Official Site of the Midwest Conference

The quarterback at the helm of IC football's best four-year stretch in program history, Michael Bates had a career record of 30-8 as a starter and led the Blueboys to its only Division III playoff appearance in his first year in 2011.

The Auburn, Illinois native started his career at IC with much success, finishing the year 9-2 overall and 8-1 in MWC competition. This would be enough to push the team into the NCAA tournament and give the IC football program its first and only Division III playoff appearance.

In the following years, Bates would put together one of the most stellar careers ever had by an IC football player.

He would be named First Team All-MWC in his final three seasons. As a senior, he was also considered as a finalist for the 2014 Gagliardi Trophy. He was the first player from Illinois College to be named either a semifinalist or a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, and only the fifth student-athlete from the MWC to be named as a finalist for the award.

He holds or is tied for five single-game, season or career records at Illinois College, including most career completions (836), most career passing yards (10,787) and most career passing touchdowns (107).

He tied the record for most touchdown passes in a single game with seven vs. Grinnell in 2012.

Bates was not just a superstar athlete but a great student as well. He earned MWC Academic All-Conference in each of his four seasons. He was also named the Capital One Academic All-American of the Year for Division III football in 2014.