Junior wide receiver Tim Johnson goes for a reception in an Oct. 11, 2008, game versus Wabash College. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

The Washington University football team looks to a strong start and an even better finish after last season’s disappointing end.

Despite falling one game short of winning a share of the University Athletic Association championship, the Bears managed a 5-5 record, failing to record a winning season for the first time in 15 years. Returning 17 starters, the team hopes to ride a core of veteran experience to victory in 2009.

“I hope people like what they see from us. I think they will,” head coach Larry Kindbom said. “I’m confident that we’re doing the right things.”

The “right things” include a vastly improved defense from last season. In 2008, many of the Bears’ defensive starters were inexperienced, leading to national rankings of 122nd in rushing defense and 66th in pass defense. All 11 starters, three of them new, have been working on cutting down on rushing yards allowed, with much success.

“You can definitely tell in practice that experience is showing,” senior linebacker and co-captain Andrew Berryman said. “We’re all pretty excited about this upcoming season, especially all the seniors on defense because it’s probably one of the better defenses we’ve had in the past.”

These veterans will have to guide the team through a tough schedule, highlighted by matchups against preseason No. 18 Wabash College and No. 16 Case Western Reserve University. The Bears will play Wabash on Oct. 10 and conference rival Case Western Reserve during the last game of the year.

“Our conference doesn’t get an automatic bid, so we need to have some quality wins,” Berryman said.

Junior Mitchel Bartel will take over at quarterback for 2009 graduate Buck Smith. Bartel had limited playing time last season as a backup, throwing for 278 yards in seven games. According to Kindbom, the offense will rely on a run-heavy attack, headed by Glenn and junior Jim O’Brien. The two running backs combined for 864 rushing yards in 2008 but have reason to expect much more this year.

“Everything starts…with our offensive line. We’ve got a really experienced offensive line…and that is really going to help us out this year, not to mention the experience in the backfield too,” senior running back and co-captain Matt Glenn said. “That experience is just really going to take us far.”

O’Brien, one of the leaders of the special teams unit, is looking to make a big impact in games this season. Last year, he returned 526 yards on kickoffs, including a return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff of the very first game.

“Returning [kickoffs] is a good opportunity to make or break the game,” O’Brien said. “There’s no way of knowing…but you just got to go out there, thinking like you can make a big play, no matter what.”

Along with O’Brien, sophomore punter Austin Morman is a big part of the unit. In his freshman year, Morman ranked 13th in Division III in punting, averaging 40.41 yards per punt.

“We have some really good specialists; an outstanding punter, an outstanding place kicker,” Kindbom said. “All those guys, we think, are going to be as good as [anyone] you’re going to find at any program in the country.”

“We’ve definitely got one of the best teams we’ve had here at Wash. U. in a while, and I think definitely one of our goals has been ‘Be a top-10 team,’” Glenn said. “That starts with winning the UAA championship, making the playoffs and then just being a top-ranked team.”

Despite these long-term goals, no member of the team is looking too far ahead.

“For us…we really are trying to take everything one step at a time,” Kindbom said. “We play so many good football teams on our schedule…I’ve got to look at this and say, ‘Let’s take care of business today.’”

The Red and Green start the difficult journey toward a championship at home this Saturday against Greenville College. Last season, the Bears beat the Panthers 22-0. Kickoff at Francis Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.