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WESTERN ILLINOIS FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY

For the first time in seven years...Western Illinois Football Media Day came without atonement or apology for the season past.

But as Jerod Wells details, last fall's dramatic about-face has enticed more than satisfied.....

Senior Wide Receiver Terriun Crump said, "I just really want to be a championship team."

Senior Wide Receiver Terriun Crump and the rest of the Leathernecks made a giant stride towards that goal last season.

Crump said, "I think we're heading in the right way, we're working hard. I think if we continue to work hard we should be okay."

Before the Leathernecks postseason run last year, they hadn't made it to the playoffs since 2003.

Senior Wide Receiver Myers Hendrickson said, "I think last year was a huge help, just getting this program going in the right direction, everybody's got a great attitude and we're just trying to get better every day."

Sophomore Offensive Lineman Jimmy Holtschlag said, "There's definitely a higher morale in the locker room compared to the other years I've been here. It's a great feeling to know that we can accomplish what we need to accomplish."

But everyone in the WIU locker room knows there's much more work to be done.

Senior Defensive Back Ryan Davis said, "We knew in the off season that we needed to work harder to have a successful season this year. We have a lot of big shoes to fill."

Holtschlag said, "Even though we made the playoffs, we always got to keep that hunger because we always need to get more, always need to want more and we can always achieve more."

And players are already seeing payoff for hard over the summer.

Holtschlag said, "It's always great to get back into football after a long summer of working hard and seeing how everything pays off for you.//It was my first summer staying up here in Macomb, but it was well worth it, I can tell."

While the 2011 Leatherneck roster boats several players receiving preseason honors...they realize that only goes so far.

Sophomore Punter/Kicker Pat Smith said, "I think it adds a little bit of a high expectation, but it's nice to get preseason recognition, but it doesn't mean anything unless I go out on the field and perform this year.">