The Fighting Scots return 35 letter winners and 22 players who saw action as starters last season when the team went 7-3 and finished in a tie for second place in the Midwest Conference. With so much experience back from a successful campaign, one might think Bell has a hand on the MWC title, but nothing could be farther from the truth in Bell’s eyes.

"Everybody wants to pick a conference champion before we even play a game," said Bell. "We all know the only way for anyone in our league to get into the NCAA (tournament) field is to win it. There are nine league games and we’ll probably need to win them all (for an NCAA berth)."

While the ninth-year head coach is cautious about predicting the outcome of the conference championship, the league’s coaches were fairly certain of the outcome weeks in advance of the first game. In the annual coaches’ poll, the MWC coaches tabbed defending champion St. Norbert to repeat, giving the Green Knights 10 first-place votes and the Scots the remaining three.

Monmouth appears to be well-positioned with a plethora of starters returning. A newcomer or two could crack the lineup on the offensive side, as graduation and other factors have Bell looking to replace two offensive linemen, a pair of running backs and one receiver. The defense, however, appears to be set.

Quarterback Alex Tanney (Lexington, Ill./Lexington) returns for his sophomore season. As a freshman, the strong-armed gunslinger assaulted the record books, throwing for a school record 2,678 yards, which already ranks him fifth all-time in that category. Versatile junior Keegan Jones (Knoxville, Ill./Knoxville) looks to have the early nod over freshman Patrick Miller (Pontiac, Ill./Pontiac) as the primary backup for Tanney. Jones could also see action at tight end.

Part of Tanney’s success last season was due to a talented – and deep – receiving corps. Five different receivers gained between 300 and 600 yards last season. The leader in touchdowns among the group, junior Nick Wright (Canton, Ill./Canton) hauled in seven scores and classmate Kyle Wantland (Fisher, Ill./Fisher) led in receptions with 53. If that duo doesn’t strike fear into the hearts of the opposing defenses, consider that the Scots also have the services of sophomore Mike Blodgett (Appleton, Wis./North) and junior Ryan Hardman (Broadview, Ill./Westchester-St. Joseph), as well as receiver and return specialist Matt Shepherd (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg). The trio combined for nearly 800 receiving yards.

Monmouth may also have a couple of secret weapons at the end of Tanney’s passes. Former quarterback, junior Steve Zidow (Peru, Ill./LaSalle-Peru), moves into a receiver’s role, while sophomore J.D. Holeman (Jacksonville, Ill./Routt) returns after serving with his reserve unit last year.

Giving Tanney time to find one of his many targets is an offensive line that averages nearly 270 pounds. The early projection puts juniors Dan Schwindenhammer (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame) at left tackle, Seth Hill (Jacksonville, Ill./Jacksonville) at center and first team all-conference lineman Josh Kotecki (Peru, Ill./LaSalle-Peru) at guard. Senior Matt Wardell (Jacksonville, Ill./Jacksonville) moves from last year's tackle spot to left guard. A battle is brewing for the starting spot at right tackle between senior Zach Howerter (Kilbourne, Ill./Havana) and converted defensive lineman, junior Nick Hoffman (Moline, Ill./Moline).

"We expect these guys to be pretty good," said Bell of his experienced line. "We still have to mesh together, so only time will tell how good this group will be."

Bell refers to his running backs as a "multi-headed horse." Predicting the spot will sort itself out prior to the first game, sophomores Mike Ridgway (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) and Nick Law (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth) are battling for playing time with senior Casey Orwig (Fort Madison, Iowa/Fort Madison) and junior Clay Bricker (Avon, Ill./Bushnell-Prairie City) who combined to get nearly one-third of the team’s carries and yards last season. Add into the mix "talented" freshmen Noah Roseland (Coal City, Ill./Coal City) and Caleb Pratt (Danville, Ill./Westville), and Bell has a variety of options for the two-man rotation in the backfield.

The only item missing from the offensive plan, according to Bell, is better balance in production.

"We were balanced last season in the pass-to-run ratio," explained Bell. "But we need a few more yards on the ground. It’s not just one area, but we need to get better as a team."

It’s a bit more settled on the defensive side of the ball, where 11 starters return, and it all begins up front.

All-conference first-teamer, senior Wes Levy (Plano, Ill./Yorkville), who led the linemen in tackles last season, headlines the returning D-line. He’s joined by sophomore Peyton Lumzy (Dixon, Ill./Dixon), juniors Nick Lefler (Virginia Beach, Va.), Nick Davis (Ashmore, Ill./Charleston) and Marc Wozniak (Petersburg, Ill./PORTA).

Much like the offense, the defense may have a secret weapon or two. The sack leader on the Scots championship team in ’05, sophomore Anthony Goranson (Bartlett, Ill./Belvidere), returns to the team after taking last year off. Goranson, who Bell says is "torturing" the offense in practice, and sophomore Shawn Betar (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville) will bolster an already strong defensive front.

A senior-laden linebacking corps will patrol the middle of the field. All-conference first-team Marc Artozqui (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) is joined by second-team all-league Danny Weiden (Oglesby, Ill./LaSalle-Peru), honorable mention T.C. Olsen (Amboy, Ill./Amboy) and Luke Sandrock (Deer Grove, Ill./Prophetstown). Experienced sophomore Marcus Ruff (Avon, Ill./Bushnell-Prairie City) figures to compete for the weak-side linebacker spot.

The secondary is anything but second-best. Sophomore Sean Wells (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth) picked off a team-high five passes last season and was named second team all-conference. Seniors Cole Norman (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) – an honorable mention selection, Kyle Harmon (Moline, Ill./Moline) and the speedy Willy Mason (Lansing, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) round out the secondary. The quartet had 11 of the team’s 16 interceptions in 2007.

"This is a very tight-knit group," said Bell of his defensive unit. "They’re very enthusiastic and are the pulse of our team right now because of their veteran leadership."

For the first time in four years, Nate Palkovic will not be lining up to kick. The team scoring leader graduated but has returned to work with the kickers. Junior Kyle Tuor (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) and freshman Shane Reschke (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo) are neck-and-neck for the starting role, but Bell admits replacing Palkovic won’t be easy.

"We’ll see who wins the job," said Bell. "It won’t be easy to fill Palkovic’s shoes, but we’ll be OK."

Other than the kicking unit and the running back positions, the 2008 version of the Scots should put a lineup on the field similar to last season’s. That’s a picture Bell doesn’t mind painting.

"I really like this team," praised Bell. "There is a tremendous amount of leadership and I think that will develop the chemistry that we’ll need to hold strong for 10 games. I believe this team is talented enough to achieve our goals."

One of those goals has been to add team balance. To that end, the Scots expect to be a threat on both sides of the ball.

"We’ll take some chances when the opportunity comes – offensively AND defensively," said Bell. "The defense knows the offense is going to score points and the offense knows the defense isn’t going to give up a lot of points. There’s a bit of a comfort zone in knowing the other side of the ball has your back. Each unit will complement the other."

At the end of the season, the Scots hope to compliment themselves on their second league title since 2005.