11GVSU went 13-2 last season and captured the GLIAC title before losing 30-23 against Northwest Missouri State in the National Championship game.

Under new head coach Matt Mitchell, the Lakers kick off the 2010 season against No. 11 West Texas A&M at 8 p.m. Thursday in Lubbers Stadium.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

GVSU returns 40 letter winners and 17 starters from last year’s team. The Lakers are ranked second in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) preseason poll behind defending National Champion Northwest Missouri State. For the ninth-straight year, GVSU is the preseason favorite to win the GLIAC.

WHO TO WATCH

Kyle McMahon – Quarterback

A transfer from Division I Eastern Michigan University, McMahon was officially named the starting quarterback on Aug. 25 after winning the job from incumbent backup Marquel Neasman. McMahon started six games for Eastern last season – totaling 634 yards passing with four touchdowns and four interceptions – and will replace the graduated Brad Iciek as the team’s signal caller.

Cameron Bradfield – Offensive Tackle

Bradfield, a 2009 Daktronics Second-Team All-American selection and a Grand Rapids native, is one of four returning starters on the offensive line. The 6-foot-5-inch, 295-pound senior anchors the group responsible for both protecting McMahon and opening holes for the stable of Laker running backs.

Robert Carlisle – Cornerback

Carlisle was granted a medical redshirt after a broken leg suffered last year against Saginaw Valley State University ended his season after only three games. He returns as one of only two seniors in the GVSU secondary, and will be the No. 1 cornerback heading into the season.

THE GLIAC

The GLIAC expanded this past summer with the addition of both Lake Erie College and Ohio Dominican University. The two new schools increase the size of the conference to 14 teams. Lake Erie, which has an enrollment of more than 1,300 students, previously competed at the NCAA Division 3 level. Ohio Dominican has an enrollment of more than 3,100 students and was formerly a member of the NAIA.

NATIONAL TELEVISION

Thursday’s game will be televised nationally by CBS College Sports.

The Lakers are no stranger to national exposure; the team was broadcast on ESPN twice during the NCAA playoffs last season.

All GVSU football games are broadcast on WMUS 106.9 FM with Dick Nelson doing play-by-play and Steve Lloyd-Jones adding color commentary.

BLACKOUT

The athletic department is urging all fans to wear black to Thursday’s game. Black GVSU apparel is available from the University Bookstore.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING