An entire offseason and three weeks of twice-a-day practices have the Hornets in a frenzy for the start of the 2001 football campaign.

It has reached the point of the year when the Hornets can actually tackle and hit players wearing opposing uniforms.

Coming off a 7-4 season, the Hornets enter the campaign with high expectations.”Our goal is to win a Big Sky championship,” Head coach John Volek said.

On offense, the team will feature several new faces. Gone to graduation is Charles Roberts, the Division I all-time rushing leader who not only put up huge yardage and scoring numbers every game but also balanced the play-calling with his 20-plus carries per game.

Also gone is quarterback Ricky Ray, who provided the Hornets with steady play during his tenure.

Volek said the team would like to maintain a 60-40 run-to-pass ratio in Roberts? absence. The team will use more two-back sets and a number of different ball carriers this season.The Hornets will fill Ray?s loss by handing the ball to Garrett White, who Volek considers a great athlete.

Freshman Ryan Leadingham, one of the team?s major signings of the recruiting period, is expected to push White for playing time. Leadingham has a “great release,” Volek said, which should allow him to beat the variety of blitzes he could see as a young quarterback.While the quarterbacks distinguish themselves, the offensive line should be one of the strengths of the team. The line will be lead by senior center Terence Wagner, who many consider an All-American candidate.

Bilal Watkins anchors the team?s defensive line as a potential All-American candidate at nose tackle. Elton Gabourel is a 33-game starter for the team at the cornerback position, while Ed Canonico is a playmaker at the free safety position for the defense.

The unit will continue to employ their zone-blitz packages, which are designed to pressure offenses and force turnovers. Running such intricate and complex schemes is made possible because of the familiarity the defense has with one another as an entire unit.

Both units will begin their test this week as they kick off their season Saturday at 6 p.m. against Saint Mary?s College at Hornet Stadium.