What it is: Founded in 1912, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) got its start as the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The MIAA has been one of the strongest small college conferences in the nation, with its current members winning a combined four NCAA Division II national championships in football (Pittsburg State in 1991, and Northwest Missouri State in 1998, 1999, and 2009).
Although it currently has 11 members, spread mainly throughout Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, the MIAA may not be done with expansion yet. While Lincoln (Mo.) has rejoined the league after reviving its dormant football program, and Southwest Baptist plans to rejoin the conference for gridiron play by the 2013 season, the MIAA is considering up to four schools for membership to join those schools in the years to come.
The institutions targeted for membership are Central Oklahoma from the Lone Star Conference, perennial NAIA power Lindenwood (Mo.), Nebraska-Kearney from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and Northeastern State (Okla.), also from the LSC. If approved for membership, the MIAA would have 16 schools, therefore necessitating divisional play.
Website: http://www.themiaa.com/
Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)
1. Northwest Missouri State (14-1): The defending D-II national champion Bearcats reloaded for a possible repeat in 2010, signing 18 players to national letters of intent during the offseason. They finally won that elusive third title after losing four straight title games. It'll be interesting to see if they can win back-to-back crowns for the second time in program history.
2. Nebraska-Omaha (7-5): The Mavericks have had modest success in their two years in the MIAA, going 14-9 overall, as well as a combined 12-6 in conference play.
3. Missouri Western State (9-3): After ending the 2009 season with a 34-21 win over Augustana (S.D.), in the Mineral Water Bowl, the Griffons enter 2010 in hopes of taking that next step: a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
4. Central Missouri (8-3): The Mules have advanced to the D-II playoffs just once in program history: 2002. The UCM faithful hope 2010 will be the year their team gets another postseason berth. To earn that second-ever playoff appearance, though, they must do it under new head coach Jim Svoboda.
5. Pittsburg State (5-6): The Gorillas hope to begin their journey back to being among both the MIAA and national elite, respectively, after suffering their worst finish since 1972. Longtime offensive coordinator Tim Beck takes over as Pitt State's head coach, replacing Chuck Broyles, who retired after spending the last 20 seasons at the Gorilla helm. As for Beck, he inherits a program that returns 33 letterwinners from last season.
6. Washburn (8-3): The Ichabods bring back 20 starters from last year's team in hopes of advancing to the D-II playoffs for the third time in the last six years. WU enters the 2010 season with an all-time record of 497-549-44 (.476). The Ichabods need just three wins to reach the 500-win mark in the history of their football program.
7. Fort Hays State (6-5): The Tigers finished with their first winning season since 2004. They hope to take another step towards reaching the next level this season.
8. Missouri Southern State (3-7): The Lions struggled to a 3-6 mark in MIAA play a year ago.
9. Truman State (2-9): The 1990 NCAA Division II playoff team will be honored at halftime of their home opener on September 4. Two decades later, the Bulldog faithful hope history will repeat itself.
10. Emporia State (2-9): ESU first started playing football in 1893, but have made just eight appearances in postseason play all-time, including bowl games. The Hornets lone NCAA playoff appearance came in 2003, a 10-3 loss to Winona State (Minn.).
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5 years ago
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