Photo from a game between Northwest Missouri State and Truman State (courtesy Bearcat Athletics)

Photo from a game between Northwest Missouri State and Truman State (courtesy Bearcat Athletics)

Defending MIAA Co-Champion Northwest Missouri received 36 first place votes between two polls as they topped both the coaches and media poll for 2015. MIAA Co-Champion Pittsburg State earned 17 first place votes between the two polls as they finished second in both the media and coaches poll.

The polls could not agree in the third place spot as Central Missouri edged Central Oklahoma by just one point for third place in the coaches poll while the Bronchos were third for the media. Missouri Western racked up 350 points to be picked fourth by the media while UCM was six points behind them in the fifth spot in the media poll with the Griffons earning the fifth spot in the coaches opinion.

Sixth place was agreed upon by both polls as Fort Hays State earned 284 points from the media and 71 points from the coaches. Their was a tie in the poll for the coaches at seventh place as Turnpike Tussle Rivals Emporia State and Washburn each earned 59 points. In the media poll the Hornets edged the Ichabods by just 13 points.

Earning the ninth spot in both polls was Nebraska-Kearney grabbing 39 points from the coaches and 153 points from the media. Lindenwood earned the tenth spot in the coaches poll ahead of the 11th pick MIssouri Southern with the two teams swapping roles in the media poll. Northeastern State was picked 12th by both the coaches and media in third year’s poll.

All of the MIAA football schools are scheduled to kick off the season on Thursday, Sept. 3 with Fort Hays State traveling to Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Television Network game of the week.

2015 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (8) 118
2. Pittsburg State (4) 114
3. Central Missouri 92
4. Central Oklahoma 91
5. Missouri Western 82
6. Fort Hays State 71
T7. Emporia State 59
T7. Washburn 59
9. Nebraska-Kearney 39
10. Lindenwood 34
11. Missouri Southern 17
12. Northeastern State 16

For the fourth consecutive season, the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) football coaches have unanimously picked the University of Indianapolis to win the GLVC Championship this fall.

The Greyhounds enter their fourth campaign as a football-playing member in the GLVC with a near undefeated 22-1 conference mark. UIndy, which finished the 2014 season 9-2 overall and 7-1 in league play, received eight of the nine first-place votes only because conference bylaws do not permit a school to vote for itself. Indianapolis returns 19 starters this season, including nine on offense, seven on defense, and three special teams. Bob Bartolomeo is back for his sixth year on the sidelines, having guided UIndy to a 42-16 (.724) record during his tenure.

Truman State was one of four teams to finish in a tie for second place this past season – the second time in as many years – having tallied a 5-3 conference record. The Bulldogs garnered 52 points in the poll to finish second in the preseason. As a first-year member in 2013, TSU went 7-4 and 5-2 in the GLVC while nearly matching those marks with a 6-4 overall and 5-3 league mark just one year ago. Truman head coach Gregg Nesbitt returns for his sixth season in Kirksville, Missouri, fielding 16 returning players, led by a quartet of first-team All-Conference honorees in offensive lineman Brad Wellman, defensive lineman Nick Reichert, defensive back Austin Zoda and kick returner Derek Hammann.

Saint Joseph’s College garnered the third spot in the preseason poll with 47 points while picking up the other first-place vote. Daniel Day takes over the helm in Rensselaer, Indiana, and inherits a Pumas squad that is coming off an 8-3 campaign that included a 5-3 record in league action, good for a tie of second place. first-team All-GLVC honorees Braxton Shelton (RB), Jakob Styla (OL), Sheldon Martin (HB), Joel Wimbley (LB), Drew Byrd (DB) and Gary Yeoman (LB) return.

Earning 46 points in the poll to lock down the No. 4 position is McKendree University. Following a 5-6 season in his fourth year in Lebanon, Illinois, Mike Babcock returns to the sidelines looking to build on the Bearcats’ 5-3 league record from last year.

Also returning with the whistle in his fourth season on campus is Quincy University’s Tom Pajic, who went 6-5 overall and turned in a 4-4 mark in league play to finish sixth in standings at season’s end. The Hawks return in 2015 as the conference coaches’ fifth choice with 34 points.

Missouri S&T and William Jewell are found in the next two positions in the poll as the each registered 32 and 26 points, respectively, to rank sixth and seventh. The Miners recorded a 4-7 record and 3-5 in the GLVC in 2014, while the Cardinals tied for second among three other schools with a 5-3 league mark and tallied a 5-6 overall record.

Closing out the poll in the No. 8 position is Lincoln (2-9, 1-7), which garnered 12 points overall – one marker better than No. 9 Southwest Baptist (4-7, 1-7).

The 2015 season begins on Thursday, Sept. 3, with two schools hosting non-conference opponents and two others on the road against non-conference foes. UIndy will welcome Saginaw Valley State and Missouri S&T hosts Chadron State, while Saint Joseph’s will be at Edinboro and Southwest Baptist will travel to Grand Valley State. Four other GLVC teams (William Jewell, Truman State, Quincy and McKendree) open on Sept. 5, as three of them are on the road; while Quincy will have an additional week to prepare as it doesn’t begin until Sept. 12 on the road at Northern Michigan.
2015 GLVC Preseason Poll 
1. Indianapolis 64 (8)*
2. Truman State 52
3. Saint Joseph’s 47 (1)
4. McKendree 46
5. Quincy 34
6. Missouri S&T 32
7. William Jewell 26
8. Lincoln 12
9. Southwest Baptist 11