RFC Summer Semester--Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA)--(NCAA Division III)

Looking back: The team with the best combined overall record in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) over the last three years doesn't come from the state of Michigan, but about 10 miles south of the state line, in Indiana.  Trine University has compiled a combined mark of 31-4 (.886) dating back to the start of the 2008 season.  They've also won three straight MIAA titles during that span, winning 18 straight conference games going into this year.  That's not to mention that the Thunder has advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs three straight years as well, winning one postseason game a piece the last two seasons.  If that's not enough, Trine has also had two undefeated regular seasons in the last three years (2008, 2010).


Looking ahead: Trine enters the 2011 season hoping to win a fourth straight MIAA title.  Meanwhile, the other six schools, all located within the state of Michigan, hope to break the three-year stranglehold the Thunder has had on the conference crown, as no other squad finished the 2010 season above .500 overall.

Website: http://www.miaa.org/

Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)

1. Trine (11-1):  The 2011 schedule for the Thunder is not exactly the toughest, as the three-time defending MIAA champions will face teams that finished the 2010 campaign with a combined overall record of 29-71. 

2. Adrian (5-5):  The Bulldogs open the season with three straight road games, starting with the opener against Husson in Maine on September 2.  


3. Albion (5-5):  Despite a so-so 2010 campaign, the Britons still got some national recognition entering the 2011 season, earning the No. 23 preseason ranking from Lindy's Sports magazine.


4. Hope (3-7):  The Flying Dutch hope to get to over the three-win hump in 2011.  They've finished with exactly that same number the last the three years.  Their last season of more than three wins came in 2008, when they finished 6-4.


5. Kalamazoo (3-7):  The Hornets were held to exactly either 10 or 17 points, in four of their seven losses last season.  No, that's not a misprint.


6. Alma (3-7):  The Scots non-conference schedule includes a September 24 contest in Virginia against defending Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion Washington & Lee.


7. Olivet (0-10):  It's been "long-time, no wins", for the Comets, whose last win came on September 20, 2008, a 59-0 rout of Concordia (Chicago).  They've lost 27 straight games since then.