The Sacramento State Hornets are ushering in a new era of football for the 2014 season, promoting defensive coordinator Jody Sears to head coach after Marshall Sperbeck resigned earlier in the year, who preaches a philosophy of leadership.

Expectations however, are still the same.

“We focus on ourselves, handle our own business and play to get victories,” said senior wide receiver DeAndre Carter.

Since becoming the tenth head coach in Sac State history, Sears has began to change the culture of the program, starting with the team’s character.

“What we are going to be doing as a staff is we are going to be really sinking our teeth into building and creating a culture of leadership, a culture that is player led, not coach driven,” Sears said.

Sears’ leadership philosophy is not just for the football field. His goal is to create a program that will prepare players for life after football.

“Leaders are developed,” Sears said. “That’s my job to develop these guys into leaders, not just on the field but in class and after, [so they are] able to care for families, friends and neighbors.”

In 2013, The Hornets finished with an overall record of 5-7, losing close battles to Southern Utah, Montana State, Portland State and Northern Arizona. All four of these losses were by a combined eight points.

The offense, lead by senior quarterback Garrett Safron, marched up and down the field, averaging 27.1 points per game, and accumulating 4,937 yards of total offense. Safron threw for 3,289 yards and 27 touchdowns, 14 of which were caught by Carter.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Hornets would like to forget 2013.

“We had a hard time stopping the run,” said junior linebacker Darnell Sankey. “We have to limit big plays and create turnovers.”

Opponents last season rushed for a total of 2,481 yards against the Hornets, and averaged 5.0 yards per carry. The team surrendered 398 total points and 33.2 points per contest.

The defense also lost Football Champion Subdivision All-American linebacker Todd Davis, who signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent during the offseason, eventually signing to their practice squad.

“It’s hard to replace a really good player,” Sears said. “I don’t know that you ever replace a player of that caliber.”

Sankey will take over for Davis at the linebacker position. In his debut as the starter against the University of Incarnate Word, Sankey posted a game-high 10 tackles, an assisted sack and a 59-yard interception returned for a touchdown.

“I want to do what I can to contribute for the team,” Sankey said. “I want to contribute as best I can.”

The Hornets travel to Berkeley Sept. 6 to face off against the Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium, where they fell 41-3 in 2005. This is the fifth consecutive year where the Hornets have scheduled a Pac-12 opponent at the beginning of the season.

The team opens at home Sept. 13 against Weber State. The Hornets dominated Sears’ former team last season 31-3, currently enjoy a 2-game winning streak against the Wildcats and have won 3 of the last 4 contests.

Conference play begins Sept. 27 when the Hornets travel to Idaho State. These two teams last met in 2012, with the Hornets defeating the Bengals 54-31.

October brings a tough stretch of games for the Hornets. The team takes on Montana State at home Oct.4, Cal Poly for homecoming Oct. 18, and will travel to Montana State Nov. 1 after a bye week.

Montana finished last season 6-2 in conference play and 10-3 overall. Cal Poly finished with a 6-6 record, and a 5-3 conference record. Montana State finished 7-5 and also had a conference record of 5-3.

The schedule concludes with a pair of home games against Southern Utah and Portland State, and the annual Causeway Classic at UC Davis on Nov. 22.

“Hopefully the student body can come out and form their own opinion,” Sears said. “Hopefully we can make them proud. That’s who we belong to. We are here to serve, not to be served.”