Olivet College picked third in 2008 MIAA preseason football poll

The Olivet College football team has been picked third in the seven-team Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) preseason poll, announced today at the 2008 MIAA Fall Sports Press Day at Alma College.

In voting by the coaches and media, the Comets received 34 total points, including four first-place votes from the coaches. Hope College was selected as the preseason favorite with 27 points, followed by Adrian College (33). Alma College (56) and Trine (Ind.) University (64) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

A year ago, Olivet and Hope shared the MIAA title with identical 6-1 league records, while the Comets received the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs. Olivet welcomes back 37 letterwinners, including eight starters from last year's team, which had a 6-5 overall record. Head Coach Dominic Livedoti is entering his eighth season and has an overall record of 38-35-3.

Senior offensive linemen Phil Koops (Hamilton), Curtis Pettway (St. Clair Shores/Bishop Gallagher) and Mark Van Lente (Saugatuck/Hamilton), junior fullback Sean Misko (Casco/Richmond), sophomore defensive lineman James Reynolds (Kalamazoo/Paw Paw) and senior defensive back Mike Terranova (Lansing/Lansing Catholic Central) were in attendance for Olivet.

The Comets will begin the 2008 season Sept. 6 when they travel to play Wittenberg (Ohio) University at 6 p.m. Olivet's home-opener is Sept. 13 when it hosts Elmhurst (Ill.) College at 1 p.m. at the Cutler Athletic Complex. The Comets' MIAA-opener is Oct. 4 when Albion visits for a 2 p.m. kickoff.