Olivet College picked third in 2007 MIAA preseason football poll

The Olivet College football team has been picked third in the 2007 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) preseason poll released today at the annual MIAA Fall Sports Press Day at Albion College. In voting by the coaches and media, the Comets received 65 total points. Defending MIAA champion Hope College was picked as the preseason favorite with 21 points, followed by Adrian College (59). Albion (70) and Alma (85) colleges were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Olivet welcomes back 47 letterwinners, including 18 starters from last year's team, which had a 6-4 overall record and tied for second-place in the MIAA with a 5-2 mark. Head Coach Dominic Livedoti is entering his seventh season and has an overall record of 32-30-3.

Leading the way for Olivet will be captains Rod Sanders (Detroit/H.W. Notre Dame), Chris Smith (Dimondale/Holt) and DeRan Thomas (Detroit/H.W. Notre Dame).

The Comets will open the 2007 season when they host Illinois Wesleyan University Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. at the Cutler Athletic Complex. Olivet's MIAA-opener is Sept. 29 when it hosts Wisconsin Lutheran College at noon.