SLIPPERY ROCK — Entering his 25th season and sporting 161 career victories, Slippery Rock University head football coach George Mihalik has plenty of experience.

As for his team? Different story.

“This year, green is appropriately one of our team colors,” Mihalik said.

The Rock enters the 2012 campaign with only eight seniors on the roster, compared to 17 a year ago. Veteran assistant coaches Vic Campagna, Joe Walton, Bill Horstman and Harry Jones retired as well.

“There’s a lot of new faces around here,” Mihalik said. “It was strange opening camp and not seeing all of those guys out on the field with me.

“We’ll never have that (veteran staff) here again. Those guys all lived in the community, worked in the community ... they weren’t moving.”

SRU is coming off an 8-3 season and a co-PSAC West championship. The Rock returns six starters on both sides of the ball.

Returning offensively are center Austin Fedell, guards Mitch Kudlaweic and Kirk Nypaver, tight end Josh Gardner, running back Akeem Satterfield and wide receiver John Schademan.

Satterfield rushed for 649 yards and seven touchdowns in an injury-plagued junior campaign. He had four 100-yard rushing games among the seven he played.

Schademan caught 30 passes for 351 yards a year ago and is the top returning receiver.

“Akeem will get his share of touches, but not 30-plus times a game, though he doesn’t mind that,” Mihalik said. “We should be more diverse offensively.

“We are extremely inexperienced at quarterback. Not one of those guys has started a game here.”

Redshirt sophomore Jared Buck will be the starter. The 6-foot-4 West Allegheny product completed five of the six passes he threw in five games off the bench in 2011.

Fedell anchors the offensive line, having started 33 consecutive games. He was a first team All-PSAC West performer last season.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys who are working hard,” Fedell said. “We’ve got a good unit up front and we’re meshing well.

“It’s up to us to get things started.”

Defensively, returning starters include end Jeff Thompson, linemen Jack Charles and Derek Walker, linebacker Quindell Dean, cornerbacks A.J. Saunders and Brandon Burley. Burley is moving to safety so Admire Carter, who saw some time last year, can step in at a corner spot.

“We’ve got depth, but we’re inexperienced,” Mihalik said. “That’s where we are as a team right now.

“I’ll be like one of the fans when our first game arrives. I’m as curious as anyone to see what we’re going to look like out there.”

Thompson led SRU with 15 tackles for loss last year. He had 60 tackles and four quarterback sacks. Dean ranked fifth on the team with 45 tackles.

“If you talk about our defense, it starts with Thompson,” Mihalik said. “I think he’ll be the best defensive end in the league.”

“Our defense was ranked No. 1 in the nation for eight weeks last year,” Thompson said.

“We’re using that as motivation. We want to get back there again.”

Slippery Rock High graduate Tony Papley figures to start somewhere along the defensive line as well.

“His motor never stops,” defensive coordinator Shawn Lutz said of Papley. “He’s relentless on the field and he’s a leader because of it.

“Another guy, 300-pound Dajour Morris (transfer from Akron) will help us up front, too. No doubt, defensive line is our deepest position.”

Punter James McCombie and place-kicker Kurt Brackman return at their respective positions. Brackman converted 13 of 18 field-goal attempts, 38 of 41 PATs, in 2011.

“We should have more consistency in the kicking game this year,” Mihalik said. “No one can pin the ball inside the 15-yard line like McCombie.”

SRU’s schedule ranks second-toughest — behind only Millersville — among the 50 Division II teams in the Northeast.

“If strength of schedule means anything, we should be good to go in the playoff chase this year ... as long as we win,” Mihalik said.