Expectations are always great at Gainesville and this year they could be at an all-time high.

Ever since the 2008 season ended, the Red Elephants have been a preseason favorite to compete for the Class AAA state title and although he’s flattered, Gainesville coach Bruce Miller knows that so much more goes in to winning a title than simple public perception.

"It’s easy to predict someone to play for a state title, but you need to understand what goes into it," Miller said. "You’ve got to avoid season-ending injuries, you’ve got to have people healthy at the right time and you have to have the ball bounce your way."

The latter didn’t occur during Gainesville’s playoff run in 2008, which ended with a 28-14 loss to Carver-Columbus in the third round. Eight offensive starters return from that team and the defense boasts a linebacking corps that a coach dreams of, leaving the Red Elephants with some pressure to advance further this year. But Miller isn’t thinking state title or bust.

"I would think the players want to show people that they deserve the credit," he said. "Expectations are what you make of them. If you look at them as a challenge, you attack them. If you look at them negatively, you start worrying.

"I’m certainly not worrying about it and I don’t want them to worry about it," he added.

"We’ll see where it all falls in November and December."

Offense

Just like a year ago, quarterback Blake Sims will lead the Gainesville offense and he has plenty of experienced offensive weapons at his disposal. Tai-ler Jones, Teryan Rucker and Devon Pierce all return at the skill positions, and a pair of tall receivers in Chris West and Daunte Carr are competing for wide reciever spots.

"You’ve got talent all over the field," Miller said.

And Gainesville has it on the offensive line too, as four of the five starters return. Michael Waters has moved to center to replace Nick Williams and Miller said that only the right tackle position needs to be filled.

Gainesville averaged 37 points per game in 2008 and with Sims having another year of experience, the Red Elephants could shatter that number this season.

"He sees things before I see them," Miller said of Sims. "It is like having another set of eyes back there. He wants this to be his team."

Defense

Ask Miller about his linebackers in 2009 and it will be hard to wipe the smile off his face.

"This is the best linebacker corps I’ve had on any one team ever," Miller said of A.J. Johnson, Alberto Sanabria and Thomas Sprague.

Those linebackers, who amassed more than 450 tackles last year, will anchor a defense that needs to replace the 14 sacks of Josh Jackson and pass-rushing abilities of Austin Calvert and Shammond Stringer.

"Our biggest question is the defensive line," said Miller, who pointed to Kevin Hall, Taylor Stowe and Thomas Niles as key replacements. "And it is because they aren’t proven, but I think they’ll prove it the first game."

One area that doesn’t have questions is in the secondary, as the Red Elephants have a trio of experienced starters in Tevin Yarbrough, Carr and Kenya Jackson and a two-year starter in Justin Owens.

Special teams

Like every other facet of the game, Gainesville welcomes back its kickers from a year ago. Chicano Perez will handle the long-kicking duties, Reid Almond will take care of the short kicks and on the few occassions when they deem necessary, Jones and Stephen Mason will punt.

Jones and Rucker will handle the kick return duties and the duo proved last year that they have the capability of returning every kick for large gains.

"We’ve got everybody back," Miller said. "I haven’t been in this situation in a long time."

Outlook