By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Washburn was tapped for middle-of-the-pack finishes in both MIAA preseason football polls released Tuesday as part of the conference's Media Day activities at the Kansas City Convention Center.
The Ichabods were picked sixth in the coaches poll and seventh in the media poll after posting a 6-5 record in 2019 and having the 2020 season canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Washburn coach Craig Schurig said he never puts much stock in polls, noting that this year's projections were even more of a crapshoot due to the long layoff.
"You're probably (picked) the way the season was in 2019, maybe," Schurig said of the polls. "We feel good about our team, and obviously polls are polls and you get rewarded for past performance. We realize, 'Hey, we got some work to do.'
"You hope to use it as motivation. When people doubt you, it should motivate you to do higher things.''
Veteran Washburn University football coach Craig Schurig, flanked by Washburn University standouts Grant Bruner and Mitch Schurig, speaks at Tuesday's MIAA Media Day in Kansas City, Mo. [Photo by Rick Peterson]
The Ichabods return seven All-MIAA selections in receiver J.J. Letcher, quarterback Mitch Schurig, defensive back K.J. Turner, linebacker Grant Bruner, defensive back Marquise Manning, running back Zach Willis and punter Lane Spiker.
Northwest Missouri was picked first by the coaches and the media. Central Missouri and Fort Hays State were tied for second in the coaches poll, while UCM was second in the media poll followed by Fort Hays.
After a 4-7 season in 2019, Emporia State was tabbed eighth in the coaches poll and ninth by the media.
MIAA PRESEASON FOOTBALL POLLS
COACHES
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Northwest Missouri (10)
T-2. Central Missouri (1)
T-2. Fort Hays State (1)
4. Nebraska Kearney
5. Missouri Western
6. Washburn
7. Pittsburg State
8. Emporia State
9. Central Oklahoma
T-10. Missouri Southern
T-10. Northeastern State
12. Lincoln
MEDIA POLL
1. Northwest Missouri (10)
2. Central Missouri (1)
3. Fort Hays State (1)
4. Missouri Western
5. Nebraska Kearney
6. Pittsburg State
7. Washburn
8. Central Oklahoma
9. Emporia State
10. Missouri Southern
11. Northeastern State
12. Lincoln
