Thursdays practice before the season opener against Hancock was all business as the Vaqs Football team gear up for a grueling 11-week campaign that garners talent and expectation.

This season the Vaqueros will be eligible for the playoffs after losing those rights amidst conduct controversy making the theme of this years season Redemption. They will play games in ten straight weeks and end the season on a bye week. Five of those games will be on the team’s brand new synthetic playing surface. They are the only team in the conference whose schedule is so uniquely designed.

“I have high expectations (this season), we just need to execute,” said fourth-year head coach Craig Moropoulos. “This is 2010 now and I’m not even thinking about last season.”

City College stumbled to a 3-7 record last season after losing key starters including Quarterback John Uribe who missed half the season with a dislocated elbow.

“I’m back at 100 percent now,” Uribe said working on the exercise bike. “We just need to stay focused and have the same goal in mind and take it game-by-game.”

Coach Moropoulos pointed out the quarterback as one of the notables he was excited to watch play this season.

“His elbow isn’t bothering him at all,” said coach Moropoulos. “He’s had a real good camp.”

The offense will be revamped with the return of the Quarterback, a former Santa Barbara High School star, back in the lineup. He said we are going to see a lot of snaps taken “under the center” and in “shotgun” as well as new formations and receiver “stacks”.

“We’re trying to switch it up a bit this year and see where it takes us,” added Uribe. “We’re looking to spread the ball out a little more and get it to all of our receivers.”

Samuel Shipley was among the other notables that coach Moropoulos talked about for the upcoming season. While he mentioned he was not surprised with any of his players, he was excited to have the linebacker back.

Shipley is one of only two defensive starters returning for the Vaqueros this season.

City College’s conference has been changed this season. Two-time league champions Antelope Valley have left the American Pacific Conference along with East L.A. Glendale was added to make it a seven-team conference.

All of the Vaqueros’ games will be broadcasted on the radio at AM 1290 KZSB. They can also be heard on the internet at www.newspress.com. Both versions will be commentated by the Voice of the Vaqueros John Martony.