MOORHEAD, Minn. (8/20/08)-- The Concordia football team will head back to the future in 2008. The Cobbers will sport a new-old look on their helmets and will be hoping the return to the “old” gold will help the team get back into the top three of the conference. Gone are the sunflower gold helmets that were a Concordia mainstay since the 1970’s. In for 2008 is the retro fashion gold helmets that the Cobbers sported in the days of Jake Christiansen. All is not lost for fans of the recent Concordia helmets as the Cobbers will continue to have the maroon Chicago “C” on the side of the helmet.

The new headgear will be one of two major changes from a year ago when Concordia finished by winning five of their last six games of the year and ended the season with a 7-3 overall record and a 5-3 mark in conference play. The Cobbers finished in fourth place in the MIAC but were two plays away from going 7-1 and having a chance to return to the NCAA playoffs. In the two pivotal losses in 2007, Concordia lost by a total of four points and dropped a record-setting three overtime thriller to eventual conference champion Bethel. The Royals, spurred on by their defeat of the Cobbers would then go on to lose in the NCAA Division III semifinals.

The 2008 season will feature another potent Concordia offense and an athletic and aggressive defense. The Cobber offense set school records for most points and most touchdowns in a single season while the Concordia defense was in the top three in the conference for total yards per game. The key for eighth-year head coach Terry Horan will be to replace three standout offensive lineman and a pair of hardnosed linebackers. Those spots, and a tough early-season schedule which features the conference opener at perennial powerhouse St. John’s and then defending champion Bethel at home in week two, will be the crystal ball for the Cobbers in 2008.

The other major change for the Cobbers will take place in the season opener. For the first time in over 80 years, Concordia will not open with cross-town rival MSU Moorhead. The two schools had to temporarily end their rivalry because of scheduling conflicts so the Cobbers will travel to Oregon to take on Division III regional foe Willamette to open the 2008 schedule on Sept. 6.

Quotable Coach Horan

On what he is most excited for as the season begins: "Just seeing all the players again and getting the chance to be out on the field and working with all the great young men we have on the team."

The strength of the 2008 season: "Our experience. We have seven starters back defensively and six back on the offensive side of the ball. We also have some guys coming back that might have not been considered starters but saw a lot of playing time in 2007."

The area for improvement for the Cobbers in 2008: "We lose nine players from the offensive line from last year so that is a big chunk of athletes to have to replace. We won't be as deep there as we were last year. We have some good kids that played there last season so they are excited to get their chance to play. On the defensive side we will have to find two linebackers to replace Brennen Lewis and Dave Moll who were two very special players."

On what will be the most exciting things to watch for this season: I think our offense will do really well. When you start out with a weapon like Cory Johnson who is the all-time leading rusher and can break the big play at any time, you have a chance to put up a lot of points on the board. Then when you add Jesse Nelson you have a pair of offensive threats that are extremely experienced and knowledgeable in our system. Jesse really opened the eyes of a lot of people last year and I look for him to continue that success this season."

On what is an underrated part of the team heading into 2008: Offensively it would have to be our wide receivers. We have two of our top three receivers back from last season and we are very deep in that position with some younger players looking to have a breakout season. On the defensive side I look for our defensive line to do good things. That position is the deepest on our football team. We have three starters back from a year ago at that spot and also have nine players returning that played on the defensive line.