By David Boyce

One of the hardest things for a college athlete to go through is a coaching change. The transition for Truman football players was made easier by the school’s decision to elevate Aaron Vlcko from offensive coordinator to head coach.

Vlcko spent four seasons on Shannon Currier’s staff and knows the returning players well.

“So far our kids have really responded to our coaching and increased intensity to get the most out of every rep,” Vlcko said.

Having so many members from last year’s coaching staff was huge for the players, said senior linebacker Eric Sternberg.

“Guys are not worried about losing their spots,” Sternberg said.

But that doesn’t mean because there is a familiarity with the coaching staff, the Bulldogs are taking it easy.

To the contrary, the players are working harder than ever before, Sternberg said.

Truman was 4-7 overall and 3-6 in the MIAA last season. The Bulldogs were picked to finish ninth in the preseason coaches’ poll this season.

On offense, Truman no longer has quarterback Matt Ticich, who concluded his career second in passing and total offensive yards in school history.

“Anytime you take that production away there are going to be some questions and challenges,” Vlcko said. “I trust that we have players who will work hard.”

The challenge for the Bulldogs is to rebuild and improve their record in the same season.

Not to say anything negative about the way practices were run last year, but Sternberg said workouts this year have been more disciplined.

“We’ve had an attitude change,” Sternberg said. “We want to win. We still expect to win games. We are really getting plays down.”

The seniors on the team have tasted some success. In 2006 and 2007 the Bulldogs went 6-5. The 2006 team actually caught a few MIAA teams by surprise by going 6-3 in conference play. In 2005, Truman was winless in MIAA games.

“We’ve seen anything can happen in the MIAA,” Sternberg said. “When we went 6-3 a lot of teams were taking us lightly.”

Vlcko says he has a lot of young players who are hungry. That just might be the edge the Bulldogs need this season. They ended last year with two heartbreaking losses, falling 33-32 at Missouri Western and 39-38 in overtime to Missouri S&T.

Vlcko understands the climb upward in the MIAA will be tough, but his team is no different from the others when it comes to vying for the top spot, which belongs to Northwest Missouri State.

“I get tired of hearing about the parity in the league when you have a team that dominates the league as much as them,” Vlcko said.

Northwest Missouri has won 28 straight conference games. Truman would like to get on a roll and win three or four MIAA games in a row.

“We have a new defensive coordinator and a new attitude,” Sternberg said. “We are focusing on winning.”

Offensive player to watch: Senior wide receiver Albert Coker is one of the veteran skill position players back. Last year Coker caught 30 passes for 489 yards and seven touchdowns, including a 73-yard reception against Emporia State.

Defensive player to watch: Senior defensive back Demetrius Lavant earned second-team all-conference honors. He intercepted two passes and returned them for 57 yards. Lavant also recovered three fumbles and had 55 return yards. He forced two fumbles and finished fourth on the team in tackles with 73.

Key game: Truman plays at home Sept. 19 against Fort Hays State. Both teams are trying to avoid the basement in the MIAA. It’s almost a must win for Truman, which opens conference play at Nebraska-Omaha and then plays road games at Northwest Missouri and Central Missouri after the Fort Hays game.

On Friday: Fort Hays State football preview.