Aug. 19, 2010

Bay City, Mich. - With several new coaches and two new teams, the GLIAC begins in familiar fashion: Grand Valley is atop the mountain followed by Hillsdale and Saginaw Valley State - all playoff teams in 2009. In the 2010 GLIAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Lakers garnered 169 points and 13 of 14 first-place votes. The 2010 campaign marks the ninth straight year that GVSU has been the preseason GLIAC favorite. The Chargers and Cardinals are tied for second with 148 points. Hillsdale was awarded the remaining first-place vote. Ashland placed fourth in the poll with 113 points, Northwood fifth with 111, Findlay sixth with 102, Northern Michigan seventh with 101, Wayne State eighth with 91, Michigan Tech ninth with 87, Indianapolis 10th with 78, Ferris State 11th with 48, Tiffin 12th with 32, Ohio Dominican 13th with 27 and Lake Erie 14th with 19.

Names and faces change, but the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (GLIAC) pursuit of excellence continues on the gridiron. This season, the GLIAC welcomes two new member institutions in Ohio Dominican University and Lake Erie College as the league expands from 12 to 14 teams. The fresh look for the GLIAC extends to new leadership in several programs. On the sidelines, the conference boasts new faces in familiar places as long-time assistant Matt Mitchell begins his first fall as head coach at Grand Valley State University, Bob Bartolomeo takes command at the University of Indianapolis, Bill Conley gets his start at ODU while Mark McNellie commences his fourth season at LEC, but his first in the GLIAC.

The GLIAC continues its reputation as a top Division II conference. That point was made stronger by several strong playoff records last season. In the 2010 Sporting News Division II Preseason Top 25 poll, the conference was well represented as GVSU ranked second, Hillsdale was slotted 13th and Saginaw Valley placed 20th. Grand Valley, a perennial national power, advanced to the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championship Game, but dropped a 30-23 decision to Northwest Missouri State in Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala. The Lakers were hardly the only team to advance to the NCAA Tournament last fall. Hillsdale earned a bid to the Division II version of the big dance and defeated Minnesota State-Mankato in the first round 27-24 in overtime. The Chargers advanced to the second round of the playoffs before they were stopped by Grand Valley. The Lakers avenged their lone regular-season loss (which came at Hillsdale's hands) with a 44-27 victory in Allendale. Saginaw Valley also earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament, but was eliminated in the opening round in a 35-20 loss to Nebraska-Kearney.

2010 GLIAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll

School (first-place votes) Points

1. Grand Valley State (13) 169

2. Hillsdale (1) 148

Saginaw Valley State 148

4. Ashland 113

5. Northwood 111

6. Findlay 102

7. Northern Michigan 101

8. Wayne State 91

9. Michigan Tech 87

10. Indianapolis 78

11. Ferris State 48

12. Tiffin 32

13. Ohio Dominican 27

14. Lake Erie 19