Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference

The Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC) was a football-only NCAA Division II conference active for nine seasons in the 1990s. The creation of the MIFC was announced in February 1989.[1] Conference play began in September 1990.

Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference
AssociationNCAA
FoundedFebruary 1989
CeasedJuly 1, 1999
Sports fielded
  • 1 (football)
DivisionDivision II
No. of teams11 (original), 14 (final)
RegionGreat Lakes Region

The conference was formed by a merger of the football-only Heartland Collegiate Conference and the football playing members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The membership of the MIFC was somewhat unstable. The league started with 11 teams and finished with 14, but just 8 members played all nine seasons. Seventeen different institutions were members of the MIFC at one time or another.

History

The founding MIFC members from the Heartland Conference were Saint Joseph's College, Ashland University, Valparaiso University, University of Indianapolis and Butler University. The founding members from the GLIAC were Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Hillsdale College, Northern Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University and Wayne State University.

Membership changes came quickly and often to the MIFC. Butler and Valparaiso left after the 1992 season, when the NCAA stopped allowing allowed Division I schools to play football at the Division II or III level. They were replaced by Northwood University and the University of St. Francis for the 1993 season. The next change came in the 1994 season when Michigan Technological University joined the conference as its 12th member. The MIFC reverted to an 11-team lineup after the 1995 season, when St. Joseph's left the league. The final change occurred in 1998 when the University of Findlay, Mercyhurst College, and Westminster College all joined the conference, increasing the membership to 14. Through all of these changes, the MIFC maintained a 10-game conference schedule.

The MIFC experienced extremes of parity and single-team domination. After four schools tied for the 1992 conference championship, Ferris State won four consecutive titles from 1993–96, three of them in undefeated seasons. Ferris State was the most successful MIFC team overall, winning or sharing five championships. Grand Valley State was second with four titles, followed by Butler (two), Ashland (one), and Hillsdale (one). An MIFC team qualified for the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs every season, and a second team qualified in two seasons. MIFC teams, collectively, had a 5-11 record in the playoffs.

MIFC players who went on to the NFL include running backs Eric Lynch (Grand Valley State) and Tom Beer (Saginaw Valley State, Wayne State); linebackers Mark Maddox (Northern Michigan) and Monty Brown (Ferris State); offensive lineman Mike Sheldon (Grand Valley State); and defensive linemen Paul Spicer (Saginaw Valley State) and Lamar King (Saginaw Valley State). King was a first-round draft pick (#22 overall) in 1999.

In the MIFC's last three seasons, Indianapolis and St. Francis were the only members who were not also members of the GLIAC. After St. Francis left the conference following the 1998 season, the GLIAC voted to resume sponsorship of football as a conference sport, accommodating Indianapolis as a football-only associate member. This "merger" of the MIFC into the GLIAC was announced in June 1999.[2]

The GLIAC now treats the MIFC records of 1990-98 as part of its own football history.[3]

Membership timeline
Presidents' Athletic ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceWestminster College (Pennsylvania)Mid-States Football AssociationNAIA independent football schoolsGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceUniversity of FindlayMid-States Football AssociationNAIA independent football schoolsGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceMercyhurst CollegeNCAA Division II independent schoolsNCAA Division III independent schoolsGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceMichigan Technological UniversityNCAA Division II independent schoolsGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceNorthwood UniversityNCAA Division II independent schoolsMid-States Football AssociationUniversity of St. FrancisNAIA independent football schoolsGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceWayne State UniversityGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceSaginaw Valley State UniversityGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceNorthern Michigan UniversityGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceHillsdale CollegeGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceGrand Valley State UniversityGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceFerris State UniversityGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceUniversity of IndianapolisGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceAshland UniversityNCAA Division II independent schoolsSaint Joseph's College (Indiana)Pioneer Football LeagueValparaiso UniversityPioneer Football LeagueButler University

Champions
SeasonChampion(s)MIFC recordDivision II playoffs
1990Grand Valley State9-1lost to Texas A&M Commerce, 20-14
1991Butler9-1lost to Pittsburg State, 26-16
1992Ferris State (co-champion)8-2beat Edinboro, 19-15; lost to New Haven, 35-13
Butler (co-champion)8-2
Hillsdale (co-champion)8-2
Grand Valley State (co-champion)8-2
1993Ferris State8-0-2lost to Indiana (PA), 28-21
1994Ferris State10-0beat West Chester, 43-40; lost to Indiana (PA), 21-17
1995Ferris State10-0beat Millersville, 36-26, beat New Haven, 17-9; lost to North Alabama, 45-7.
1996Ferris State9-1beat Indiana (PA), 24-23; lost to Clarion, 23-21
1997Ashland (co-champion)9-1lost to Slippery Rock, 30-20
Grand Valley State (co-champion)9-1
1998Grand Valley State9-1lost to Slippery Rock, 37-14

Second-place teams qualifying for the playoffs:

1991: Grand Valley State lost to Texas A&M Commerce, 36-15

1994: Grand Valley State lost to Indiana (PA), 35-27

Annual standings
1990 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Grand Valley State $^ 9 –1 –010 –2 –0
Ashland 7 –3 –07 –3 –1
Hillsdale 7 –3 –07 –4 –0
Ferris State 5 –4 –16 –4 –1
Butler 5 –4 –15 –5 –1
Northern Michigan 5 –4 –15 –5 –1
Saginaw Valley State 5 –5 –06 –5 –0
Indianapolis 3 –6 –13 –6 –1
Wayne State (MI) 3 –7 –03 –7 –0
Saint Joseph's (IN) 3 –7 –03 –7 –0
Valparaiso 1 –9 –01 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
1991 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Butler $^ 9 –1 –09 –2 –0
Ashland 8 –2 –09 –2 –0
Grand Valley State ^ 8 –2 –09 –3 –0
Saginaw Valley State 5 –5 –06 –5 –0
Ferris State 5 –5 –05 –6 –0
Hillsdale 5 –5 –05 –6 –0
Wayne State (MI) 4 –6 –04 –6 –0
Saint Joseph's (IN) 4 –6 –04 –6 –0
Northern Michigan 3 –6 –13 –6 –1
Indianapolis 2 –8 –02 –8 –0
Valparaiso 1 –8 –11 –8 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
1992 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Hillsdale + 8 –2 –09 –2 –0
Ferris State +^ 8 –2 –010 –3 –0
Butler + 8 –2 –08 –2 –0
Grand Valley State + 8 –2 –08 –3 –0
Ashland 7 –3 –08 –3 –0
Saginaw Valley State 6 –4 –07 –4 –0
Wayne State (MI) 3 –7 –04 –7 –0
Valparaiso 3 –7 –03 –8 –0
Indianapolis 1 –8 –11 –8 –1
Saint Joseph's (IN) 1 –8 –11 –8 –1
Northern Michigan 1 –9 –01 –9 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
1993 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Ferris State $^ 8 –0 –29 –1 –2
Ashland 8 –2 –09 –2 –0
Grand Valley State 6 –2 –26 –3 –2
Hillsdale 6 –3 –17 –3 –1
Northern Michigan 5 –4 –15 –4 –1
Wayne State (MI) 5 –5 –06 –5 –0
St. Francis (IL) 5 –5 –05 –6 –0
Saginaw Valley State 4 –6 –04 –7 –0
Northwood 2 –7 –13 –7 –1
Saint Joseph's (IN) 1 –8 –11 –8 –1
Indianapolis 1 –9 –02 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
1994 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Ferris State $^ 10 –0 –011 –1 –0
Grand Valley State ^ 8 –2 –08 –4 –0
Hillsdale 7 –3 –07 –4 –0
Ashland 6 –4 –06 –4 –0
Saginaw Valley State 6 –4 –06 –4 –0
Wayne State (MI) 6 –4 –06 –5 –0
Northern Michigan 5 –5 –05 –5 –0
Michigan Tech 3 –7 –04 –7 –0
Saint Joseph's (IN) 3 –7 –04 –7 –0
Indianapolis 2 –7 –12 –7 –1
Northwood 2 –7 –12 –7 –1
St. Francis (IL) 1 –9 –01 –10 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
1995 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Ferris State $^ 10 –0 –012 –1 –0
Grand Valley State 8 –2 –08 –3 –0
Northern Michigan 7 –3 –07 –3 –0
Saginaw Valley State 7 –3 –07 –3 –0
Hillsdale 7 –3 –07 –4 –0
Michigan Tech 5 –5 –05 –5 –0
St. Francis (IL) 5 –5 –05 –6 –0
Indianapolis 3 –7 –03 –8 –0
Wayne State (MI) 3 –7 –03 –8 –0
Ashland 2 –8 –02 –8 –0
Northwood 2 –8 –02 –8 –0
Saint Joseph's (IN) 1 –9 –01 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
1996 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Ferris State $^  9 –1   10 –2  
Grand Valley State  8 –2   8 –3  
Northern Michigan  7 –3   7 –3  
Saginaw Valley State  7 –3   7 –3  
Hillsdale  6 –4   6 –5  
Northwood  5 –5   6 –5  
Ashland  4 –6   4 –7  
Indianapolis  3 –7   4 –7  
St. Francis (IL)  2 –8   3 –8  
Michigan Tech  2 –8   2 –8  
Wayne State (MI)  2 –8   2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
1997 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Ashland +^  9 –1   9 –2  
Grand Valley State +  9 –1   9 –1  
Saginaw Valley State  8 –2   9 –2  
Indianapolis  7 –3   8 –3  
Northern Michigan  6 –4   7 –4  
Hillsdale  4 –6   4 –7  
Ferris State  3 –7   3 –7  
Northwood  3 –7   3 –7  
Hillsdale  3 –7   3 –7  
Michigan Tech  2 –8   2 –8  
St. Francis (IL)  1 –9   1 –9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
1998 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Grand Valley State $^  9 –1   9 –3  
Saginaw Valley State  8 –2   9 –2  
Indianapolis  8 –2   8 –2  
Ashland  7 –3   7 –3  
Northwood  7 –3   7 –3  
Findlay  5 –5   5 –5  
Mercyhurst  5 –5   5 –5  
Ferris State  5 –5   5 –6  
Northern Michigan  4 –5   5 –5  
Michigan Tech  4 –6   4 –6  
Hillsdale  3 –7   3 –8  
Westminster (PA)  2 –7   3 –7  
Wayne State (MI)  2 –8   2 –9  
St. Francis (IL)  0 –10   0 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant

References
  1. "New Conference Formed". Evansville Courier and Press. February 9, 1989.
  2. "League merger will bring football back into GLIAC". Detroit Free Press. June 10, 1999.
  3. e.g. 2004 GLIAC Football Media Guide, pages 24-25.
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