After sputtering to a 2-9 record and giving up 424 points in the 2001 season, the Sacramento State defense has been hard at work this off season, revamping its attitude for the upcoming 2002 football season.

“Our goal right now is just to make sure first and foremost we stop the run,” defensive backs coach John Wiley said. “The first thing we are trying to create is a tempo here, if we can create that tempo, and everyone is flying to the ball then we’ll be fine.”

Leading the defense will be third-year starter Camron Mbewa. The sole Hornet to receive first-team All-Big Sky honors last season, Mbewa will once again be gracing the field as the Hornets starting strong safety.

Mbewa led the team last year with 72 tackles, and after an off-season of intense training with teammates Mbewa is predicting much greater successes for the Hornet defense.

“I’m expecting to see us come out and dominate from the start. We’ve all got high expectations, that’s basically it, just come out and dominate,” Mbewa said.

Mbewa is quickly becoming known as one of the most punishing tacklers in the Big Sky Conference, and unleashing a hit on a member of the opposing team is one of the reasons Mbewa enjoys playing the game.

“A big hit, I love that. Just banging somebody good enough to make them lightheaded, and you can hear the whole crowd go ‘Oooh’,” Mbewa said.

After an intense off-season of training, which included lifting, running, and footwork exercises, Mbewa has added speed and size to his game, prompting coaches to predict another exciting season and possible All-American honors.

A graduate of Mira Loma High School, Mbewa plans to further his reputation as a devastating hitter in his third year as a starter in the secondary.

“I’m setting the goal to be the best defensive back around,” Mbewa said. “And as a team to win the Big Sky, no less than that, the Big Sky Championship.”

Assisting Mbewa in the secondary will be veteran left cornerback Brandon Coleman, who will be starting for his third-straight season. Coleman led the team last year with four interceptions and was named to the second-team all-Big Sky following the 2001 football season.

“They are both very skilled right now at what they are doing in the secondary, and it does give you a little more in the blitz game and the coverage game,” defensive coordinator Lou Patrone said.

However, it will not be until the fourth game of the season, a road game against Idaho State University, until Coleman will be able to take the field. The cornerback was suspended for the first three games of the season for “violating the Athletic Department’s Code of Conduct,” according to Sacramento State’s Sports Information Department.

Jeremy Johnson, a junior transfer from West Valley Junior College, will start in Coleman’s place at left cornerback for the team’s opening game at the University of Texas, El Paso.

Despite his success last year Mbewa has not let up at all this off-season and he still sees improvement needed in his game for him to gain more accolades in the upcoming season.

“I missed a whole bunch of tackles last year,” Mbewa said. “My big thing is just working on my tackling and working on coverage skills.”

What has attributed to Mbewa’s success on the Hornet football field?

“I think it his aggressiveness; he’s a physical presence out there,” Patrone said. “And I think his leadership, he’s a veteran now, returning starter, we expect that from him. I think it’s going to be a really good year for him.”

Mbewa agrees with coaches on the main reason for his success on the football field.

“I think I intimidate most people by my size, but other than that I’m just real aggressive. I don’t have any friends; I’m just trying to kill everybody,” Mbewa said.

Mbewa’s duties aren’t entirely tied to the defensive side of the ball. He will be sharing time on special teams returning kicks this season, “and I can almost guarantee a couple of them will go back to the house for sure,” Mbewa said.

Mbewa was sidelined with a hamstring injury for both of the Hornets official preseason scrimmages, but he is expected to be ready for the Hornets opener at the University of Texas, El Paso on Aug. 31. Game time is set for 6:05 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Gross to start at UTEP

The Hornet coaching staff has named Tyronne Gross the starting running back against the University of Texas, El Paso. The 5-foot-8 redshirt freshman ran for over 2,000 yards his senior year at Lincoln High School in Stockton, Calif. Gross will be backed up at the running back position by senior Garrett White. White, a fifth year senior, has spent time throughout his Hornet career at quarterback, wide receiver and running back.

Game Notes: Right tackle Grant Hagen is questionable for Saturday’s game after spraining his foot in the Hornet’s final preseason scrimmage? The UTEP Miners are the Hornets first Div. I-A competition since the team squared off against the University of the Pacific in 1993? The game can be heard locally on KTKZ 1380 AM.