Olivet picked seventh in 2009 MIAA preseason football poll

The Olivet College football team has been picked seventh in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) preseason poll, announced today at the 2009 MIAA Fall Sports Press Day at Hope College's Haworth Inn and Conference Center.

In voting by the coaches and media, the Comets received 87 total points. Defending MIAA champion Trine (Ind.) University was selected as the preseason favorite with 23 points, followed by Adrian and Hope with 28 and 44 points, respectively. The rest of the top six were Alma (52) in fourth, Albion (53) in fifth and Kalamazoo (84) in sixth.

Under the direction of Head Coach Dominic Livedoti, Olivet is expected to return 32 letterwinners, including 11 starters from last year's team. The Comets will be led by three two-time first-team All-MIAA selections -- running back Pat Clasgens (Livonia/Stevenson), punter Ryan Patten (Charlotte) and linebacker Hakeem Yakubu (Kalamazoo/Central). Alex Hill (Berrien Springs) is a two-time second-team All-MIAA selection. These four players along with offensive lineman James Reynolds (Kalamazoo/Paw Paw) represented Olivet at today's press day.

The Comets will kick-off the 2009 season Sept. 5 when it welcomes the Wittenberg (Ohio) University Tigers to the Cutler Athletic Complex for a 6 p.m. game. Olivet opens MIAA play Oct. 3 when makes the short trip to Albion for a 1 p.m. kickoff.