To say there is a new era coming for the Lake Washington football program would be a cliche. Except it’s very true.

Under new head coach Steve Supple, the Kangs know it might be a long season, but the fact of the matter is, they have to start somewhere.

“Little by little we’ll get better, little by little they’ll learn,” said Supple. The team, which is certainly in a rebuilding phase, dropped down to 3A this season, after having competed for several years in the 4A bracket.

“From where we started to where we are now, I would tell you we are 100 percent improved from (the first day of practice),” said the coach who 24 year of coaching experience. “Literally we’re going to spend the next five to six weeks continuing to build in little pieces because you can’t give it to them all at once.”

Supple, who was a long time defensive coordinator, said he feels the team will be fundamentally sound this season.

“I think fundamentally we’ll be pretty good because the kids are learning quickly and it’s a new defense,” he said of their defensive strengths. “They’ll pick that up and they’ll be able to execute that. Now the reality is that some of the guys we play are going to out athlete you,” said Supple. “They might be where they are supposed to be, they just might not be fast enough to run with the guy who is coming.”

Offensively, the Kangs will become a throwing team under Supple, which will work well for senior running back Alex Donnelly.

“The coaches are doing a great job,” said the senior. “They have a lot of experience and they are helping us develop faster.”

With the newly styled offense Supple said the team will throw the football much more than in the past.

“We’re going to try and throw the ball. We’re going to try and open some running lanes for him by throwing the ball,” said Supple of Donnelly.

The one major downside this year is what the Kangs have, is what the Kangs have. There isn’t much left over for just in case type situations.

“We’re thin everywhere,” said Supple. “We have no depth. Our starting defensive line in our starting offensive line. We are literally playing eight or 10 guys.”

While he said he knows there are more players in the school, convincing them to come out, especially in a year like this will be tough.

“I believe that it’s not about winning,” he said of his philosophy for the team. “I believe its about the journey, so to speak. You learn from doing the work, lifting all the weights and going to the camps. When you’re doing those things because great things happen in those environments, whether its sharing a story or an incident that happened. Those are the things they will be talking about 10 years from now. They won’t be talking about the record. They’ll be talking about the memories.”

Supple said he knows that winning is more fun than losing, but if they are going to get those wins, they have to be willing to do the work.

“If you want to win, you gotta do the work. That’s what they are doing in the other places (like Bellevue and Skyline),” he said. “I’m already told them tough times are coming. I’ve already outlined for them that you have the opportunity to win x number of games. The other games, those games are going to be a struggle. You’re going to have to be able to find some satisfaction or some joy in the struggle.”

For the players like Donnelly and senior receiver Robert Reyes staying healthy and competing this season are top priorities.

“We have to stay healthy, because we have low numbers,” they said.

Thursday, after Reporter deadline, the Kangs got their first taste of the season against Garfield. Supple said his team needed to be fundamentally sound during the game as a starting point.

“If we play disciplined football we’ll be OK against them,” he said. “My experience with that style is that they are probably going to out athlete us in a couple of places, but as long as we play good fundamentals then we’ll be fine.”

Next Friday the team hosts Redmond, the Rebels cross town rivals, and no matter how thin the team might be or how worried anyone is about injuries they will still be there to compete.

“We’re excited about all the games,” said the coach. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Bellevue coming here, or Juanita coming here or going to Mount Si or Sammamish. It doesn’t matter. We’re going to play them the same.”

2010 Schedule

Sept. 10 v. Redmond

Sept 17 at Mount Si

Sept. 24 v. Bellevue

Oct. 1 at Sammamish

Oct. 8 at Liberty

Oct. 15 v. Interlake

Oct. 22 at Juanita

Oct. 29 v. Mercer Island