Four straight years of 5-6 football seasons ended at Southwest Missouri State last fall.
Now the Bears hope to improve on their 6-5 over-the-hump 2001 season.
“Every year is different and each team develops its own personality,” SMS coach Randy Ball said, “but there are some things we’ve been looking for that we started to see last fall and we’ve continued to see in the off season.”
SMS started with a 2-5 record last season, including a 24-10 loss at Kansas, but won its last four games.
The Bears averaged nearly 45 points and almost 580 yards of offense in those four outings and wound up leading the Gateway Conference in total offense.
Ball has a group of 35 lettermen returning plus a solid group of red-shirts and transfers as he tries to replace 20 seniors.
Five starters are back on offense tailback Eddie Linscomb, wide receiver Mark Marcos, center Crockett Ladd, tackle Jeff Bristol and tight end Nathan Schurman.
Six starters return on defense ends DeAngelo Edwards and Derek Rogers, tackle Oral McDonald, cornerback Carlos Banks and safeties Colin Johnson and Daryl Warren.
Finding a quarterback has been Ball’s priority.
Junior letterman Ryan Porter, back-up to two-year starter Austin Moherman, is a candidate as are juco transfers Blake Pearson and Steve Cota. Pearson, a 6-foot-2, 190-pounder from Hutchinson CC, participated in spring drills. Cota, a 6-4, 200-pounder from Glendale, Ariz., JC, will report in August.
Ball will need to find a fullback to replace three-year starter Demetrius Smith, but the Bears have Linscomb, who ran for 984 yards and eight TDs, returning along with Steve Ennis, who gained 706 yards, at tailback.
Marcos, a 5-11, 175-pound senior from Glendale, Ariz., set school records last falls with 59 receptions and 905 receiving yards. Lettermen wide receivers Beno Gore, an Olathe North product, and Rodrecus Rand are also back for Southwest.
On defense, the strength is the secondary with three starters returning.
The question mark is at linebacker with all three starters departed.
Placekicker Brian Long is back for a third year after leading the Bears in scoring each of the last two seasons, but Ball must replace punter Eddie Pena.