SUU's No. 1 goal is winning season

CEDAR CITY — In each of coach Ed Lamb's two seasons in charge at Southern Utah, the Thunderbirds have made improvements.

The first year, the team won four games, which was four more than it won the year before. Last season, the T-birds won five games, including four of its five games in Cedar City. If the improvement holds true to form, the coach and players expect a winning record.

"We have three basic goals," said Lamb, "and No. 1 is to have a winning season."

The second goal is winning a conference title, and the third is to reach the FCS playoffs. With the three basic goals each broken down, the coach said reaching No. 1 begins with taking care of business at home. With five games scheduled for Eccles Coliseum, and none that aren't winnable, a plus-.500 record begins inside the friendly confines.

While in past years, it may have been unrealistic to set a goal of a winning season, Lamb feels those days are now well behind them.

"I think for us the No. 1 thing nowadays is just playing with some confidence," he said. "With the players we have now, I think that is of the upmost importance. I feel for the first time that we are as talented as any team we have on our schedule. Now, the big thing is to just go out and play with the idea that we can go out and win."

While the team's overall talent has definitely improved, one of the places it really jumps out is in the skill positions. Wide receiver Tysson Poots has been named a preseason All-American and is on the list of Walter Payton Award finalists, the equivalent of the Heisman Award for the FCS division of college football.

"His numbers speak for themselves," said Lamb of Poots, who was second in the nation in yards per game, receptions per game and scoring last season. "The thing about Tysson is he is also a great leader for us as well as an honor-roll student."

On the other side of the field is receiver Fesi Sitake. While he was named an All-American more for his skills as a return man on special teams, he also has the skills necessary to excel on offense.

The backfield for the T-birds also has loads of talent. Quarterback Brad Sorensen was all-conference at San Bernadino Valley College before an LDS mission and a redshirt season at BYU. And according to Lamb, the running back position has never been better than it is now with Major Gray, Deckar Alexander and Brian Wilson.

A couple of years of consistency in the coaching, an improved attitude and plenty of talent, this could be the year the T-birds post more wins than losses.

"I know we have the capability of doing it," said Lamb. "Now, it is just a matter of actually reaching it."

e-mail: mblack@desnews.com