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Two Missouri Southern football players dead in car wreck

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The Missouri Southern State University community is saddened to report that four MSSU student-athletes were involved in a tragic accident on I-44 between Joplin and Springfield early Friday morning. Two were killed and two others seriously injured.

Three of the student-athletes are members of the football team, while a fourth student-athlete is a member of the golf team. The two students killed in the accident were Michael McCrimmons, a freshman defensive back from Springfield, and Diondre Johnson, a redshirt freshman tight end from Springfield.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, the accident occurred near mile marker 31 about 2:30 a.m., Friday, Dec. 2.

The two other student-athletes involved in the accident were Jeremy Johnson a freshman football player from Harrison, Ark., and Patrick Holt, a freshman golfer from Rogers, Ark. Both were injured in the accident, which shut down the eastbound lanes of I-44. Holt was flown to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, while Johnson was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla.

The Highway Patrol reported that the SUV in which the four student-athletes were riding apparently overturned ejecting one of the passengers. The overturned vehicle came to rest in the eastbound lanes of I-44 and was then hit by a semi truck.

One of the passengers of the SUV was injured after being hit by a car after exiting the overturned SUV.

A team meeting with football players was held at noon today in Phelps Theatre in Billingsly Student Center. Athletics Director Jared Bruggeman and Coach Bart Tatum in addition to other Athletic Department officials and counselors met with the student-athletes.

The University will hold a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the two students at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Friday, Dec. 2) at the Flag of Freedom Plaza on the campus oval.

The University is planning a remembrance service next week.

“At this time, everything possible is being done to support our students, their families and friends,” stated Dr. Bruce W. Speck, MSSU president. “Our prayers go out to their families and friends.”

Story from Missouri Southern Athletics

Mizzou to play Missouri So. in hoops to aid in Joplin relief

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Missouri Southern State University and the University of Missouri, in conjunction with the Joplin tornado relief campaign, will participate in the One State, One Spirit Classic Presented by Leggett & Platt. The basketball exhibition game received NCAA approval and will be played on Sunday Oct. 30 at Missouri Southern’ s Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin, Mo.

[Read more…]

Division II football roundup

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6th ranked Northwest Missouri State wins their biggest game in school history and 11th ranked Central Missouri is upset on the road.  Here’s a quick snapshot of Division II football games from Missouri schools. 

Northwest Missouri State scored touchdowns on eight of 13 offensive possessions en route to a 70-0 win against Truman Saturday at Bearcat Stadium in the 75 th battle for the Old Hickory Stick.   It’s the largest margin of victory for the Bearcats in series history (89 games). Northwest (4-1, 3-0 MIAA) has won eight in a row and 13 of its last 14 games against Truman (1-4, 0-3 MIAA). 

Truman ran 31 offensive plays in the first half that netted four yards. The Bulldogs finished with 92 yards with 62 coming on an empty fourth-quarter possession. Truman completed four passes in the contest for 45 yards. 

Northwest sacked Truman quarterback Taylor Breen eight times for 65 yards. Sean Paddock got his 25 th career sack on the second play of the game, making him the Bearcats’ all-time leader.  

The No. 11 Central Missouri Mules turned it over five times at Washburn on Saturday afternoon on the road and suffered their first loss of the season, 36-21.

Washburn (4-1, 2-1 MIAA) jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead and never looked back, while UCM (4-1, 2-1 MIAA) didn’t catch its offensive stride until the second stanza.

The Mules defense held serve in the first quarter, stopping the Ichabods on two drives inside UCM territory without allowing any points.  The WU defense also had their way, but that effort lasted the entire first half, holding the Mules to only 136 yards. 

Missouri Western remained undefeated on the season by defeating #23 Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan. by a score of 45-40. Western has defeated the Gorillas three out of the last four years with two of those victories coming in "The Pitt (2007)."

Drew Newhart had four touchdowns (1 rush) with three touchdown passes to receiver Cedric Houston. Western improves to 3-0 in MIAA play for the first time since 2000 and to 5-0 overall for the first time since 1981 when they started 7-0.

The Southwest Baptist Bearcats jumped on the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers early and rolled to a 50-20 victory to pick up their first win of the season.    The Missouri Southern football team had its highest point output of the season and Collin Howard threw for three touchdowns, but the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks had a school record 44 rushing attempts from true freshman Levi Terrell in his first collegiate game and the Mavs defeated the Lions 44-36 in front of a Homecoming crowd of 6,127.

 

Central Missouri VB picked 3rd in MIAA. Truman 4th

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Defending MIAA volleyball champion Emporia State was selected as preseason No. 1 by a slight margin over Washburn in the 2009 MIAA coaches poll.  Central Missouri was the top state school coming in third.
 
The Hornets and Ichabods each received five first place votes, with Emporia State tallying 94 points and Washburn totaling 92 points. In addition to winning the 2008 conference title, Emporia advanced to the NCAA regional final a year ago. Washburn placed third in the MIAA and advanced to the NCAA regional tournament in 2008.
 
Coming in at No. 3 was Central Missouri, as the Jennies picked up 79 points. Central finished fourth in the MIAA in 2008 and made it to the NCAA regional semifinals.
 
Truman State tied with Nebraska-Omah for the fourth spot with 69 points. Truman finished as the 2008 MIAA runner-up and advanced all the way to the national semifinals. 
 
Northwest Missouri State came in at No. 7 with 40 points, Missouri Southern State was voted eighth with 37 points, Southwest Baptist took the ninth spot with 35 points, Fort Hays State was 10th with 15 points, and Missouri Western State was voted 11th with 14 points. 
 
The 2009 MIAA volleyball season starts Friday, Aug. 28, with several tournament matches. MIAA league play begins Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Story courtesy of the  MIAA conference .
 
2009 MIAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
 1. Emporia State (5) – 94 pts.
2. Washburn (5) – 92 pts.
3. Central Missouri – 79 pts.
T4. Nebraska-Omaha (1) – 69 pts.
T4. Truman State – 69 pts.
6. Pittsburg State – 61 pts.
7. Northwest Missouri State – 40 pts.
8. Missouri Southern State – 37 pts.
9. Southwest Baptist – 35 pts.
10. Fort Hays State – 15 pts.
11. Missouri Western State – 14 pts.

Truman among top schools for Academic All-Americans

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Truman State University of Kirksville, MO is ranked second among NCAA Division II institutions at producing CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.  The MIAA conference leads all Division II conferences in CoSIDA Academic All-America placement during this decade. 

Truman produced 45 Academic All-Americans (as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America) since January 2000 to lead all Division II institutions.   Coming in fourth overall was Missouri University of Science and Technology with 31. 
 
Among the Division II membership, the University of Central Missouri also ranks in a tie for eighth place with 18 honorees, and Missouri Southern State University 16 selections is good for ninth place on the list.

For more on the story, click here .

MIAA conference tops in men’s hoops attendance

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The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, (MIAA) claimed the top men’s basketball attendance average for NCAA Division II conferences in the 2008-09 season, the NCAA recently announced.

The MIAA drew 266,320 fans to its 11 institutions’ 156 home games last season for an average of 1,707 fans per game. The average edged the 13-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, which averaged 1,700 fans per game.

Leading the MIAA was Central Missouri. The Mules drew 50,697 fans in 17 home games for 2008-09,  an average of 2,982 fans, to rank third overall behind Northern (S.D.) State (4,735) and St. Cloud (Minn.) State (3,316) from the NSIC.

Missouri Western barely edged out Emporia State for 15th place — each school averaged 2,083 fans, but the Griffons’ average was slightly higher when extended to decimals.

Conference with total # of fans and average per game
1. MIAA 266,320 1,707
2. Northern Sun 297,459 1,700
3. Central Intercoll. 177,855 1,423
4. Southern Intercoll. 196,224 1,161
5. Great Lakes Valley 210,747 1,092

Top D-II schools in country w/# of games and total fans
1. Northern (S.D.) State [NSIC] 15 71,024
2. St. Cloud (Minn.) State [NSIC] 15 49,742
3. Central Missouri [MIAA] 17 50,697
4. Benedict (S.C.) [SIAC] 13 37,848
5. Morehouse (Ga.) [SIAC] 12 34,546




 

2008-09 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Attendance
                       Total   Games/  2008-09          Change
    By Conference       Teams Sessions  Attend.    Avg. In Avg.
1. MIAA                   11      156  266,320   1,707     +40
2. Northern Sun           13      175  297,459   1,700    +322
 3. Central Intercoll.     10      125  177,855   1,423     +54
 4. Southern Intercoll.    13      169  196,224   1,161     +86
 5. Great Lakes Valley     14      193  210,747   1,092    +142
 6. Peach Belt             10      140  131,526     939    +124
 7. Great Northwest         9      118  109,170     925     +38
 8. Lone Star              14      186  161,126     866     -35
 9. Gulf South             15      202  173,031     857     +85
10. Rocky Mountain         14      182  139,401     766    +130
      
   By Institution                      G/S Attendance    Avg. 1. Northern (S.D.) State [NSIC]         15     71,024   4,735
 2. St. Cloud (Minn.) State [NSIC]       15     49,742   3,316
3. Central Missouri [MIAA]              17     50,697   2,982
4. Benedict (S.C.) [SIAC]               13     37,848   2,911
 5. Morehouse (Ga.) [SIAC]               12     34,546   2,879
 6. Elizabeth City (N.C.) State [CIAA]   11     31,324   2,848
 7. Augustana (S.D.) [NSIC]              12     31,697   2,641
 8. Virginia State [CIAA]                16     40,747   2,547
 9. Southwest Minnesota State [NSIC]     16     38,961   2,435
10. Washburn [MIAA]                      13     31,376   2,414

Missouri Southern track star headed to HOF

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Former Missouri Southern track and field National Champion Tongula (Givens) Steddum will be inducted into the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame Wednesday night as part of the opening ceremonies of the 2009 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Angelo State University.

Steddum, will be the first athlete from MSSU to earn the coaches association’s highest honor. Steddum is a member of the Southern Hall of Fame (2004), and as a 14-time All-American, Steddum is the school record holder in the outdoor triple jump (42-05.50), the indoor triple jump (40-07.00) as well as the outdoor long jump (20-00.50) and the indoor long jump (19-00.75).

She won the national championship in the outdoor triple jump in 1994 and took the indoor triple title the next season in 1995. She was also the runner up in the outdoor triple and long jump in 1995.

More honors for Mo. Southern’s Smith

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Former Lions great and Missouri Southern Hall of Famer Rod Smith has been named among a list of three other players and two coaches for enshrinement to the College Football Hall of Fame Divisional Class of 2009. Smith is also part of the Division II Football Hall of Fame, as well as the Arkansas, Missouri and Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

Smith will be inducted as part of the Enshrinement Festival on July 17-19, 2009 into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana. vSmith is just the second MIAA football player to be enshrined as Ken Dement, a 1950’s Southeast Missouri product was inducted in 1998.

Smith helped the Lions to their last MIAA title and NCAA post season appearance when the team went 9-1-1 in 1993. In 1993, Smith caught 63 passes for 986 yards and 13 touchdowns, and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, given annually to the top football player in Division II.

Smith entered the NFL with the Broncos as a college free agent on May 3, 1994. He holds Broncos’ franchise records for career receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389), touchdown catches (68) and overall touchdowns (71). In 2005, he became one of 25 players in NFL history to reach 10,000 career yards, a feat he accomplished on Monday Night Football vs. Kansas City (9/26/05). Smith is the first player from the MIAA to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl, and the first to play for two Super Bowl winning teams (Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII).

Smith was inducted into the Missouri Southern Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003 and is the only football player in Southern history to have his number (9) retired.

MIAA baseball players of the year

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Three of the four qualifiers for the MIAA Baseball Tournament each had three players earn first-team honors on the All-MIAA Baseball Team as selected by the conference coaches.

Regular season champion Emporia State (42-10, 29-7 MIAA), runner-up Central Missouri (39-11, 27-9 MIAA) and fourth-place Nebraska-Omaha (37-18, 27-13 MIAA) accounted for nine of the 14 spots on the first team. Missouri Western (34-22, 22-16 MIAA) also had three players make the top squad while third-place Missouri Southern (34-18, 24-10 MIAA) had two.

The ESU Hornets have the conference’s Player of the Year for the second time in as many seasons with the selection of senior OF Connor Crumbliss. He leads the MIAA in hits per game (1.60 — 83 total), is second in stolen bases (0.56 per game — 29), runs scored (1.52 per game — 79), doubles (.48 per game — 25) and total bases (2.50 per game — 130) with a .413 batting average ranking him third in the conference.

He and fellow first-team selection, junior OF Chance Tuttle of UCM, are ranked 1-2 in Division II runs scored per game — Tuttle averages 1.54 per game (74 total).

Other Hornets on the first team include a unanimous selection at catcher in senior Mike Sharp and junior 1B Kenny Burkhead.

Sharp leads the conference in home runs (.26 per game — 13) and is second in runs batted in (1.06 per game –53) and slugging percentage (.703) while carrying a .384 batting average (9th in the MIAA).

Burkhead leads the MIAA in RBI (1.40 per game –73) and is among the conference leaders in hits (1.42 per game — 6th) and stolen bases (.44 per game — 7th) while batting .374.

ESU’s head coach Bob Fornelli was once again named the MIAA’s Coach of the Year by his peers. It is the second time in as many seasons and third time overall he’s been so honored. Fornelli is the first repeat selection since UCM’s Darin Hendrickson in 2004-05.

Central Missouri senior RHP Chris Matlock was named Pitcher of the Year as a reliever, the first to earn the honor in that role since Grant Barger of ESU did it in 2003.

Matlock set the single season (13) and career (24) conference records for saves in 2009. He is 4-1 with a 1.00 earned run average in 24 appearances this season for the Mules. His 13 saves this season currently ranks fourth in Division II.

Matlock joined Tuttle as a unanimous first-team choice. Not only does Tuttle lead Division II in runs scored, he leads the conference in batting (.424), stolen bases (.67 per game — 32), total bases (2.60 per game — 125), on-base percentage (.537) and slugging percentage (.727).

Junior RHP Mitch Stubenhoffer is the third Mule on the first team. He enters the conference tournament with a 6-0 record and a 2.81 earned run average (fourth in the MIAA).

UCM also has the Freshman of the Year in SS Bret Schwartz. He is batting .354 with 35 RBI and 46 runs scored for the Mules, and is among the conference leaders in on-base percentage (.462 — 7th) and walks (.54 per game — 6th).

The Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks also had a pair of unanimous selections in senior SS Evan Porter and senior DH Drew Schwab. They were joined on the first team by junior 2B Andrew Hansen.

Porter ranks fourth in the MIAA with a .405 batting average and has eight homers and 54 RBI. He’s fourth in the conference in hits (1.51 per game — 83) and fifth in doubles (.36 per game — 20) and total bases (2.31 per game — 127.).

Schwab is right behind Porter in the batting race with a .404 average. He has seven homers and 45 RBI, and ranks fifth in the MIAA with a .637 slugging percentage.

Hansen set the MIAA single-season record for doubles with 30 in 2009, and his average of .56 doubles per game is second in Division II. He’s batting .422 (second in the MIAA) with three home runs and 45 RBI, while ranking second in the league in hits (1.59 per game — 86) and fifth in runs scored (1.07 per game — 58).

Missouri Western had a pair of seniors — RHP A.J. Huttenlocker and OF Troy Landi — make the first team along with junior UT Andy Hebrard.

Huttenlocker finished the season with and 11-3 record and a 3.35 earned run average. He leads the MIAA in victories and tossed eight complete games in 2009 (second in the MIAA) while averaging 9.38 strikeouts per nine innings (fifth in the MIAA).

Landi led the Griffons with his .348 batting average to go with 14 homers and 29 RBI. He’s currently ranked second in the MIAA with .25 homers per game, and fourth in both stolen bases (.54 per game — 30) and runs scored (1.11 per game — 62).

Hebrard pitched, played both first and third base and was a designated hitter for Western. He batted .326 with four homers and 28 RBI while posting a 7-6 record in 14 appearances (eight starts) on the mound with a 3.88 ERA and one save.

Southern rounds out the first team with junior LHP C.J. Maffei and junior 3B Skyler Rawlins. Maffei has an 8-3 record with a 2. 94 ERA (seventh in the MIAA). Opponents are hitting .247 (seventh in the MIAA) against him and he’s averaged 6.64 innings per appearance (second in the MIAA).

Rawlins hit .349 for the Lions with a team-high nine home runs (.18 per game — 8th in the MIAA) and 28 runs batted in. He’s also seventh in runs scored (1.00 per game — 50).

First TeamA.J. Huttenlocker, MWSU   P  6-3 195 Sr. Buckley, Wash.
C.J. Maffei, MSSU         P  6-2 185 Jr. Parsons, Kan.
Mitch Stubenhofer, UCM    P  6-1 190 Jr. Tulsa, Okla.
*+Chris Matlock, UCM     RP  6-2 180 Sr. Springfield, Mo.
*Mike Sharp, ESU          C  6-1 180 Sr. Liberty, Mo.
Kenny Burkhead, ESU      1B  6-3 215 Jr. Berryton, Kan.
Andrew Hansen, UNO       2B  6-0 185 Jr. Lakeville, Minn.
*Evan Porter, UNO        SS  6-5 205 Sr. Omaha, Neb.
Skyler Rawlins, MSSU     3B  5-9 170 So. Seneca, Mo.
*Chance Tuttle, UCM      OF  5-9 175 Jr. Sapulpa, Okla.
#Connor Crumbliss, ESU   OF  5-8 170 Sr. Arkansas City, Kan.
Troy Landi, MWSU         OF  6-3 200 Sr. Blue Springs, Mo.
*Drew Schwab, UNO        DH  6-4 210 Sr. Omaha, Neb.
Andy Hebrard, MWSU       UT  6-3 190 Jr. Clackamas, Ore.
  
*=Unanimous selection
+=Repeat first-team selection from 2008
#=First-team selection at DH in 2008
   
Second Team Ryan Anthony, ESU         P  6-4 210 Sr. Overland Park, Kan.
Tyler Applehans, ESU      P  6-0 215 Sr. Fredonia, Kan.
Tim Brown, PSU            P  6-3 200 Sr. St. Louis, Mo.
Kyle Dahman, UNO          P  6-0 185 Sr. Raymore, Mo.
Ben Percival, UNO         P  6-4 195 Sr. Clive, Iowa
Nick Phillips, UCM       RP  6-0 185 Jr. Bartlesville, Okla.
Matt LeGree, UCM          C  6-0 195 Jr. Shawnee, Kan.
Derek Ezell, MSSU        1B  6-0 205 Sr. Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Jacob Taylor, MSSU       2B  6-1 195 Jr. Moreno Valley, Calif.
Bret Schwartz, UCM       SS 5-11 170 Fr. Blue Springs, Mo.
Alex Harvey, FHSU        3B  6-3 240 Sr. Wichita, Kan.
Greg Bieker, FHSU        OF  6-5 190 Jr. Hays, Kan.
Zach Caldwell, MSSU      OF 5-11 188 Jr. Pittsburg, Kan.
Will Feil, UCM           OF  6-2 195 Sr. St. Charles, Mo.
Taylor House, PSU        OF  5-9 175 Sr. Neosho, Mo.
Jon Wegener, UCM         OF  6-2 190 So. Raytown, Mo.
Brett Sorensen, WU       DH  6-1 185 Sr. Grain Valley, Mo.
A.J. Levanduski, FHSU    UT  6-1 203 Sr. Topeka, Kan.
Five starting pitchers and five outfielders selected
due to ties in voting
   
Honorable MentionCarter Lance, MSSU        P  6-4 195 Jr. Conway, Ark.
Eric Gilliland, FHSU      P  6-1 190 Sr. Concordia, Kan.
Bret Harvel, NWMSU        P  6-3 195 Sr. Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Dustin Holthaus, WU       P  6-1 175 Jr. Topeka, Kan.
Brooks Martin, UCM        P  6-1 180 Jr. Streator, Ill.
Blake Thomas, MWSU        P 5-11 170 Jr. Raymore, Mo.
Mat Atkinson, FHSU       RP  6-1 185 Jr. Victoria, B.C., Canada
Diego Soto, ESU          RP  6-1 195 Sr. Tucson, Ariz.
Devon Myers, TSU          C  6-0 180 Fr. Fenton, Mo.
Dusty Washburn, FHSU     1B  6-3 230 Sr. Hays, Kan.
Tyler Robbins, FHSU      2B  6-0 185 Jr. Denver, Colo.
Danny Conners, MWSU      SS 5-10 160 Jr. Kalispell, Mont.
Andy Cotton, ESU         SS  5-8 170 So. Lincoln, Neb.
Dane Simoneau, WU        SS  6-3 215 So. Salina, Kan.
Wes Joy, WU              3B 5-10 175 Jr. Burlington, Kan.
Colin Murphy, UCM        3B  6-0 180 So. Kansas City, Mo.
Jeremy Francis, ESU      OF 5-10 175 Jr. Emporia, Kan.
Juan Hernandez, MSSU     OF 5-10 165 Sr. Orlando, Fla.
Keaton Jones, TSU        OF  6-0 165 Jr. Iowa City, Iowa
Kyle Stacken, FHSU       DH  6-0 210 So. Concordia, Kan.
Justin Beal, MSSU        UT  6-2 200 Sr. Owasso, Okla.
Jason Murphy, PSU        UT  6-0 230 Jr. Bucyrus, Kan.
John Oropeza, UCM        UT  6-0 200 Fr. Kansas City, Kan.
  
Player of the Year: Connor Crumbliss, OF, ESU
Pitcher of the Year: Chris Matlock, RHP, UCM
Freshman of the Year: Bret Schwartz, SS, UCM
Coach of the Year: Bob Fornelli, ESU

Ticket info for MIAA baseball tournament

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Tickets prices for the 2009 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Baseball Tournament, which will be played May 8-10 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan., have been set by the conference office.

The tournament will start Friday (May 8) with games at noon and 6 p.m. Three games are slated for Saturday (May 9) starting at 11 a.m. and the Championships on  Sunday (May 10) will begin at 1 p.m.

Tournament passes, good for all tournament games (up to seven possible), will be $25. Daily passes also will be available. $10 for adults, $5 for students with ID and youth. Children under the age of 6 will be admitted free.

All seating will be general admission.

Tickets can be purchased through the Kansas City T-Bones Ticket Office by calling (913) 328-BALL (2255) or going to www.tbonesbaseball.com . Only Tournament Passes and Adult Daily Passes will be sold in advance.

The MIAA currently has two teams ranked in the Collegiate Baseball Division II Coaches Top 20 — Emporia State is at No. 8 and Central Missouri tied at No. 11.

The noon game on Friday will feature the Central Missouri Mules (39-11, 27-9 MIAA) and third-seeded Missouri Southern (34-18, 24-10 MIAA). The Lions are in the conference postseason for the first time since 2002.