouri Southern was picked eighth in both polls. The Lions, 3-7 overall a year ago and 3-6 in league play to share seventh place with Pittsburg State, had 26 points in the coaches’ poll, three behind Fort Hays State. The Lions had 94 points in the media poll, 54 behind Fort Hays State.
“The poll looked about right, based on recent history,” Lions head coach Bart Tatum said. “Northwest will be very tough, although I suspect a few teams in the league will give them a run for their money.
“We’re (picked) about where we finished a year ago. I’m very happy with where we’re at. It’s just a poll. We’re going to be better than people think.”
The Lions return seven offensive and 11 defensive starters among 57 lettermen. Two of the 11 defensive returnees started in 2008 but missed last season because of injury.
Tatum expects approximately 125 players to report on Wednesday, and the first practice is scheduled for Thursday. The roster will include 40 to 45 first-year players, Tatum said.
The Lions open their season Aug. 26 at home against Minnesota State-Moorhead.
Pittsburg State’s season opener comes two days later at future MIAA opponent Central Oklahoma.
The Gorillas, who report to camp on Friday, are sixth in both polls, just one point behind fifth-place Central Missouri in the coaches’ poll and 51 points behind the Mules in the media poll.
Pittsburg State returns seven starters and 37 lettermen from last year’s 5-6 team. Tim Beck moves up from offensive coordinator to become the Gorillas’ head coach.
“I wasn’t sure where we would be, but this doesn’t surprise me,” Beck said. “You look at all the teams ranked above us and how they did and all the players they have coming back, they deserve to be where they’re at.
“That’s just part of it. That’s the strength of the MIAA.”
Beck is one of three new head coaches in the league, joining Gregg Nesbitt at Truman State and Jim Svoboda at Central Missouri.
The only differences between the preseason polls came in second through fourth places.
Nebraska-Omaha took second in the coaches poll, followed by Washburn and Missouri Western. The media poll had Washburn second, Missouri Western third and UNO fourth.
Last season Missouri Western, Washburn, UNO and Central Missoui finished in a four-way tie for second in the league at 6-3. Missouri Western defeated Augustana (S.D.) 34-21 in the Mimeral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Mo., and UNO lost to West Texas A&M 31-25 in the inaugural Kanza Bowl in Topeka.
The final six spots were identical in both rankings. Central Missouri was fifth, followed by Pittsburg State, Fort Hays State, Missouri Southern, Emporia State and Truman State.
Sports
August 2, 2010
National champion Bearcats unanimous favorite in MIAA
-
-
Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
-
- Pittsburg State Sports
-
- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
-
-
Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
-
