Concordia Tagged For Third In MIAC Preseason Poll
MIAC football preview courtesy of Matt Higgins and the MIAC office
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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- There's just something about football season in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). Every August, the excitement, hope, expectations and aspirations are palpable throughout the NCAA Division III conference's nine football campuses. On the heels of an unforgettable 2013 season, the latest campaign of MIAC football can't kickoff soon enough.
A year ago, Bethel emerged from a talented field that featured as many as four teams in the Top 25 and as many as five receiving votes throughout the season. Head Coach Steve Johnson and the Royals ran the table in the regular season, going a perfect 10-0 overall and 8-0 in MIAC play to win the league title by two games. The team built on that success in the Division III Playoffs, where it advanced to the quarterfinals.
Though Bethel prevailed as the class of the conference in 2013, the season proved to be one of the deepest and most competitive in league history. Both St. Thomas (8-2, 6-2 MIAC) and Concordia (8-2, 6-2 MIAC) were right on the Royals' heels, and both spent all or most of the season in the Top 25. Either could have been worthy selections for the Playoffs as well, but were just barely left out of the field. Saint John's (7-3, 5-3 MIAC) had a great year under first-year Head Coach Gary Fasching and also spent time in the national rankings.
Gustavus (6-4, 4-4 MIAC) also took a step forward last season to claim sole possession of fifth place with a .500 record in conference play. Augsburg and Carleton both finished .500 overall and tied for sixth with identical 3-5 records in the MIAC, and both were a few plays away from an even better finish. Hamline went 2-8 and 1-7 in conference play in the first year under Head Coach Chad Rogosheske and showed considerable progress under the new regime, and St. Olaf was 1-9 overall and 0-8 in MIAC play under first-year Head Coach Craig Stern, with much to be confident about - especially in the passing game - heading into Stern's second season.
The latest MIAC football campaign will kick off on Sept. 6 with all nine teams setting their sights on either greatness or improvement. Bethel, St. Thomas and Concordia all return championship hopes, with Saint John's also hoping to join the title conversation. Gustavus and Augsburg are also hoping to take that next step and get into title and Playoff contention, with Carleton, Hamline and St. Olaf all expecting to continue an upward trajectory as well. The result of all those good vibes should be an entertaining 11 weeks with classic games and high stakes throughout.
COACHES CALL FOR ROYAL REPEAT
Bethel claimed the MIAC conference title a year ago and in 2014, the league coaches expect the Royals to rule one again. However, they expect it to be very, very close, if the results of the 2014 MIAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll is any indication. Bethel received six of the nine first-place votes and 62 total points to sit atop the predictions.
However, Head Coach Glenn Caruso and the St. Thomas squad are right behind the Royals in the poll with the other three first-place votes and 59 total points. UST won the previous three MIAC titles, and the coaches expect them to be firmly in the mix for a fourth title in five seasons. Concordia (47 points) and Saint John's (44 points) are expected to again join the Royals and Tommies in the top four after strong 2013 seasons and loads of talent back in Moorhead and Collegeville.
Augsburg is expected to narrowly edge Gustavus for the final spot in the top five in 2014, with just four points separating the Auggies and Gusties. Augsburg finished fifth in the poll with 35 points and Gustavus was sixth with 31 points.
A year ago, Carleton and Hamline needed overtime to settle their thrilling MIAC battle, and their finish in the coaches' poll was just as close, as the Knights edged the Pipers for seventh place, 18-17, with St. Olaf (11 points) rounding out the final spot in the preseason predictions.
MIAC IN THE POLLS
The MIAC continues to receive respect on the national stage, as the conference placed two teams in the D3football.com Top 25 preseason poll and two more teams received votes. Bethel opens the season at No. 7 after finishing 2013 ranked sixth, and St. Thomas just missed joining the Royals in the top 10, as the Tommies open 2014 as the 11th-ranked team in the nation. Concordia received 32 points in the poll and is the fifth team ranked in the "Others Receiving Votes" section, while Saint John's got 21 points and was the eighth team outside the Top 25.
Both Bethel and St. Thomas were also ranked in the 2014 Sporting News Preseason Top 20 and the 2014 Lindy's College Football Preseason Top 10. The Sporting News ranked Bethel at No. 6 and St. Thomas at No. 15, and Lindy's has the Royals ranked fourth and St. Thomas at No. 7. The AFCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll doesn't begin until the third week of the regular season. Bennettrank.com has three MIAC teams in its Preseason Top 25, with Bethel at No. 6, St. Thomas at No. 14 and Concordia at No. 16.
COACHING CAROUSEL COMES TO A HALT
A year ago, the MIAC coaching carousel was in full swing with three of the nine teams hiring a new leader and a fourth promoting an interim head coach to the full-time gig. Gary Fasching (Saint John's), Chad Rogosheske (Hamline) and Craig Stern (St. Olaf) all enjoyed their first season at the helm in 2013, and Carleton's Bob Pagel completed his first season as the full-time head coach after working as interim head coach in 2012.
Bethel's Steve Johnson reigns as the longest-tenured coach in the league as he enters his 26th season, and Johnson is at the top of his game with MIAC and Region Coach-of-the-Year honors in 2013. Concordia's Terry Horan is second in his 14th season, and Augsburg's Frank Haege is enjoying his milestone 10th season with the Auggies. Glenn Caruso continues an extremely successful run at St. Thomas as he enters his seventh season, and Peter Haugen is starting out season No. 6 at Gustavus.
WHO TO WATCH FOR
The MIAC usually features star players in each class, but seniors typically use their experience and status to dominate the MIAC landscape. However, the league's top award winners were both juniors and each returns to lead their team in 2014. Bethel QB Erik Peterson is back after claiming the 2013 MIAC Jim Christopherson MVP award, and Concordia DE Nate Adams returns after claiming the 2013 MIAC Mike Stam Award as the league's outstanding lineman. Peterson led the Royals to the title a year ago while throwing for 3,034 yards and 24 TDs with a 70.2 completion percentage, while Adams led the MIAC in sacks (nine) and tackles-for-a-loss (17.5).
Not only are Bethel's repeat hopes bolstered by the returning MVP under center, but the Royals' offense also welcomes back running back Brandon Marquardt, who was an All-Conference pick a year ago. Senior safety Josh Treimer will step into a leadership role on the always-stout Bethel defense, which must replace All-American linebacker Seth Mathis, but should be among the league's best again in 2014.
The Tommies endured some bad luck in the health department at quarterback a year ago, but hope all the experience gained under center can help the depth - if needed - at the position in 2014. UST is expected to be stout up front, with DL Josh Corbin anchoring the defensive side of the ball, and OL Ulice Payne III leading a talented offensive line that will pave the way for standout running back Jack Kaiser and the rest of the St. Thomas offense.
Adams is back to terrorize MIAC quarterbacks again in 2014 and he's not the only talented Cobber back in the fold. Senior QB Griffin Neal is back, and poised to become the first signal-caller in Concordia history to throw for 5,000 yards in his career. The special teams are also special thanks to the return of kicker Ben Wagner, who has made 85-of-86 PATs over the last two seasons.
Saint John's will take to the air again in 2014 behind star receiver Josh Bungum, who led the MIAC with 84 catches a year ago. The Johnnie defense will be a strong, senior-laden unit, led by All-MIAC LB Andrew Rose and Second-Team pick Matt Workman on the defensive line. Gustavus graduates star RB Jeffrey Dubose and his school-record 3,419 yards and 41 TDs, but will look to returning starter Mitch Hendricks at QB to lead the offense. Seniors Anthony Boyce (LB) and Cameron Cropsey (DE) will anchor the Gustie defense again in 2014.
Once again, any talk of Augsburg starts with star QB Ayrton Scott. The junior is a two-time All-MIAC pick, and looking to continue his historic run in 2014. His top target - WR Joey Sonnenfeld - is back after racking up 1,087 yards and 13 TDs, and All-MIAC DL Chris DeVet is back to lead the Auggie defense. Carleton waved goodbye to star WR Anthony Kemper and QB Conor Lynch, but the Knights are excited about its returning defense. Linebackers Mason Schnarr and Dan Cook are back after outstanding 2013 seasons, and hopes are high for emerging star Chris Madden, an electric sophomore RB.
Hamline's strength will be on the ground again in 2014, as star RB Austin Duncan and his MIAC-leading 1,460 rushing yards are back for the Pipers. Safety Anthony Hill led the MIAC in solo tackles a year ago and will again lead the Hamline defense, and Alec Grimm anchors a strong offensive line. St. Olaf will be strong up front on defense with DL Colin Brown and his 13.5 TFL back in the lineup. QB Nate Penz dazzled as a sophomore with 2,475 passing yards and 17 TDs, and he'll team up with RB Connor McCormick to lead the Ole offense.
CIRCLE THESE DATES
For a second season in a row, fans will have to wait until after Labor Day to get their first taste of MIAC football, but it should be well worth the weight when the 2014 season officially kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 6. Eight of the league's nine teams will be in action with nonconference games that day, with only defending champion Bethel waiting until Sept. 13 to kick off its campaign.
A CLOSER LOOK
The rest of the 2014 MIAC Football Preview contains complete results from the 2014 Preseason Coaches' Poll, a video from MIAC Media, helpful links and a preview for each team submitted by their sports information director. The MIAC web site - www.miacathletics.com - will be an outstanding source for MIAC football news, schedules, scores, stats and more throughout the 2014 season.
Visit the MIAC scoreboard on game days to follow all the action, and download the MIAC mobile app to have all the information with you anywhere you travel. Also, connect to the conference on its Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages for updates and interaction all season long.
2014 MIAC FOOTBALL TRAINING CAMP TOUR
To help fans gear up for the 2014 season, MIAC Media is going on a training camp tour to preview each of the conference's nine teams. Each stop on the tour will include a blog post with observations from practice and a video interview with each team's head coach and a key player. Visit the MIAC Media Blog and the MIAC's YouTube Channel over the next two weeks as we tour the conference. Defending champion Bethel was the first team featured Monday, with Saint John's, Concordia and St. Thomas to follow this week, and the rest to come as well.
| MIAC Media Blog | MIAC YouTube Channel |
2014 MIAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own team. Points were assigned for each vote (eight for first, seven for second, etc.) Teams are ranked in order of highest point total to lowest with vote totals listed and first-place votes shown in parentheses.