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The Warriors are part of a new-look conference at a time they also will shuffle in new players on a team that will have a different look than in past seasons.
“With the change in the conference, we’ve kind of changed some things, too,” said veteran coach Tom Sawyer, beginning his 13th season at WSU. “It’s out with the old and we’re starting a new chapter of Warrior football.”
It’s not like the Warriors are in a hurry to forget about their past. In the past eight seasons, they have won or shared six titles in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The two seasons they did not win, they still managed to finish second.
The NSIC has added four programs this season, bringing the league to 14 teams. Augustana (S.D.), Minnesota State-Mankato, Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State — all formerly of the North Central Conference — have joined the league.
Those four schools bring talent-rich teams into the league and all four were picked to finish in the top five of a preseason NSIC coaches’ poll. Not surprisingly, the other team in the top five was WSU, which was picked to finish second behind Duluth.
The Warriors were picked to win the South Division, just ahead of MSU-Mankato. The NSIC will crown an overall champion, as well as North and South division champions.
“It’s going to be tougher to win championships because there’s better competition in our league,” Sawyer said. “We wanted our conference to get better and it did. We’re excited about being a part of that.”
In ways, Sawyer and his coaching staff have been preparing for this season the past few years. Recruiting efforts have increased to get players who are bigger and faster.
The Warriors have found out the hard way the past few seasons just how strong the teams in the NCC were. North Dakota, a former national power in Division II that has made the jump this season to Division I, pounded WSU in the postseason the past two seasons.
North Dakota and South Dakota, another for NCC school bound for Division I, have accounted for five of WSU’s eight losses the past three seasons.
“It’s a new time. We made our mark and won a lot of football games, but now we have a new challenge,” Sawyer said. “We’ve had a lot of success the last 10 years, but it’s time to start the new 10 and see what happens.”
The start begins Monday when the Warriors begin practice. They will have a little less than three weeks before their first game, a nonconference matchup at Michigan Tech.
WSU begins its home and conference season the following week against Northern State. It’s the first of three consecutive home games in the month’s first season. The Warriors play six games on the road, including key league games at MSU-Mankato and Duluth.
It will be a different cast of characters leading the Warriors into the changing times. They lost from last season’s team their starting quarterback, starting running back and top receiver.
They also had some key losses on defense, most notably all-conference cornerback Shawn Cunningham.
The 22 practices before the first game will be used to determine starters at those positions and find depth at other spots.
Amir Ross is expected to battle transfer Greg Preston for the top quarterback spot. Ross likely has the edge at this point, having spent the past two seasons in the system. Preston, who started at Division I Tennessee-Martin, had a solid spring with the Warriors.
Sawyer said he wouldn’t be afraid to play both quarterbacks, which he’s done in the past with success.
Darren Davis leads a loaded backfield, which also includes sixth-year senior Carey Rottman and Randy Spring. Andrew Verbancoeur, at fullback, also should get carries.
Tyrre Burks, a transfer to WSU last season, is the top returning receiver. Burks caught 46 passes for 687 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. Division I transfers Michael Kasten and Chris Appicelli, along with senior Ryan Abbott, will compete for playing time.
Helping with the changes will be an offensive line that returns intact from last season. Even this season, all-conference tackle Nick Urban will be the only senior among the starting group.
WSU rushed for nearly 200 yards per game last season, while the offensive line allowed only 11 sacks in 12 games.
“We’re real excited offensively,” Sawyer said. “We know we have the boys up front and we’re good to go.”
Defensivley, the Warriors will have to get better from a year ago. They allowed 28 points and nearly 430 yards per game, the poorest showing by a WSU defense during their run of success.
Sawyer expects the defensive backfield to be improved, while linebacker Brent Yule will anchor the linebackers. Yule had a solid season last year with 81 tackles, two sacks, six tackles for loss and interception and four fumble recoveries.
“He just makes plays all over the place,” Sawyer said. “He’s physical and nasty. I thought he’d be in the mix for (preseason defensive) player of the year.”
The defensive line includes Ryan Rothwell and Chauncy Charlson, while Eric Boehm and Jordan Ohnstad are expected to contribute. Ohnstad, a former transfer from San Diego State, returns from an ACL injury.
“I like where we’re at,” Sawyer said. “It’s going to be a new challenge for all of us, but we welcome the challenge. We’re excited to get things going.”
