FREELAND, Mich. – Should the preseason poll of seven Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association head football coaches ring true, the 2017 campaign will be among the closest on record.

Emerging from the neck-and-neck race for the preseason nod was Hope, as the Flying Dutchmen are predicted to continue their upswing from 2016 and prevail in the MIAA campaign. Defending MIAA champion Olivet garnered two first-place votes to place second overall.

Just eight points separated first place and fourth place, as all four of the top teams in the preseason poll received at least one first-place vote. 

Adrian (16 points) was one point better than Trine (17 points) to take third, with both teams earning one first-place vote. Alma ranked fifth, while Albion (33) edged Kalamazoo (34) for sixth place.

The preseason poll for MIAA football awards one point for a first-place vote, two points for a second-place vote, et cetera. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own programs. 

Hope (7-3, 5-1 MIAA) ended the 2016 season on a six-game winning streak to mark a significant turnaround under then first-year head coach Peter Stuursma; the five-game win turnaround season for the Flying Dutchmen was the most in the program's 108-year history. Hope's turnaround in 2016 was bolstered by an offensive line that led the team's offense to churn out a program-best 2,738 yards. Returning from that line is Justin Fairfield (Sr., G, North Muskegon, Mich.), who has been selected to a pair of preseason All-America teams.

Olivet (9-2, 6-0 MIAA) tallied their first MIAA Championship outright since 1974 with their perfect run through conference challengers in 2016. Coupled with their 2015 shared title, the Comets' back-to-back MIAA championships were the first time Olivet accomplished the feat in 1913 and 1914. Defensive standouts and 2016 All-MIAA honorees Walter Love III (Sr., DB, Detroit, Mich.), Javon Walker (Sr., DB, Lansing, Mich.) and Jaquan Short (Jr., DB, Liberty Twp, Ohio) return this fall, as the trio combined for eight of Olivet's 15 interceptions and 28 pass break-ups in 2016.

Adrian (4-6, 2-4) had a growing season in 2016, but the Bulldogs are hoping youth from last season will translate into experience this season. Among the Bulldogs tested last fall that return in 2017 are Hunter Hamm (So., QB, Baytown, Texas), who guided Adrian's offense the last eight games of the 2016 season, throwing for 1,179 yards and even touchdowns. Also returning this fall are 2016 first-team All-MIAA picks Eric McDonel (Sr., OL, Titusville, Fla.) on offense and defensive stalwarts Chris Adams (Jr., OLB, St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Damon Fuller (Sr., DL, Redford, Mich.).

Trine (6-4, 3-3) started the 2016 season with a 5-1 marek including two MIAA victories, but faltered late in the fall. First-team All-MIAA wide receiver Jeffery Barnett (Jr., WR, Fremont, Ohio) is back for 2017 after a standout season not only on the field in the fall by leading Trine with 937 receiving yards, but finishing as national runner-up in the indoor triple jump at the 2017 NCAA Championship.

Alma (7-3, 4-2), improved on their 2015 season with two more victories in 2016, with their lone defeats coming against MIAA champ Olivet and runner-up Hope. Second-team All-MIAA Dylan Zabrowski (Sr., QB, Jackson, Mich.) enters his fourth year as starter; last fall, Zabrowski guided the Scots to the second-ranked offense in the MIAA with 439.4 yards per game.

Albion (1-9, 0-6) churned out 381.1 yards per game on offense to rank fourth in the MIAA last fall, but struggled to turn those yards into points against conference challengers. 

Kalamazoo (3-7, 1-5) started the 2016 season with a pair of non-conference victories, but the Hornets were unable to crack the win column against MIAA opponents until their season finale against Albion.  

The 2017 MIAA football season kicks off Thursday, Aug. 31 when Trine hosts Manchester a 7:30 p.m. MIAA play begins Saturday, Sept. 30, a day highlighted by Hope traveling to Olivet for a 2 p.m. contest.

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