After winning five games last season for the first time since 2007, along with being members of the Frontier Conference and being ranked 25^th in nation; confidence can’t be any higher for the Southern Oregon University Raider’s football team heading into the 2012 football season.

“We built some confidence into our program,” said second year head coach Craig Howard on last season’s success, “players went into the offseason with renewed interest and enthusiasm.”

Commitment, player buy-in, work ethic.

All three phrases have been used about the Raiders this offseason.

“What I’m really impressed with in the players are their work ethic and commitment in the summer months,” said Howard, “That commitment will pay off in October/November to see players committed to excellence, commitment to working hard and getting ready for the season.”

College football has become a year-long process.  Whenever you’re not playing, strategically planning for the next game, you’re getting ready for the next season through lifting, recruiting and running.

“Just getting in during the offseason with the coaches,” said Sophomore quarterback Austin Dodge, “all the players have bought in to the workouts, bought in the running, the condition and so everyone is bigger, stronger, faster than last year.”

On offense, the Raiders are looking to utilize their experience and talent at the skill positions while working behind a re-amp’d offensive line while understanding that they will be a no huddle, spread offense.

“It is about guys giving great effort than anything else.  We’re in a good position at quarterback, running back and wide receiver,” said offensive coordinator Ken Fasnacht, “We got the right guys carrying the ball and it’s just about us growing as a unit and putting points on the scoreboard.”

The improvement from last to this season, he said, has been like night and day and if they can take this into summer camp, people and teams won’t know what to expect next.

Let’s look at some of the weapons that the Raiders have on the offense:

Austin Dodge.  Redshirt Sophmore.  He threw for 2,195 yards last season in eight games and is expected to be an All-American this season in just his second year at the ropes.

The receiving core; all are seniors and are lead by Patrick Donahue.  Donahue had led the squad last season in receptions (54) as well as yards (616) and is expected to make some noise in the receiving category in the NAIA.  He is backed by Cole McKenzie at the “X” receiver and Michael Olsen and Justin Otaguro at the slot.

Manny Barraigan.  The senior is returning as the starter after rushing for 528 yards last season.  Coach Howard and Fasnancht firmly believe that he could be a 1,000-yard rusher this season with All-American honors.

Zach Urrutia.  If the offensive line was the foundation of the house that is the offense; Urrutia will be the thing that would mold it to its final position.  The 300-pound right guard is leading the re-amp’d offensive line and has the strength and power for the position to open up running holes in the running game while can get a hand on someone in the passing game.

As any sports fan know, your offense is only as good as your defense.

After getting on the same page last year; this year, is to build off this momentum and the focus has become not just on a individual job on the field, but to focus more about making plays.

“We feel like we’ve been in the system for a year now that everyone knows their assignments,” said defensive coordinator Matt Toblin, “It’s not about executing our defense, but to be destructive; it’s about making offenses to be accountable to what we do it about being more aggressive about making them execute at a level that they’re not use to.”

The unit is led by a core of veteran leadership that surrounds the young, raw talent; whom are eager to and will bring excitement to the program for years to come according to Toblin.

Some of the leaders on the defense include:

Senior linebacker Kalii Robinson, who is a quick, ball chasing player, he had missed last season due to injury but is expected to be considered to be an All-American and possible talent at the next level .  Senior Defense Tackle Juwuan Brown, he can fill in the gap with his quick hands off the snap, his strength and size.

Heston Altenbach.  Howard calls the redshirt sophomore from Coquille, Oregon to be the “image perfect” defensive back in the young secondary.  “One of the hardest young men I’ve seen in my life.  Tremendous work ethic.” said Howard.

Set aside the excitement of the upcoming season, the key difference is the program’s entrance into the Frontier Conference.  The first time in 20 years that the squad has been part of any type of conference play.

“Playing in a conference gives us a lot of excitement, a lot of rivalries.” said Howard, “It gives us a chance to play for a conference title our boys can be selected to the All-Conference team now and now it’s a easier road to the playoffs.”

The games against Eastern Oregon University on October 6^th and November 3^rd have been dubbed as the “Civil War” game.  The game against NAIA powerhouse, Carroll College on October 27^th in Ashland is being dubbed as a big game by Howard.

“The kingpin of this conference is Carroll College.  They have been in about eight of the last 12 years at the championship game.”

Heading into camp on August 10th and into the regular season, the SOU Raiders are looking and taking each day as it comes.  One play at a time.