Ursinus knows it cannot rest on hits laurels because teams will be gunning for them, and Western Maryland is still in the picture. Ursinus has not captured Centennial honors since 1996.
With these factors in mind, the Bears started work for the 2000 season Friday morning with their first practice on campus grounds.
Numbers are down, but quality players and familiarity are up, according to head coach Paul Guenther and the players. Guenther, a former standout linebacker at Ursinus, began his fourth season at the helm of the Bears.
"The first day was a good day," Guenther said. "The staff is back, and we have a lot of returning starters. We can get in the huddle and call the play. But we have a long way to go and to learn."
Ursinus finished 10-2 a year ago and reached the DIvision III quarterfinals. The Bears upended previously unbeaten Bridgewater State, 43-38, in the first round before being shellacked by Rowan, 55-0. The Bears want to pick up where they left off and most importantly win the conference title so they can say they won something concrete.
One of the reasons Ursinus is optimistic is the return of junior quarterback Frank Vecchio, a Governor Mifflin High School product, who is being touted as an All-American candidate. Vecchio passed for 2,700 yards and 23 touchdowns a year ago and set school records for completions in a season, TD passes in a season, total offense in a season and TD passes in a game last year.
Vecchio, a 6-foot-1, 210-pounder, is ready to crank up the offense again.
"It is nice to have the offense in we have run for two years," Vecchio said. "We just came in knowing everything. We are ready to go. We have a lot of guys back and we tasted a little bit of success last year."
Most of the Bears worked diligently in the off-season and want to make that hard work pay off during the season.
"Our offensive linemen are huge," Vecchio said. "They worked hard over the summer lifting weights. We are anxious for the season."
Vecchio did his own share of work at the gym besides running and working on his throws with several Division II receivers.
As far as being an All-American, Vecchio is modest and unassuming as a third-year starter.
"That's great, but it doesn't mean anything if I don't get the job done," he said. "We have to worry about this year. We have to win the conference championship, then worry about the rest of the stuff."
Ursinus has just 72 players in camp, which is down from their 100-plus norm. But the ones they have are assets. The Bears will lack depth and have to stay healthy.
"It is very apparent in our 20-25 freshmen," Vecchio said. "Every one is a good-looking ballplayer.
"Our wide receivers are quick and our linemen are big boys who are capable of playing right away. That will give us depth if someone goes down. We shouldn't miss a beat with them in there."
Last year at this time the offense was new to the Bears, and that dilemma carried over into the start of the season. The Bears improved as the season progressed as they became more confident with the system. Ursinus won eight games in succession before the loss to Rowan.
The Bears will run two-a-day sessions before classes start Monday, Aug. 28.
"We want to win the championship," Guenther said. "Anything else will be a disappointment. We are expecting some things coming in.
"We have to stay out of the training room. That is my main concern right now."
The Bears also have talented players on defense like senior lineman Kevin Wilson, a 5-11, 265-pounder from Essex Falls, N.J. Wilson started on special teams as a freshman and has been a defensive tackle starter for three years.
"We don't want the hype to get to us," Wilson said. "That was last year. We have work to get done. It is a new team with new thinking to go with it and new goals, too.
"We are four or five days ahead of where we were last year. We have a lot of stuff in."
Wilson praised assistant coach Mike Davis for putting the Bears on the proper strength program. He said Ursinus players are bigger, stronger and quicker than ever before.
Ursinus opens its season Saturday, Sept. 9, at home against Lebanon Valley at 1 p.m.