After a disappointing season last year, Colorado Mesa University looks to turn the tide. After finishing last season with a 3-7 overall record, the coaches decided something needed to change besides the school’s name. The coaching staff has brought in a new spread offense. Coach Joe Ramunno believes it is going to put more points on the scoreboard.

The Mavericks finished sixth in the conference last season and they were picked to finish sixth again this year according to The 2011 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Coach’s Poll.

“It’s where you finish, not where you’re picked,” Ramunno said. “Now it’s time to put up or shut up.”

Ramunno is very excited to get the season started because the team had a great spring and fall camp. He says there is a lot of excitement and energy with this crew, and he says they are a different crew from a year ago. The team is feeding off of being an underdog.

Over the last few seasons the defense has been the strong point of the team. Senior outside linebacker Chad Benkelman was a major producer last season with 46 tackles and a forced fumble, and Coach Ramunno expects the rest of the linebacking corps to follow his lead.

“Everything we do is fast, which has brought a lot of energy. We have a lot of team speed and need to put it to use.” Ramunno said.

Robert Felberg will be lining up behind center this year. Felberg won the quarterback competition by a long shot.

“He has really separated himself. He has really stepped forward as the lead guy and that is what we want here. We need the team to feel comfortable and Rob has made that easy,” Ramunno said.

Felberg is equally confident in his team.

“I’m really excited for this season. We’ve been working really hard and perfecting what we do on both sides of the ball,” Felberg said. “We expect to win this season, we believe we can compete with any team out there. And we’re excited for Thursday night to kick off the season.”

“We better finish higher than they picked us,” Ramunno said. “We got to have some luck, stay healthy, and if we do that we are going to be in the hunt of things. And that’s kind of right where we want to be.”

The Mavericks kick off the season this Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. versus Humboldt State University at Stocker Stadium.

afix@mavs.coloradomesa.edu