Comets picked to finish fifth in preseason 2004 MIAA football poll

The Olivet College football team was selected to finish fifth in the 2004 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) football poll at the annual MIAA Fall Sports Press Day held at Olivet. In voting by the coaches and media, the Fighting Comets received 127 total points. Defending MIAA champion Hope College was picked as the preseason favorite with 40 points.

Olivet returns 44 lettermen, including all 11 offensive starters, under third-year Head Coach Irv Sigler '65. Leading the way for the Comets will be captains Mick Faasen (Belding High School), Cody Francis (Hopkins High School), Ryan Hayes (Livonia/Churchill High School), Kyle Lackscheide (Vermontville/Maple Valley) and Andy Storey (Battle Creek/Harper Creek High School).

Olivet will open the 2004 season at Franklin (Ind.) College on Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m. EST. The Comets will play their home opener against Ohio Wesleyan University on Sept. 18 at the new Cutler Athletic Complex at 1 p.m.