BrandView
This story is sponsored by Southern Utah University. Learn more about Southern Utah University.
MORE COVERAGE
CEDAR CITY — Following a disappointing 3-9 campaign in 2014, Southern Utah has proved it is fully committed to raising the bar this season.
The Thunderbirds immediately went to work and have shown head coach Ed Lamb a new level of intensity and commitment this offseason as they prepare for their first game of the year.
“The silver lining in our down year was that we had an excellent offseason. We are really excited about the commitment level of the team. I just feel like there is a higher commitment level that gives us more mental toughness and helps us throughout the season. I think mental toughness translates into more effort, more belief, more confidence and more fun. We’re just really excited about this year’s team,” Southern Utah head coach Ed Lamb said.
SUU returns a total of 13 players from last year, highlighted by senior quarterback Ammon Olsen and has solid leadership on both sides of the ball.
Olsen is coming off an impressive season in which he threw for 3,049 yards and completed 21 touchdowns and he's expected to build off that success and anchor the offense again this season.
“His (Olsen) preparation has been night and day. Last year, Ammon became our starter midway through the season. He just didn’t have the preparation he has now. But he’s done a really great job this year of handling the leadership role and operating the offense for us,” Lamb said of his gunslinger.
On the defensive end, SUU DE James Cowser and DB Miles Killebrew have received a lot of attention this offseason and are expected to lead the defense this season.
Cowser was named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team, the Sports Network preseason defensive player of the year award watch list and the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team. He was also named the Big Sky Preseason Defensive MVP while Killebrew was also named to the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team.
The Thunderbirds will need to replace their total tackles leader from last year in linebacker Chinedu Ahanonu. Lamb will look to Mike Needham and Matt Holley to do just that.
“Matt Holley will be big for us on defense. He was an All-Conference player for us two years ago, but he had to sit out last year with a shoulder injury. He’s looking really good. Also, Mike Needham is returning from a mission and started as a true freshman for us. He’s back in a starting role and will be really big for us,” said Lamb.
Meanwhile, Southern Utah was picked to finish eighth in both the Big Sky Conference preseason polls, but Lamb and the T-Birds aren't putting too much stock into the early predictions.
“We’re definitely going to exceed expectations. And I wouldn’t even call them expectations — those always just reflect the postseason finish a year ago and that’s right where we finished, so we expected that. The bottom line is after the first game of the year, all of those rankings will give way to the new 2015 rankings,” Lamb added.
SUU is set to kick off the season in Logan against Utah State on Sept. 3 before returning home on Sept. 19 to take on conference rival Northern Colorado.
2015-16 Southern Utah University football schedule
Thu. Sept. 03 at Utah State 4 pm
Sat. Sept. 12 at South Dakota State TBA
Sat. Sept. 19 Northern Colorado 6 pm
Sat. Sept. 26 Brevard College 6 pm
Fri. Oct. 02 at Weber State 6 pm
Sat. Oct. 10 BYE
Sat. Oct. 17 Sacramento State 6 pm
Sat. Oct. 24 at UC Davis 5 pm
Sat. Oct. 31 Cal Poly 3 pm
Sat. Nov. 7 at Montana State 1 pm
Sat. Nov. 14 at Portland State 3:05 pm
Sat. Nov. 21 Northern Arizona 3 pm
Ryan Love is a full-time student and has been a part-time sportswriter for the Deseret News since Oct. 2012.
Follow him on Twitter @RLove7724
EMAIL: rlove@deseretnews.com