KANSAS CITY -  Fort Hays State was tabbed fifth in the MIAA Preseason Media Poll and sixth in the Coaches Poll released for the upcoming 2016 season on Tuesday, August 2.

Fort Hays State continued its rise in the MIAA in 2015, finishing in a tie for third place at 8-3. By defeating the team it tied (Central Missouri) in the regular season finale, the Tigers earned the right to play in their first postseason game since 1995. The Tigers faced Minnesota-Duluth in the Mineral Water Bowl, but came up just short in a 30-22 loss to finish at 8-4 overall. FHSU exceeded expectations from the coaches and media in 2015 as they were picked sixth in both preseason polls last year. The third-place conference finish last year is the highest for the program since joining the MIAA in 2006.

This year, the Tigers are picked one spot higher in the media poll than they were last year at fifth, but they occupy the sixth pick in the coaches poll for the second straight year.

The eight wins in 2015 tied the school record for a single season, occurring for the seventh time in the history of the program and first time since 1995. The Tigers will look to continue their run of a one-win improvement in each year since head coach Chris Brown took over the program in 2011. The Tigers went 4-7 in his first year, 5-6 in 2012, 6-5 in 2013, 7-4 in 2014, and 8-4 last year.

The picks may be a show of caution as the Tigers graduated four of their five All-America selections from 2015, including linebacker Brock Long, quarterback Treveon Albert, offensive lineman Matt Erbert, and defensive back Daniel Lindsey. The lone All-America pick to return is junior running back Shaquille Cooper, who ran for 1,441 yards and caught 37 passes for 309 receiving yards. But the Tigers do have seven All-MIAA performers returning in 2016 including Cooper. That list includes defensive linemen Nathan Shepherd and Sie Doe, Jr., defensive back Doyin Jibowu, offensive lineman Chico Feltenberger, and linebackers Alex Schmidtberger and Justin McPhail.
 
Northwest Missouri State was the top pick in both polls, coming off an undefeated national championship season. Central Missouri is the second-place pick in both polls, while Pittsburg State is third in both. Emporia State, the other MIAA representative in the NCAA Playoffs last year aside from NWMSU, is picked fourth in the media poll and tied for third in the coaches poll. Central Oklahoma and FHSU are flip-flopped in the polls, UCO fifth in the coaches poll, while FHSU is fifth in the media poll.
 
FHSU plays all conference games once again in 2016, since the MIAA has 12 members in football allowing for the complete 11-game schedule of conference opponents for all teams. The Tigers open the year at home against Missouri Southern on Thursday, September 1.
 
Below are the preseason polls for 2016…

2016 MIAA Preseason Media Poll

1. Northwest Missouri (39)  468

2. Central Missouri  392

3. Pittsburg State  349

4. Emporia State  325

5. Fort Hays State  316

6. Central Oklahoma  310

7. Missouri Western  264

8. Washburn  217

9. Lindenwood  132

10. Northeastern State  117

11. Missouri Southern    84

12. Nebraska-Kearney    68

2016 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Northwest Missouri (10)  120

2. Central Missouri (1)  110

T3. Pittsburg State (1)    87

T3. Emporia State    87

5. Central Oklahoma    86

6. Fort Hays State    80

7. Missouri Western    62

8. Washburn     56

9. Northeastern State    31

10. Missouri Southern    27

11. Nebraska-Kearney    25

12. Lindenwood   21