BUTLER TWP— Artificial turf is coming to Art Bernardi Stadium this season.

The anticipated change in Butler's varsity football fortunes is very, very real.

"We want to get that first win under our belts and go from there,"second-year coach Jeff McAnallen said.

The Golden Tornado's 0-9 record of 2007 is merely a distant memory for the 2008 edition of Butler football.

"That was last year. We're past that,"senior linebacker T.J. Lesniewski said. "We're just worried about New Castle right now."

Butler opens the season Friday at New Castle.

The Tornado return numerous starters on both sides of the ball and have 23 seniors on the roster, many of whom started a year ago.

"It was tough for these kids at times last year,"McAnallen said. "They lined up for a lot of games against kids two years older than them. But now they've grown up."

Cole Harvey, a junior, returns as starting quarterback. He threw for 658 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 236 yards in 2007.

Christos Klutinoty (216 yards) and Tony Fudoli (142 yards) join him in the backfield. Zack Harrison and Jake Thompson will see time there as well.

"Christos and Tony will be playing both ways, so they'll need to get a break somewhere,"McAnallen said. "Those younger backs will get a chance to play.

"Cole has always been a mature kid. He's gained 20 pounds and he's much more comfortable making calls behind center now. He'll have the opportunity to call more audibles this year.

"We're going to give him the chance to run the game because that's what he can do,"McAnallen added.

Butler has experience returning up front in right tackle Ricky Gladd, left guard Dylan O'Donnell and right guard Steve Powers, who moved from center.

John Jaskot will play left tackle, and senior Jake Skunda and junior Dan Santoro will battle for the starting center spot.

"We don't have a lot of speed in the backfield, but we do have strong, physical runners,"McAnallen said. "We'll be playing a power running game."

That suits Gladd just fine.

"I love the thought of hitting people and trying to control the game that way,"Gladd said.

Jared Oesterling, who caught 18 passes for 162 yards at tight end before an injury ended his season after six games, is moving to wide receiver. Brian Jendesky, a basketball player, has joined the football team and will play tight end.

Eli Christy and Nathan Neff are other receivers who will play regularly.

"Finding a spot for Brian gets us another athlete on the field,"McAnallen said. "Ideally, we'll have 22 solid athletes in starting positions."

The Tornado defense will return with their 44 look. Three starters are back on the defensive line: tackles Jordan Emrick and Joe Marak, and end Dayne Horwat.

Lesniewski returns at middle linebacker, with Klutinoty moving from linebacker to end. Fudoli returns as an outside linebacker.

Nick Elliott will start at an outside linebacker spot while Luke Gilliland and Aaron D'Amore are competing for the other inside spot.

All three secondary starters return: safety Harvey and corners Mason McLaughlin and Josh Reddick.

"Our strength should be our defense,"Lesniewski said. "We should be really physical and we've gotten faster. Our offense should be good, too, and we'll be able to get the ball back for our offense."

Harvey returns as punter and soccer player Drew Donaogue has joined the team to handle kickoff duties. Incumbent kicker Ryan Soule is being challenged by sophomore Marc Hunka.

"We're still doing the basics and we're still a young team,"McAnallen said. "But we have a bunch of seniors who are back, making sure they do things right. Our kids have stayed together since February, lifting and conditioning."

An already difficult section has gotten tougher with perennial Class AAApower Pine-Richland joining the league.

"It will be a battle every week,"McAnallen said. "Nothing has changed that way. Our goal is to compete for a playoff berth and we'll go from there."