Hope College is part of a three-way tie for second place in the 2013 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Preseason Football Coaches Poll.
The Flying Dutchmen received two of six possible first-place votes and totaled 15 points. Reigning MIAA champion Adrian College topped the poll released this morning with four first-place votes and nine points. Coaches could not vote for their team. Trine (Ind.) University, which garnered one first-place vote, and Albion College, also collected 15 points for a second-place tie with Hope. Olivet College (29), Kalamazoo College (31) and Alma College (33) rounded out the poll. The Flying Dutchmen finished third in the MIAA during the 2012 season.
Coach Dean Kreps' Dutchmen report for pre-season practice on Monday, Aug. 12. The season opener will be Saturday, Sept. 7, at North Park, Ill. The traditional Community Day home opener will be Saturday, Sept. 14 against Millikin, Ill. The Flying Dutchmen kick off league play on Saturday, Oct. 5 at home against Adrian for homecoming at Hope.
MIAA PRESEASON POLL: 1. Adrian (4), 9 pts.; 2 (tie). Hope (2), 15 pts.; 2 (tie). Trine (1), 15 pts.; 2. (tie). Albion, 15 pts.; 5. Olivet, 29 pts.; 6. Kalamazoo, 31 pts.; 7. Alma, 33 pts. First place votes in parenthesis