Even with a 7-3 record, the Washington University football team was unable to make the playoffs last year and finished third in the UAA. With a completely new look, the team expects a great season in 2008.

“This team will be very different than last year’s squad,” Head Coach Larry Kindbom said. “We feel our defense is solid and has big play capabilities. Our offense is young, but we have some strong returning leaders in some key positions,” Kindbom added.

“I think the defense is going to be spectacular. Our secondary is going to be amazing. We’re going in with the mindset that we have a top-five defense in the country,” senior co-captain Adam Hartzler said. “We’re going to leave our mark. This year, we might be the best defense in four years,” Hartzler added; he and classmate Brent Sensenich, who is also a co-captain, lead the defense.

Kindbom said of the defense, “We have several ‘veterans’ that are exerting a strong, positive leadership to the talented underclassmen. More than just being good encouragers, though, they are making plays in practice every day.”

A strong defense truly empowers the offense as well. “We’re practicing against a Top-15 defense,” senior quarterback Buck Smith said. “It’s definitely great to play behind such an opportunistic defense. It allows you to step onto the field and take risks.”

As a junior, Smith threw for 1,891 yards with 13 touchdowns, a personal best. Now in his final year, Smith will have a completely new receiving core. To improve on last year’s season, he will need to establish a connection with these players immediately.

Getting an early start, Smith spent his summer at the University, running plays with the new starting receivers and trying to establish familiarity. “It’s a growing process for the wide receivers, a comfort level that will build through practice,” Smith said.

This inexperience shows heavily in the offensive line. “We lost two really good seniors from the line,” Smith said. After being sacked 24 times last year, Smith will need to trust in an offensive line with little experience. However, the trust and confidence will come, he believes, in practice.

The road to the playoffs will not be easy for the Bears. Being a Pool B team, winning the UAA conference does not automatically earn Washington University a playoff spot. In fact, even with a perfect record, there is no guarantee that the team will get a spot in the postseason.

“It’s all about who you beat and how you beat them,” Smith said bluntly. With a tough schedule featuring ranked teams such as Wabash College, Wittenberg University and Case Western Reserve University, the Bears should have plenty of opportunities to make a case for a playoff bid.

“I’m excited for the challenge. We’re going to go out there and compete with them. To be honest, it’ll be a fun way to end out my career,” Hartzler said.

The team’s first game is Sept. 6, at home against Greenville. When asked about this game, Hartzler said, “There’s nothing quite like that feeling of getting ready for that first game of the season. The first play of the game. Knowing that this is my last go-around, it will be an emotional time.  It’s going to be awesome.”