Olivet picked to finish fifth in preseason 2005 MIAA football poll

The Olivet College football team was selected to finish fifth in the 2005 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) football poll at the annual MIAA Fall Sports Press Day held at Tri-State (Ind.) University. In voting by the coaches and media, the Comets received 81 total points. Defending MIAA champion Alma College was picked as the preseason favorite with 40 points.

Olivet welcomes back 70 letterwinners, including 17 starters as Dominic Livedoti begins his second stint as the Comets' head coach. For the last three years, he served as the assistant head coach. Livedoti also served as head coach from 1988-1992, compiling a 21-21-3 record.

Leading the way for Olivet will be captains Josh Ewing (Hopkins), Ryan Hayes (Livonia/Franklin), Kyle Lackscheide (Vermontville/Maple Valley), Mike Pfiester (Bellevue), Marcus Robinson (Albion) and Andy Storey (Battle Creek/Harper Creek).

The Comets will kick-off the 2005 season when it hosts Franklin (Ind.) College on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. Olivet will then be on the road for three straight games before returning home to face Hope College on Oct. 8 for its Homecoming game at 2 p.m.