The UW-Platteville football team is on the prowl as they look to win more games in the upcoming season. The team is about to begin spring practice in which the NCAA allows them 16 practices without wearing pads. Last season, the team had struggled to a two and eight record.

This season, they are working hard to change that around. In the off-season, players have been preparing to get ready and have exceeded the expectations of head coach Mike Emendorfer. The players spend four days a week conditioning in the weight room as well as running and other various exercises.

“Looking back on last season is very disappointing,” Coach Emendorfer said. “It definitely doesn’t indicate what we could do.”

Coach Emendorfer is pleased with the players though and now realizes what they need to do in the upcoming season. One of the big things to do is to become more consistent and finish strong. With some of the games last season, they came up short by one or two touchdowns and had a lot of turnovers.

One of the differences that sets the football team apart from other teams on campus is that there are nearly 100 players on the Pioneer football team. Bringing them all together and having them learn to play together is key.

“One good part of our team is that you can count on those around you,” David Akey, defensive end, said. Akey, who will be a senior this fall, has started all four years at UW-P and hopes to be one of the captains this year. He also intends to come back and have the same personal goals as last year and to go even further. Last season, Akey was named All-Conference by the WIAC. “We have a lot going for us,” Akey said.

Brandon Willger, a senior outside linebacker, is looking forward to this upcoming season as well. Willger, who has started the past two seasons, has some personal goals as well. “I’ll do what I can to improve the team,” Willger said.

The potential that this team has is pretty great. The consensus of the players and coaches is that they want to win. “The off-season and spring practice will contribute to that,” Willger said.

Freshman Joe Burkeland, the team’s starting quarterback at the end of the 2007 campaign, will be returning after having both ankle and wrist injuries last season.

“Burkeland is one of the most athletic and dangerous players in the league,” Emendorfer said. Burkeland looks to accomplish many things this year, especially fighting for the conference championship.

“I can’t wait to be finally getting back on the field and practicing,” Burkeland said.

The Pioneers are also looking at a strong new recruiting class. There are 60 potential new Pioneers, but due to NCAA Division III rules, Coach Emendorfer was not allowed to report those names.

The Pioneers hope the 2008 campaign will be different than last season’s and they will be able to contend with traditional powers including defending Division III National Champion UW-Whitewater and other rivals like UW-Stevens Point and UW-La Crosse.