An injury-plagued Missouri Southern State University football team finished 2-9 overall and 1-8 in the MIAA last season, but during MIAA Media Day on Monday, coach Atiba Bradley, running back Nathan Glades and linebacker Colton Bass expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming season.

Bradley, who is entering his fifth year at the helm of the program, shared his thoughts on last season and his hopes for this year during the event at Emporia State University.

“We’re excited for 2025,” Bradley said. “That 2024 season we can’t put behind us quick enough. There’s not a person in our program — or in our building, for that matter — that was happy with how the season unfolded. We are extremely excited to kind of redeem ourselves and rebrand ourselves going forward as a football program.”

Glades, a Joplin High School graduate, is entering his fifth year in the program after missing last year because of a knee injury.

“Last year, we had a lot of injuries,” he said. “Those things happen, and you can’t prevent them in football.”

Bradley talked about Glades’ leadership in the program, even when sidelined.

“There are different realms of leadership,” Bradley said. “Wherever Nathan’s at, he’s leading. Unfortunately — and fortunately at the same time — he was leading in the training room. He was able to provide leadership to guys that maybe didn’t have as severe an injury but were still in the training room and rehabbing. He attacked it every day.”

‘Exited to see what unfolds’

Glades said he optimistic for the fall season.

“This year, I think, we had the ability to bring back guys with a sense of leadership and to be able to connect and bring the younger guys up with the older guys that we have now,” Glades said. “There was more relationship building with this summer and offseason. I’m excited to see what unfolds with that.”

Bass also fielded questions about last season and this one.

“I think that’s something we need to put behind us but not forget about it,” Bass said. “I think we can use that as fuel going into this next season. I think we can use it as a learning opportunity too. There is a lot of stuff we have figured out — places where we lack and I think a big part of the offseason has been trying to figure out how to fill those holes, whether that be with people or a change of mindset.”

Bradley also talked about what he is looking for in a starting quarterback after Luke Sampson entered the transfer portal last year.

“We are looking for the guy that gives us the best opportunity of moving the ball up and down the field and a guy that can provide some leadership in the huddle,” he said.

“Anytime you have a new quarterback, you hope that you can have a seasoned group of receivers. As good as our last quarterback was, it was because of the growth in that receivers’ room,” Bradley said. “Those guys were going up and competing for footballs and doing a good job of getting themselves open.”

Draper Parker, who surpassed 700 yards receiving last year, will help lead a receiving corps this season that includes Isaiah Green, Isaiah Padello and Ayden Robinson-Wayne.

Preseason polls split on who they predict will win the MIAA this year.

The coaches selected the defending MIAA champion, the University of Central Oklahoma, while media representatives selected Pittsburg State University.

The Lions open their season at 6 p.m. Aug. 30 when they host Midwestern State from Texas at Fred G. Hughes Stadium. They travel to Southwest Baptist in Bolivar on Sept. 6 for a nonconference game before opening the MIAA portion of their schedule at home Sept. 20 against Northwest Missouri State University.

Preseason polls

2025 MIAA preseason coaches poll

1. University of Central Oklahoma

2. Pittsburg State University

3. Fort Hays State University

4. University of Central Missouri

5. Emporia State University

6. Northwest Missouri State University

7. Missouri Western State University

8. University of Nebraska Kearney

9. Washburn University

10. Missouri Southern State University

2025 MIAA preseason media poll

1. Pittsburg State University

2. University of Central Oklahoma

3. Fort Hays State University

4. University of Central Missouri

5. Northwest Missouri State University

6. Emporia State University

7. University of Nebraska Kearney

8. Missouri Western State University

9. Washburn University

10. Missouri Southern State University