In the FCS Huddle: New energy felt across Big Sky

Park City, UT (SportsNetwork.com) - With changes still coming across the NCAA landscape, Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton banks on the fact that he believes his conference is positioned as strong as it's ever been.

One of the ways to make the Big Sky's flagship sport - football - even stronger is for some of the struggling programs to finally become consistent winners - although the likes of perennial powers Eastern Washington, Montana and Montana State will be pushing back.

North Dakota, Sacramento State and Weber State hope to be headed into that direction after changing head coaches in the offseason.

They hope to be the surprise that Southern Utah was a year ago after the release of two preseason polls Tuesday at Big Sky Kickoff festivities. Sacramento State, under interim head coach Jody Sears, was picked to finish seventh in the head coaches poll and ninth in the media poll of the 13-team conference, North Dakota and coach Kyle "Bubba" Schweigert were picked 10th and 11th, and Weber State and Jay Hill were 11th and 12th.

Eastern Washington (12-3, 8-0 last season) was picked as a heavy favorite in both polls to capture a third straight Big Sky title.

Sacramento State, UND and Weber State have floundered in the Big Sky in recent seasons - with some high moments as well - and were in need of jump-starts under the hood. Sacramento State has had success beating FBS competition but not necessarily its Big Sky rivals, finishing 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the conference last year. Weber State was 2-10 and 1-7, and North Dakota 3-8 and 2-6 in just its second season of Big Sky competition.

The scenario involving Sears in the Big Sky is a bit weird. He was named Weber State's defensive coordinator in 2012 only to be elevated to interim head coach a few months later following John L. Smith's departure. But Sears was fired after a 4-19 record over two seasons, only to be selected defensive coordinator at Sacramento State in January. Sure enough, three months later, head coach Marshall Sperbeck resigned and Sears was elevated to interim head coach.

"Yeah, run to Vegas. I have no clue," on the odds, Sears laughs.

With the fresh start, Sears will look to restructure a defense that struggled last season while his staff also relies on the dynamic Garrett Safron-to- DeAndre Carter passing combination and an 18-member senior class.

Said Sears, who also has Big Sky experience at Eastern Washington from 2000-07, including the 2003-07 seasons as defensive coordinator: "We started to identify some principles that you're going to cling to, continue to develop the team culture and let the seniors know that this is their team and we were going to go as they go. So, really, the leadership has been good. We'll see how it plays out in the fall."

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In the FCS Huddle: New energy felt across Big Sky