As the Mississippi Valley State football coaches prepare for the start of practice, head coach Willie Totten says he can feel the excitement.
The Delta Devils start practicing for the 2005 campaign Aug. 4. They return 10 starters on defense and nine on offense.
Totten has improved the talent level since taking over at his alma mater in 2002 but has yet to field a winning team. Totten, 10-23 in his first three seasons at MVSU, believes this is the year the program will show improvement in the win column.
"The atmosphere is very upbeat in the coaching office, and I know the kids are ready to get going," Totten said. "I really feel like this should be the year that we step out and make a statement."
The Southwestern Athletic Conference will hold its annual media day Friday in Birmingham, Ala., where the league's preseason poll will be announced. This could be the first time in several years that MVSU isn't picked last in the Eastern Division of the SWAC.
The Delta Devils open the 2005 season Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Chicago in the Chicago Football Classic. That game was originally scheduled for Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena, leaving Valley with five games on campus instead of six.
"A promoter came in and made us an offer to move the game to Chicago. The money and exposure is hard to turn down," Totten said. "Of course, you always want to play in front of your home fans when you can, but this was a move that was beneficial to our overall program."
