According to Barrett, if there is one thing that Corsair fans can expect to see different from last year's team it's better players and better athletes who know the system and who can play.

Along with having better talent at every position you must have a system that the talent can flourish in and put points on the board; and boy can they do that!

Santa Monica's offense is similar to the NFL team the St.Louis Rams who can score points faster than the speed of light.
This defense is "aggressive, intelligent and we are two deep at every position compared to last season, when I almost had to suit up," said head coach Robert Taylor lightheartedly; with players like defensive lineman Brendon Allen and linebackers Travis Warthen and Richard Roman along with defensive back Jackson McIntrye.

But now when they say defense it's just like yelling, "Fire in the hole!" because if you don't duck you will get hit. With these players and many more.

Coach Barnett's goals of having the best defense in Southern California along with winning SMC's own Beach Bowl and state title seem very attainable with this group of young men.

On Sept. 6, SMC Friday's scrimmaged against Orange Coast College, the focus was not so much on winning but on evaluating and execution.

"This game is a test to see where we are as a football team and how we can play as a unit," said Barnett. The team seemed to play well as a unit; on both sides of the ball especially the quarterback David Koral and wide receiver Greg Strausberg.

They hook up on a the 50yards pass that lead to a Strausberg touchdown. As far as the ground game the Corsairs were lead by freshman running back James Jackson who ran for 120 yards most of it on an elusive 65-yard touchdown run that left the crowd going crazy.

As the 2002 season gets underway this team is ready to battle and be tested and ready to win the season opener on Sat. Sept. 14 as they travel to Palm Desert to play College of the Desert.