(Springfield, Mo.) -- Head Coach Terry Allen and the Missouri State Bears are optimistic about the 2012 season.
"When the players get here you get around them, the excitment, yeah lets do it," Allen said. "I like this group, and I'm excited about it."
Many questions surround this year's team, the biggest being at quarterback.
Mizzou transfer Ashton Glaser and sophomore Kierra Harris will compete for the starting quarterback spot left vacant by dismissed junior Trevor Wooden.
"It's always good to have competition because it makes us both better," said Glaser. "And it makes us better and makes the team better."
Allen says the decision won't be made immediately.
"We are not going to decide on a starting quarterback in the first week of preseason." said Allen. "We're just going to see which one will lead us down the path the best."
Glaser was reportedly arrested in Columbia back in March for twice failing to appear in court after a speeding ticket.
"There are mistakes and then there are some mistakes," Allen said. "He made some mistakes and maybe some of us made them at that age."
Defense has been a sore spot for the Bears the last few seasons.
Last year the Bears finished last in the Valley in total defense.
But Terry Allen says this year's unit can be one of the best he's ever had.
"It's exciting," he said. "I look out there and the depth is better than we've ever had."
The Bears return 10 starters on defense, including pre-season All-Valley linebacker Andrew Beisel.
"We're really motivated," said Beisel. "All we can do is go up. As of now. Just the fact that we have more depth makes more people want to start."
After finishing 2-9 last season, the Bears were predictably picked last in the pre-season Valley poll.
But this team is adamant that's not where they'll finish.
"It's something I think about, it's something that gets in my crawl," said junior tight end Matt Thayer. "And I don't like it, I want to prove these people wrong."
"When the players get here you get around them, the excitment, yeah lets do it," Allen said. "I like this group, and I'm excited about it."
Many questions surround this year's team, the biggest being at quarterback.
Mizzou transfer Ashton Glaser and sophomore Kierra Harris will compete for the starting quarterback spot left vacant by dismissed junior Trevor Wooden.
"It's always good to have competition because it makes us both better," said Glaser. "And it makes us better and makes the team better."
Allen says the decision won't be made immediately.
"We are not going to decide on a starting quarterback in the first week of preseason." said Allen. "We're just going to see which one will lead us down the path the best."
Glaser was reportedly arrested in Columbia back in March for twice failing to appear in court after a speeding ticket.
"There are mistakes and then there are some mistakes," Allen said. "He made some mistakes and maybe some of us made them at that age."
Defense has been a sore spot for the Bears the last few seasons.
Last year the Bears finished last in the Valley in total defense.
But Terry Allen says this year's unit can be one of the best he's ever had.
"It's exciting," he said. "I look out there and the depth is better than we've ever had."
The Bears return 10 starters on defense, including pre-season All-Valley linebacker Andrew Beisel.
"We're really motivated," said Beisel. "All we can do is go up. As of now. Just the fact that we have more depth makes more people want to start."
After finishing 2-9 last season, the Bears were predictably picked last in the pre-season Valley poll.
But this team is adamant that's not where they'll finish.
"It's something I think about, it's something that gets in my crawl," said junior tight end Matt Thayer. "And I don't like it, I want to prove these people wrong."
