The Irish enter this season represented by a new coach charged with making supporters and players alike believe this is a different Irish team, not the one that has made only two playoff appearances in most of its current players' lifetimes.

From the sound of it, merely being competitive won't be enough for new coach Matt LeZotte, a former quarterback at Westside and James Madison University. LeZotte was an assistant on the team the past two seasons.

"People in the past have been proud of the guys for sticking with teams for two quarters," LeZotte said. "That's mediocrity, and we're not going to accept mediocrity."

Irish players say their improvement started in the off-season with spirited weight-lifting sessions. Players say they were eager to join assistant coach Mike Laney for voluntary conditioning afterward. The running program simulated the demands of a game with short or extended sprints. By the end, the Irish were running 220 consecutive sprints, players said. They saw results already with a scrimmage win at Harlem on Friday, scoring three first-quarter touchdowns.

"That created a belief with the guys," LeZotte said. "The biggest thing about Aquinas I've seen since I've been here and on film is a lack of intensity for four quarters."

The Irish return nine starters on both sides of the ball, including a deep offensive line that will clear space for multiple backs. Mysona, a 215-pound senior, is the leading returning rusher, but no one will be surprised if freshman Brendan Douglas emerges as the standout there.

His older brother John, a former Aquinas fullback, plays for Auburn.

"A man-child," Mysona called Brendan Douglas.

LeZotte said rotating backs will be important because he wants the team to be as fresh as possible on defense, a group led by linebacker Tyler Snead and safety Collin Oliver. The Irish will need to improve there, because last season they gave up at least 32 points to their four region opponents who made the playoffs and allowed 41 in their first-ever loss to Glascock County.

LeZotte said he plans on taking all 40 players to the team's away games, including the entire junior varsity.

They will eat a pregame meal, attend Mass and travel to away games.

"That will help our expectations for games down the road," LeZotte said. "We want to get these kids exposed to what they will see in the future."