RFC Summer Semester--Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)--(NCAA Division III)

Looking back: Two teams from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2010.  But it wasn't St. John's that reached postseason play. Instead, St. Thomas and Bethel (Minn.) found their way to the playoffs.  And both of those teams managed to make a deep run in the playoffs, as the Tommies reached the quarterfinals, while the Royals reached the semifinals.  The only negative for the MIAC in terms of its postseason was the fact that both Bethel and UST met in the quarterfinals, with the Royals shocking the Tommies in a low-scoring 12-7 contest.  Bethel lost to eventual national runner-up Mount Union in the semifinal round.

Looking ahead:  Bethel, St. John's, and St. Thomas go into this year highly ranked by two national sports publications. Also, St. John's head coach John Gagliardi enters his 59th season as the winningest head coach in college football history, at all levels.  Gagliardi has 454 wins at St. John's all time, 478 all time, entering the 2011 season.  He hopes to add  more wins to that illustrious record this season.

Website: http://www.miac-online.org/


Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)

1. St. Thomas (12-1):  With 15 starters each returning on both sides of the football, expect the Tommies to at least stay near the top in the MIAC in 2011.

2. St. John's (7-3):  After falling short of the NCAA playoffs last season, Gagliardi and the Johnnies hope to make a run not only at another MIAC title, but another postseason trip as well.


3. Bethel (Minn.)--(12-2):  It'll be interesting to see if the Royals can outlast either of the "Saints" of the MIAC, and return to the playoffs.


4. St. Olaf (6-4):  The Oles open MIAC play with a tough test against St. Thomas on September 17.


5. Concordia (Moorhead)--(5-5):  An overtime win over St. Olaf capped up-and-down 2010 season for the Cobbers.


6. Gustavus Adolphus (4-6):  The 2010 season was anything but golden for the Golden Gusties, as they lost four games by 20 or more points.


7. Carleton (3-7):  The Knights struggled to a 2-6 record in MIAC match-ups last season.


8. Augsburg (4-6):  The Auggies haven't won a MIAC title since 1997.


9. Hamline (1-9):  The Pipers hope to put the misery of 2010 behind them.