KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Defending National Champion Pittsburg State will begin their defense of the crown as the number one team in both the MIAA Coaches and Media Preseason Polls. The Gorillas won the MIAA last season as they finished 8-1 in league play and 13-1 overall on the year.
PSU received 192 overall points and 12 first place votes in the coaches poll and got 538 points and 24 first place votes in this season’s media poll. They were followed closely in each poll by 2011 league runner-up Northwest Missouri who also advanced to the NCAA playoffs last season. Missouri Western, also an NCAA Division II Playoff team, claims the third spot in both polls and received a first place vote in each as they look to move up from last season’s 7-2 finish.
Washburn is the #4 school in both polls after going 7-2 last season behind Harlon Hill finalist Dane Simoneau The Ichabods will have to replace Simoneau though on a team that was one of four MIAA teams to earn a bid to the NCAA post-season. Central Missouri, who represented the MIAA in last season’s Kanza Bowl, holds the fifth spot in both the coaches and media poll.
Newcomer Nebraska-Kearney sits sixth in both polls while Emporia State comes in with the seventh spot. New MIAA member Lindenwood makes their debut in the poll at #8, finishing just a few points behind the Hornets in both polls.
The #9 slot is where the polls show their first discrepancy as conference rookie Northeastern State, who advanced to last season’s Mineral Water Bowl, earned the spot in the coaches minds while Fort Hays State got the nod from the media. The #10 spot features Missouri Southern in the coaches poll while the Riverhawks of Northeastern State take the tenth spot in the media version.
In the Media poll Missouri Southern is #11, Truman #12, Southwest Baptist #13, Central Oklahoma is #14 while Lincoln comes in at #15. In the coaches poll Fort Hays State comes in at #11, Central Oklahoma #12, Southwest Baptist #13, Truman #14 and Lincoln rounding out the poll at #15 this year.
The 2012 season will kick off on Thursday, August 30 as 13 MIAA teams get underway with the final two MIAA squads kicking off their season on Sept. 1 as the MIAA will feature 15 schools in football this season.
Fort Hays State and second year head coach Chris Brown open the season on Thursday, August 30th at Emporia State.
Chris Brown Segment 1
Chris Brown at MIAA Media Day – Segment 1
Chris Brown Segment 2
Chris Brown at MIAA Media Day – Segment 2
2012 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Pittsburg State (12) 192
2. Northwest Missouri (2) 184
3. Missouri Western (1) 165
4. Washburn 154
5. Central Missouri 153
6. Nebraska-Kearney 122
7. Emporia State 103
8. Lindenwood 95
9. Northeastern State 85
10. Missouri Southern 82
11. Fort Hays State 74
12. Central Oklahoma 54
13. Southwest Baptist 49
14. Truman 43
15. Lincoln 18
2012 MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Pittsburg State (24) 538
2. Northwest Missouri (11) 524
3. Missouri Western (1) 456
4. Washburn 447
5. Central Missouri 393
6. Nebraska-Kearney 390
7. Emporia State 286
8. Lindenwood 268
9. Fort Hays State 241
10. Northeastern State 233
11. Missouri Southern 194
12. Truman 155
13. Southwest Baptist 150
14. Central Oklahoma 121
15. Lincoln 42
-MIAA Sports Information-