Football: Great expectations

Todd Mooney, Head Football Coach, is eager to start a new year with a Panther team that is strong, focused and committed.

"It's been an exciting offseason and that's led to a lot of anticipation for this upcoming season," he says. "We had a group of young people who really came together in the offseason. There was focus and effort in the weight room, along with more enthusiasm that carried into our conditioning program and especially into the spring practice. We felt really good coming out of the spring with the group of people who are returning."

Mooney says although the school will be moving to a new conference in 2012, there is still a lot to think about for this season.

"This will be our final year as an independent," he says. "As much as we're excited to get into the 2012 season and become a conference affiliate with the USA South, we still have 10 very good opponents that we need to play this year. That's really where our team's focus is right now."

This year will be filled with challenges, he says.

"We're going to be loaded with very good opponents. Every week, we're going to have to bring our very best game. We're excited to get into this challenge and see how we do."

Mooney says some of their current competitors are preparing the team for the move to the new conference.

"By playing Maryville every year since we started the program and then, this last season, starting a relationship with N.C. Wesleyan, we've had a real good snapshot of the type of football and the brand of football expected within USA South," he says. "There are a lot of great institutions with great academic backgrounds who are exceedingly committed to being successful, not just on the football field, but in all their athletic programs. It is going to be a challenge not only for us but a challenge for all of our sports. I think it will bring about a new level of competitiveness that will make us all better in our respective programs."

The coach, who is going into his sixth season as leader of the Panthers, says he is ready for the 2011 season, and is excited about the incoming group of players.

"You always temper this kind of discussion because as excited as we are about the talent level in this group, they still have to come to college and prove it," he says.

Mooney has been particularly impressed with the work of his coaching staff.

"They have done such an excellent job in the recruiting process," he says. "That's going to make us a better football program, and that's going to keep us becoming an increasingly better program in the future."

The coaching staff is intact from last year, with only one addition.

"We've hired a new receivers coach with a name most people will know if they are familiar with our program," he says. "Drew Carter, who was our starting quarterback for the past four seasons, will move into a graduate assistant role. He will go into our master's program to get his certification in teaching. While he does that, he'll spend the next two years coaching our wide receivers. That's going to be a great addition for us to have another alumni football player involved our program."

A new season brings anticipation for everything that goes into the game, Mooney says.

"I'm excited for all of our players and I'm excited for our coaching staff and all the work they have put in during the offseason," he says. "I'm excited about our incoming class and what I think they have the ability to do over their time here at LaGrange. And I'm excited to get in and compete with an awful lot of good quality opponents. It's going to be a lot of fun."