MIAC Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The two-time defending conference champion Saint John's University football team was predicted to finish second in the 2010 MIAC Preseason Coaches' poll released Wednesday, Sept. 1.

St. Thomas received seven-of-nine first-place votes and 63 total points to finish atop the poll, while the Johnnies received two first-place votes to finish six points behind in second. Bethel (51 points), Concordia (42 points) and St. Olaf (36 points) round out the Top Five.

Conference play opens on Sept. 18 and runs for eight weeks. The league's biggest games will all come in October, as Saint John's hosts St. Thomas on Oct. 2 before traveling to Bethel the following Saturday, Oct. 9.
 
SJU opens its 100th season against Northwestern (Minn.) at 1 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 4, at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville. Gagliardi begins his record 62nd season overall, 58th season at SJU, this fall. College football's all-time wins leader, Gagliardi begins the 2010 campaign with a 471-126-11 (.784) collegiate career record and a 447-120-10 (.783) record at SJU.

2010 MIAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll
MIAC head football coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own. Points were assigned for each vote (eight for a first-place vote, nine for second, etc.) Teams are ranked in order of highest point total to lowest with vote totals listed and first-place votes shown in parentheses.

1.  St. Thomas (7) 
2.  Saint John's (2) 
3.  Bethel 
4.  Concordia 
5.  St. Olaf 
6.  Gustavus 
7.  Augsburg 
8.  Carleton 
9.  Hamline