In the case of this year’s boys’ football team, change is a good thing. New coaches, new players, new rules and a whole new agenda have filled the preseason so far. All of these aim to reestablish Garfield football excellence in the KingCo 4A division as the Bulldogs try to bounce back from last year’s disappointing 0 – 9 record. This season is the first step in a hopefully large comeback for the Dogs.

“We haven’t won in a while, so the thing you have to remember first before you can get to how many games you’re going to win is that you got to practice, you got to be [at practice] everyday, you got to learn how to compete and how to be responsible,” Coach Anthony Allen said. “A lot of little things. Wins will come after that.”

At the end of last year, no one could mention Garfield football without mentioning the new head coaches Al Roberts and Anthony Allen. Both have a well-respected history in football. Roberts has coached for around 35 years at big time colleges and in the NFL including the University of Washington and the Cincinnati Bengals. Allen graduated from Garfield High School in 1978 and played for the Washington Huskies in college. He also won a Super Bowl in 1987 with the Washington Redskins.

“Their experience is clear every day at practice,” said junior cornerback Zander Urban. “Their NFL experience has made it so that every small detail is fine-tuned. We have all these strategies that make a huge difference in all of our plays.”

The team that these two coaches will be inheriting has promising talent. The offense will be led by returning senior starters Dante Jenkins and Mychal Mousseau. The defense will be anchored by cornerback Zander Urban.

“Last year’s team might have had more individual talent than this year’s team but last year’s team didn’t have a whole lot of direction and we’re trying to give these kids that this year,” Allen said.

No new coach enters a program without making some changes. Especially if that program’s team had a winless previous season. The Bulldogs started practicing before school ended last year and have been working nearly every day of every week during the summer. The coaches have set higher expectations for every player and demanded that every player gives it all on the field.

“We’re giving them something most of them want,” Allen said. “Most of them want to work, most of them want a coach that’s going to ride them everyday and make them work hard. If you’re late you won’t play. If you’re late you’re going to run. If you miss practice you won’t play. They know we’re serious about it.”

The upcoming season is sure to draw more attention to the Garfield football team. The Seattle Times has already printed an article on the Bulldog’s progress in the off-season. With a talented new coaching staff, expect improvement on last year’s record.

“We just want to surprise the league and surprise the students at Garfield,” Urban said.

“It’s going to be good this year,” said Jenkins “[the students] need to come out and watch us.”

The Bulldogs are making sure that no team writes them off this year before playing them.