Trine picked as MIAA preseason favorite

For the second straight year, Trine University has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) football championship. The league released its preseason poll during its Fall Media Day conference call this morning.
Trine, winners of the last two MIAA championships, received six of the seven possible first-place votes by the league coaches. Albion College was picked to finish second, while Adrian College was picked third while receiving the other first-place vote. Rounding out the poll was Hope College (fourth), Alma College (fifth), Kalamazoo College (sixth) and Olivet College (seventh).
The Thunder went 10-2 overall last year, including a 6-0 mark in MIAA play. In the NCAA Division III playoffs, Trine stunned Case Western 51-38 in the opening round before falling to Wittenberg. The victory marked the first playoff win for an MIAA team since Albion captured the national championship in 1994.
Overall, Trine has won 22 of its last 25 games since a lost to Hope on Oct. 27, 2007. That is also the last MIAA loss for the Thunder, as they have won 14 straight league games.
The 2010 college football season begins for MIAA teams Sept. 2-4. Trine opens against Manchester College on Sept. 2, with the rest of the MIAA teams opening Sept. 4. The first slate of conference games will begin Oct. 2.
Check out The Manchester Enterprise and other Heritage Newspapers publications Aug. 19 for a preview of each of the MIAA teams and find out which local players are competing at league schools.