Looking back: It was mainly a two-way race for the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) championship in 2010, as Northwest Missouri State added yet another conference trophy to their case. But the Bearcats quest to win back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships was derailed by eventual national champion Minnesota-Duluth in the national semifinals.
The other MIAA team to win at least 10 games, as well as reach the D-II playoffs, was Central Missouri. The Mules downed two Lone Star Conference teams; West Texas A&M at home, and Abilene Christian on the road, before losing to Northwest Missouri in the national quarterfinals.
Looking ahead: The MIAA will have one less team to play football in 2011, as athletics officials at the University of Nebraska-Omaha announced earlier this year that not only would the Mavericks make the move up to the NCAA Division I level, but also drop their football program. However, the conference will welcome four new members in 2012, in Central Oklahoma, Lindenwood, Nebraska-Kearney, and Northeastern State (Okla.). Also, the Lincoln (Mo.) Blue Tigers will take the field for their first MIAA campaign this fall.
Website: http://www.themiaa.com/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Central Missouri (11-3): The Mules begin their second season under head coach Jim Svoboda, hoping to make an even deeper playoff run. It'll be interesting to see if they have what it takes in 2011.
2. Northwest Missouri State (12-2): Not only are the Bearcats in the process of starting a new era after the retirement of legendary head coach Mel Tjeerdsma, they've also had to replace him not once, but twice. Adam Dorrel became Northwest's head coach after Scott Bostwick passed away in June. Even with all of that adversity, the Bearcats hope to advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the 14th time in 16 years this season.
3. Washburn (8-4): After splitting their first eight games, the Ichabods ended the 2010 campaign with four straight wins, including an easy win over Midwestern State in the Kanza Bowl. Hopefully, the momentum from last season will carry them into NCAA playoff contention in 2011.
4. Missouri Western State (8-4): The fourth MIAA team to advance to postseason play, the Griffons lost to Northwest Missouri State in the first round of the D-II playoffs.
5. Pittsburg State (6-6): Yet another MIAA squad that punched their ticket to the postseason in 2010, the Gorillas ended an otherwise "up-and-down" season with an upset win over Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.) in the Mineral Water Bowl.
6. Emporia State (5-6): The Hornets hope to get back on the winning track after ending the 2010 season with four straight losses. That came after a 5-2 start.
7. Truman State (4-7): The Bulldogs have had three straight losing seasons in as many years. It's a trend they hope to turn around in 2011.
8. Missouri Southern State (4-7): The Lions also had a long 2010 season, finishing 3-7 in MIAA action.
9. Fort Hays State (3-8): A fast 3-0 start fizzled into a 0-8 finish for the Tigers down the stretch in 2010.
10. Lincoln (Mo.)--(2-9): The Blue Tigers have a tough row to hoe in their inaugural MIAA season.
4 years ago
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