The college football season is finally back and with it comes the opening game of the year for the CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves.
The Pack open their season on the road against South Dakota Mines and are looking to make some waves in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) under second-year head coach Phillip Vigil.
Vigil took some time to speak with the Chieftain about the upcoming season, what's different from last year, and who to watch on the field for this year.
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The Pack is back
The ThunderWolves finished the season off last year with the same record as the year before and Vigil, a first-year head coach at the time, was happy with the performance; however, he knows his team can do better.
This year’s team is focused on one thing, and one thing only.
“My expectation of our team is that we continue to get better every day,” Vigil said. “Can we get 1% better today and by doing that, if we can focus on that every single day, then the results will take care of themselves.
"After being here for a year, the offensive, defensive special teams, they know the expectations, they know the scheme, they know the terminology. We have the same coordinators that we had last year so hopefully we're able to just go out and play free and play fast and not have to think so much as we did, especially early in the season.”
As with most programs, the ThunderWolves will go out and perform to the best of their ability and will do so under the mantra of “to the top.”
“From the outside looking in, it's about getting to the top in wins, in the conference, to the championship, and making a playoff run and all that kind of stuff,” Vigil said. “But within, it’s about giving glory where glory is due. It's about honoring the people that have put you in a position to play this great game at this great university. It's about honoring the people who wore that jersey before you and leaving the jersey better than when you found it.
"So that means a lot to us. It's about us following our process, and it is simple: to be present. Show up where you're supposed to and while you're there, be intentional and that's the hard part.”
What's the biggest difference between year one and year two coaching this program?
“I think the difference between last year's team and this year's team is we had a year in our system and we understand the scheme," Vigil said, "we understand the terminology and now it's just about being able to go out and let your God-given talent take over, not thinking. We are going to make mistakes, it's a part of the game. The idea is to not go out there making mistakes but be ready to make plays.”
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Stars on the field
The Pack is returning primetime players in key positions this season who could impact the team's performance throughout the season.
Daniel Bone, two-time all-American who is ranked the number two safety in Division 2 has "only continued to improve," according to Vigil, while Eli Pitmann, another first-team all-conference athlete, is "an absolute stud."
Also on the defensive side are Makeah Scippio, Cody Ramming, and James Turrentine — three all-conference athletes — as well as Gary Seidenberger, the freshman player of the year season.
On the offensive side of things, Reggie Retzlaff is returning. He caught 12 touchdown passes last season and is "looking really good," according to Vigil. The head coach also named Howard Russell, Tyler Dvorak and Zach Rakoswky as returning athletes expected to make an impact.
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CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves Football 2024 Schedule
- August 29, 2024, 6 P.M. Away, South Dakota Mines, Rapid City, SD / O'Harra Stadium
- September 7, 2024, 6 P.M. Home, Texas Permian Basin, Pueblo, CO / CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl
- September 14, 2024, 6 P.M. Home, Grand Valley State University, Pueblo, CO / CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl
- September 21, 2024, 2 PM Home, Colorado Mesa University, Pueblo, CO / CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl
- September 28, 2024, 1 P.M. Away, Adams State University, Alamosa, CO / Rex Stadium
- October 5, 2024, 2 P.M. Home, New Mexico Highlands University, Pueblo, CO / CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl
- October 12, 2024, 2 P.M. Away, Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO / Ray Dennison Memorial Field
- October 19, 2024, 1 P.M. Home, Black Hills State University, Pueblo, CO / CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl
- November 2, 2024, 1 P.M. Away, Western Colorado University, Gunnison, CO / Mountaineer Bowl at Rady Family Sports Complex
- November 9, 2024, 1 P.M. Home, Colorado School of Mines, Pueblo, CO / CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl
- November 16, 2024, 12 P.M. Away, Chadron State College, Chadron, NE / Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium
Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at cabdelmalek@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @chowebacca. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: CSU Pueblo football season preview: ThunderWolves to kick season off against South Dakota
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