For Weber State head coach Dave Arslanian, life doesn't get any better than watching 90 sweaty bodies crunching football pads in the middle of the practice field.
The Wildcats came within a whisker of saying good-bye to football permanently last November as the university's inter-collegiate athletic program sought to come to grips with a half-million dollar budget deficit."We had just come off a great finish on the season (five straight wins to cap a 7-4 campaign) and were sitting back waiting to see if we would get a play-off bid and the bombshell hit," Arslanian said. "Suddenly we found ourselves, players and coaches alike, focusing a lot of energy off the field."
"It was great to see everyone respond - and to see community support grow as well," Arslanian said. "But it's even better to get back to the task at hand and try to put another competitive - and hopefully winning - team back on the field."
The key word may be competitive. With 19 starting slots to replace, competition during two-a-days has been intense.
"We do have a lot of people to replace but I think we are more experienced than people think," said Arslanian, admitting that he was somewhat surprised to see the Wildcats ranked seventh in the Big Sky's preseason media poll and last in the coaches poll.
"We're looking to see who will step up and I think we have 10 or 12 players who could come through," Arslanian said.
The bright spot in early workouts has been the team's overall conditioning, Arslanian said. "They (the players) did what they were supposed to do over the summer and came back in great shape."
On the offense they include junior quarterback Bryan Martin, who will be the starter for the Wildcats when the season kicks off Sept. 3 at home. Others are senior wide-out Dell Stilson, junior running back Aaron Fisher, senior backup quarterback Rob Westervelt and sophomore tackle Kyle Stephens. Arslanian said Martin and Westervelt will give the 'Cats a solid one-two combination at quarterback as well as in the leadership department.
On defense, senior Obie Spanic is looking strong at the end position while Rob Hitchcock, who is being touted for division 1-AA All-American plaudits, will be the defensive leader as the 'Cat back (linebacker). Senior defensive backs Derrick Beatty and Jed Davies are also looking strong.
"We also did very well in the `free agent' market," chuckled Arslanian, a reference to transfers Fisher (South West Louisiana), guard Gabe Trionfi from Oklahoma State and receiver Terence Saluone from Brigham Young. All are expected to either start or see plenty of playing time.
Although Weber lost two marquee players to transfers, quarterback Brad Otton and running back Markeith Ross, Arslanian isn't singing the blues.
"We're right where we were at this time last year," Arslanian said. "No one knew who those players (Otton and Ross) were when the season started. We just hope we'll have players step up like last year."
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Weber State's 1994 schedule
Sep. 3 W. Montana 6 p.m.
Sep. 10 Montana Tech 6 p.m.
Sep. 17 Montana State 6 p.m.
Sep. 24 at E. Washington 2 p.m.
Oct. 1 at NE Louisiana 6 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Boise State 7 p.m.
Oct. 15 at Southern Utah 1 p.m.
Oct. 22 Montana Noon
Oct. 29 at N. Arizona 7 p.m.
Nov. 5 Idaho State Noon
Nov. 12 at Idaho 2 p.m.
Radio: KLO (AM-1430)
Tickets: 626-8500
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Weber State's 1993 season (7-4)
Date WSU Opponent Opp. Site
Sept. 4 40 Sonoma St. 28 Ogden
Sept. 11 27 Cal-State Northridge 12 Ogden
Sept. 18 0 Idaho 56 Ogden
Sept. 25 10 Montana St. 14 Bozeman
Oct. 2 22 E. Washington 36 Ogden
Oct. 9 17 Montana 45 Missoula
Oct. 16 21 Boise St. 14 Ogden
Oct. 23 47 Nevada 30 Reno
Oct. 30 43 Southern Utah 39 Ogden
Nov. 6 67 N. Arizona 28 Ogden
Nov. 13 21 Idaho St. 17 Pocatello