Experience is this year’s theme for the Coleman High School football team.  The Bluecats return 16 starters from last year’s team and 14 of their 16 players projected as starters are seniors.  The final two starters are juniors.  "Most of the kids that are seniors have been starting since they were sophomores," Coleman coach Rusty Buzzard said.

The head coach position is one of the few aspects of the team that is different from 2004, as this will be Buzzard’s first season in Coleman.  The six-year coaching veteran brings in a career record of 30-36 and also brings two players who should be key members of the 2005 squad - his sons, Austin and Bronson.  Austin was a first team all-district quarterback in Yorktown.  The senior should bring added experience as the only member of the offense to have played in coach Buzzard’s system.

Behind Austin is returning first team all-district running back Carlton Brown, who ran for more than 1,200 yards a season ago.  While coach Buzzard doesn’t yet know a lot about Brown, or most of his team for that matter, he said he’s expecting Brown to be a major weapon this season and that "he needs to be" a big part of the Bluecats offense.

Coleman’s defense returns a solid nucleus, including first team all-district defensive lineman Jacob Morrison.  The Bluecats will also get help on the defensive side of the ball from another Yorktown transfer and another 2004 first team all-district selection, outside linebacker Matt Royce.

Even though Coleman managed just a 3-9 overall record and 2-3 record in district play last season, the Bluecats still made it to the playoffs and won their first round game.  Coach Buzzard is looking for the experience of a playoff run to translate into even more wins in 2005.  "This team is full of young men who want to succeed," Buzzard said. "They have a true desire to do well."