Comets picked fifth in 2013 MIAA preseason football poll
The Olivet College football team has been picked fifth in the 2013 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) preseason poll, announced today by the league publicist.
ROYAL OAK, Mich. -- The Olivet College football team has been picked fifth in the 2013 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) preseason poll, announced today by the league publicist.
In voting by the coaches, the Comets received 29 total points. Defending MIAA champion Adrian College was selected as the preseason favorite with nine points and four first-place votes. Albion College, Hope College and Trine (Ind.) University all tied for second with 15 points each. Hope had two first-place votes, while Trine had one. Kalamazoo was picked sixth (31), followed by Alma in seventh (33).
Dan Pifer will begin his second season as the Comets' head coach. Olivet welcomes back approximately 40 letterwinners, including 18 starters from last year's team. Returning are four All-MIAA players -- junior Ryan Armstrong (Rives Junction/Leslie), and sophomores Ryheem Bonivel (Caledonia/East Kentwood), Curtis French (Carleton/Airport) and Noah Keefer (Fayette, Ohio/Archbold).
The Comets will open the 2013 season Sept. 7 when they travel to play Wilmington (Ohio) College. Game time is 1:30 p.m. Olivet and the Quakers have met five other times on the gridiron, with the last meeting being Sept. 11, 1999. The Comets open MIAA play Saturday, Oct. 5 at Alma College at 1:30 p.m.