Interim MSUM football coach ready to take some risks

2010 brings a brand new look for the Dragon football team. A new coaching staff, new quarterback, new head coach. I asked the new coach Joel Beard what differences we'll see under his watch.

“We’ll probably take a few more risks and some of the things we'll do. Hopefully we'll be sound offensively and defensively and put us in the right spot not to say Coach Tomeo wasn't but we'll be aggressive and leave everything out there, too.”

For the returning guys that know what to expect from you. How much can you use that moving forward?

“Last half of the season was real positive in that I got to see what needs to happen and it really helped me in trying to put a staff together and what we need to do to be successful if I’m the head coach.”

Talk to me about the recruiting trail and all the uncertainty that you can't promise a whole lot because you didn't know a whole lot.

“I think it's been fairly positive. You'll get some people that will be turned off because of the interim tag. Our situation isn't for everybody.”

Zach Fry has left the program. I know you worked closely with him. A new quarterback Kevin Cook is going to come in, is he going to be the guy right away?

“Well he's going to have a chance. We have two other guys in Bryson Pluta and Kyle Hall that will have a say in that and he's going to be given the opportunity to compete for that starting spot just like everybody else.”

Beard says seven players have left the program over the off-season.