Issue date: 8/17/08 Section: Sports

Coming off back-to-back 6-5 seasons, the football team will try to make the next step in becoming one of the top teams in the tough MIAA.

"I think the biggest thing to focus on is having the belief that we're going to beat the top teams," head coach Shannon Currier said.

The Bulldogs will have their hands full with games against Northwest Missouri State University, Div. II runner-up the last three years, and conference newcomer the University of Nebraska-Omaha, a team that was 10-1 last season. Eight teams in the conference had winning records last year, which contributed to Truman's eighth-place ranking in the preseason coaches' poll.

The 'Dogs will play a school record seven games at home, including their first four. Three games will be under the lights at Stokes Stadium. The team will play home games on new Astroturf Gameday Grass 3D, which potentially will be ready for the season-opener Aug. 28. The Bulldogs are 10-2 in their last 12 home games.

"The more good teams you have the more you have guys just beating at each other," Currier said. "So if we can let other teams beat each other up and if we can sneak a couple big wins, we might be sitting at the top of the race when it's all said and done."

The strength of the team will come from the passing attack led by senior two-time all-MIAA quarterback Matt Ticich. Other than alumnus Jake Cunningham, Ticich will have 11 of 12 receivers back who caught a pass last season, including honorable mention all-conference senior tight end Ryan King and junior Vanness Emokpae, who led the team with 462 yards receiving.

Ticich owns the third spot on the Truman single-season leaders for total offense and touchdown passes, and he is eighth in career passing yards, having only played two seasons. He also passed for 493 yards and a single-game school record against Upper Iowa University last fall.

"He throws the ball pretty well, makes good decisions, mobile, and then just the intangibles you can see he brings to his teammates with his leadership capabilities and the qualities that he has," said Kevin Verdugo, Fort Hays State University head coach.

As good as the passing game will be in the team's spread offense, it's the running game the team is working to improve. Ticich said the offensive system has changed to more downhill running and more misdirection and that it should result in fewer plays going for a loss. Senior Jon Franz, an honorable-mention all-conference pick, will anchor the offensive line.

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