Aug. 7, 2008

ALMA, Mich. - The 2008 football season has officially begun after today's MIAA Media Day even though the Bulldogs will not actually hit the football field. The annual MIAA Pre-Season Football Poll shows Adrian College as the number two team in the seven-member conference despite receiving the most first-place votes among the coaches and media.

Adrian received seven first-place tallies with three of the seven head coaches picking the Bulldogs to win the 2008 title. Half of the media members chose the Bulldogs as they received four first-place votes. The Bulldogs had 33 poll points which was six behind Hope College. Olivet College was a very close third with six total first-place votes and a total of 34 poll points. Hope and Olivet shared the regular season crown in 2007 while the Comets earned the bid into the national playoffs.

Adrian has the experience and talent to make a run towards a MIAA title in 2008. They return 13 starters overall including senior quarterback Troy Niblock (White Pigeon, Mich.) who was named Co-Offensive MVP of the league in 2007.

The team will rely heavily on the leadership of six captains who attended today's event. Senior John Ahearn (Tecumseh, Mich.) is a force on the offensive line and started all 10 games a year ago. Senior Nick Pipia (Clinton Twp., Mich.) and senior Bobby Watson (South Lyon, Mich.) are both solid linebackers who were a part of the sixth-best total defense in Division III in 2007.

Senior wide receiver Patrick Reagan (Granger, Ind.) gives Niblock a target with good speed and sure hands in the passing game. Senior linebacker Harry Bailey (Hudson, Mich.) is a local Lenawee County product who is also a very high energy player. The season starts with a stiff road test on September 6 as the Bulldogs travel to Columbus, Ohio and face Capital University. Capital is ranked seventh in the D3football.com pre-season national poll after going 8-3 a year ago.