Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski was selected as the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league in passing with 4,150 yards (377.3 ypg) and 34 touchdowns. The senior from Montgomery City, Mo., also led the conference in total offense with 4,131 yards (375.5 ypg). He set the MIAA records for career passing yards (11,790), career total offense (11,906) and single-season passing yards (4,150). Czerniewski was also an All-MIAA First Team selection.
Northwest Missouri defensive back Ryan Jones was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year after a season in which he led the league with six interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, and finished tops in the conference in passes defended with 15. The senior from Liberty, Mo., was also a unanimous All-MIAA First Team selection, the second consecutive season he has earned a spot on the first team.
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Two Missouri products named MIAA Players of the Year
NW Missouri State picked to win MIAA football
Defending National Champion and four-time defending MIAA Champion Northwest Missouri State was a unanimous pick as preseason No. 1 in both the MIAA coaches poll and media polls that were announced at the MIAA Football Kickoff Weekend in Kansas City.
MIAA releases Division II football schedule
Several intriguing non-conference matchups along with the longtime league rivalries highlight the 2010 MIAA football schedule. The season will kick off on Thursday night Aug. 26, as Missouri Southern hosts Minnesota State-Moorhead.
Two days later (Aug. 28), Truman St., Washburn, Central Missouri and Pittsburg State open up their seasons on the road, while Fort Hays State holds its home opener. Truman will match up against St. Joseph’s (Ind.) College, Washburn will play at Colorado Mines, Central Missouri will battle Southwest Baptist, Pittsburg State will face Central Oklahoma, and Fort Hays State will host Western State (Co.). Missouri Western and defending national champion Northwest Missouri kick off on Thursday, Sept. 2, as the Griffons host Mesa State and the Bearcats face Texas A&M-Kingsville in Maryville.
The 2009 football season was a memorable one for MIAA fans, as Northwest Missouri defeated Grand Valley State, 30-23, to win the NCAA National Championship. Missouri Western brought the Mineral Water Bowl title back to the MIAA with a 34-21 victory over Augustana (S.D.), and Nebraska-Omaha represented the league in the first-ever Kanza Bowl, matching up against West Texas A&M of the Lone Star Conference.
This season figures to be just as exciting, with three new head coaches roaming MIAA sidelines. Jim Svoboda is the new head man at Central Missouri, Tim Beck replaces Chuck Broyles as the head coach at Pittsburg State, and Gregg Nesbitt is the new man in charge at Truman.
Conference play will begin Saturday, Sept. 11, as Central Missouri hosts Emporia State in the lone MIAA game of the day. The first week with a full slate of MIAA games will be Sept. 18. The 2010 NCAA Division II Playoffs are set to start Saturday, Nov. 14. The Mineral Water Bowl and the Kanza Bowl will both be played Saturday, Dec. 4.
MIAA announces first Hall of Fame class
Fifteen Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association legends and five historic national championship teams have been elected to the inaugural MIAA Hall of Fame class, the conference office announced Wednesday (June 2). The Class of 2010 will be officially recognized at the annual MIAA Spring Awards Dinner June 10 at the Downtown Marriott in Kansas City, Mo.
Mules Baseball Season Over
The run for the Central Missouri Mules in the NCAA Division II Championship is over. The number three Mules lost their game this afternoon in Cary, North Carolina to the number four Bobcats of Georgia College and State by a final score of 9-4. [Read more...]
