ALMA AIREDALES
Conference: 5A-West
Head coach: Todd Dilbeck
Record last year: 4-6, 2-5
Points scored, points allowed: 189-179
Playoff appearances since 1968: 28
Last playoff appearance: 2005
Playoff record: 43-25

Key returning starters: DT Rodney Van Matre, RB Biagio Tumminello, LT Camden Olson, RG Brody Harper.

Outlook: To say that the Alma Airedales will have a new look in 2007 might be the understatement of the season. Todd Dilbeck takes over for Frank Vines, who retired after 31 years, 270 wins and three state championships. The offense was revamped in the spring from Vines' run-oriented attack to Dilbeck's wide-open four-receiver spread offense. Even more evident may be the look of the Airedales with new uniforms and helmets. Also new will be the starting lineups put on the field by Dilbeck this fall. Only Rodney Van Matre has any experience from last year on defense while Biagio Tumminello returns as the team’s leading rusher with Camden Olson and Brody Harper back along the front on offense. Senior Grant Rose and junior Matt Vinson have been splitting time at quarterback in the new spread passing game. At inside receiver, Derek Hellard, Tyler Woosley, Mason McSpadden, Josh Gregory and Cody Meredith are working out with Quinton Russell, Luke Humphreys, Cody Bullard and Nathan Workman vying for time at inside receiver in the new four-receiver set. Dilbeck came to Alma after serving as an assistant coach at Rice University for a season under Todd Graham, who left to take over at the University of Tulsa. Dilbeck was hired at Alma in February after an exhaustive and thorough search to replace Vines, who was the winningest active coach in the state at the time of his retirement in November.

Comments from Dilbeck: "We're not trying to fill coach Vines' shoes. We just want to carry on his legacy. It's been a good transition. Coach Vines and I have spent a lot of time together. Things are going real well. We're getting a lot of stuff installed. The kids have really adjusted to our practice schedule and the offense."