Bears set to open season against D-II foe

The UNC football team kicks off the 2010 season at 1:35 p.m. on Saturday at Nottingham Field against Division II opponent Adams State, from Alamosa.

University of Northern Colorado head coach Scott Downing recently named junior Dylan Orms the starting quarterback for Saturday's opener.

Orms said he has been looking forward to this day for years.

"It's a big honor for me," Orms said. "I've been here for three years, and this will be my first start. Hearing that, of course, I was excited. It's something I've been waiting for and looking forward to the whole time I've been here."

Downing is looking for a much-improved defense to take the field on Saturday.

"I think our defense is very, very well prepared," Downing said. "They're a veteran crew. They've been running the same defense now for the last four years. We've got a number of guys who have played a number of games. I think as a group, I expect them to be a very, very big factor in the game on Saturday."

Downing said he also expects a big difference this year in how quickly the team adapts to the speed of the game.

"I think the big thing for us is to go out and get to game speed right away," Downing said. "We have to get to game speed fast, and that means take it up a notch from practice, which everybody has to do. I think from your first game, it's ‘Can you get to game speed?' and then ‘Can you eliminate any costly errors such as turnovers and dumb penalties?'"

The Grizzlies (1-0) are coming off a relatively successful season in the Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, finishing with an overall record of 5-6. The Grizzlies will be gunning for UNC, the only FCS team on their schedule. Senior cornerback Korey Askew said he is very aware of this.

"Just because they're a Division II team doesn't mean they won't come in here and bring it to us," Askew said. "We're definitely not overlooking them."

Adams State won its season opener last week, defeating Dixie State, 34-14.

As to how the team is getting ready for Adams State, Downing said it is all in the preparation.

"It doesn't matter if you're preparing for the Adams State Grizzlies or the Montana Grizzlies, you always prepare the same," Downing said.