The Hope College football team is ranked fifth in the 2015 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll.

Coach Dean Kreps and the Flying Dutchmen totaled 23 points for their spot in the voting by the league’s coaches, who could not vote for their own team. 

Reigning MIAA champion Adrian earned preseason favorite honors with a low total of nine points. The Bulldogs finished ahead of second-place Albion (16 points), third-place Olivet (17) and Trine (17), Hope, sixth-place Kalamazoo (31) and seventh-place Alma (34). 

The Flying Dutchmen are looking to improve on a 2014 season in which they posted a 6-4 overall record and tied for fourth place in the MIAA standings with a 3-3 mark in league play. 

Hope kicks off the 2015 season on Saturday, September 5 when the Flying Dutchmen host Monmouth, Illinois at Smith Stadium. The 1:30 p.m. kickoff is part of the 50th Community Day at Hope College. 

Hope will take part in the MIAA’s Challenge Series with members of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) on Saturday, September 12, with a game at Elmhurst, Illinois. Kickoff is 1 p.m. Central. 

The Flying Dutchmen will host Concordia, Wisconsin on Saturday, September 19 in the fourth year of the MIAA’s Challenge Series with members of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. Kickoff is 1 p.m. 

Hope’s MIAA opener is Saturday, October 3 against Albion. Kickoff is 5 p.m. 

The Flying Dutchmen then play back-to-back road games at Rockford, Illinois in non-league play on Saturday, October 10 at 1 p.m. Central, and at Olivet on Saturday, September 17 at 1 p.m. 

Hope hosts Alma for homecoming on Saturday, October 24 with a 6 p.m. kickoff and Adrian for Senior Day on Saturday, October 31 with a 1 p.m. kickoff. 

The Flying Dutchmen conclude the regular season with road games at Trine on Saturday, November 7 at 1 p.m. and Kalamazoo on Saturday, November 14 at 1 p.m. 

This is Kreps’ 21st season as head coach. He has a career record of 107-89, including an 83-36 record against MIAA opponents. He has guided the Flying Dutchmen to six league championships. 

MIAA POLL

Rank   Team (Points)

  1. Adrian (9)
  2. Albion (16)
  3. Olivet and Trine (17)
  4. Hope (23)
  5. Kalamazoo (31)
  6. Alma (34)