HOUGHTON -- The Michigan Tech football team enters 2011 after a very good 8-2 campaign last season, just missing the playoffs.

The Huskies are projected to finish second in the GLIAC north division this season.

Gone from last year's team are quarterback Steve Short of Kingsford and running back Phil Milbrath of Norway.  The offensive line returns four starters, plus tight end Bryan LaChapelle of Crystal Falls, and there's experience in the backfield with running back Akeem Cason and others.

We caught up with Tech at media day Thursday afternoon, and coach Tom Kearly believes for the most part, this will not be an uphill battle.

"The quality of those two kids is going to be tough to replace," says MTU Head Coach Tom Kearly.  "They're at positions where, right away, it's going to take awhile. We've got a young man right now, in our quarterback, in our one huddle, in Tyler Scarlett who we think has a chance to be a really good quarterback. But he's a freshman, and that position, especially, is going to take some time to develop."

"There's not really too many changes on offense," according to tight end Bryan LaChapelle.  "We're still running the same plays, same scheme.  It's just new players in there, that's all."

"Same stuff I've been running for four years," says defensive end Todd Storm.  "So I'm real confident in our defense.  We're all really comfortable with the players."

The defense returns ten starters, including all the linemen and secondary.

The Huskies open the season Saturday, September 3 at Winona State.

The home opener is Saturday, September 10 against Lake Erie.