"We think we've prepared pretty well this season," coach Papa "Bear" Bryant says. "More like Steelers against the Colts, not Steelers against the Jets."
SOMEWHERE IN PENN'S WOODS -- Thanksgiving week is the traditional time for some of the nation's most-storied rivalries: Harvard - Yale. Cornell - Penn. Oregon - Oregon State. And in Pennsylvania, it's hunters vs. bears.
So far, the rivalry has been lopsided, with the bears repeatedly losing a number of key players early, allowing the hunters to run up the score. But with a new coach and better planning, the bears are cautiously optimistic about coming out on top this year.
Papa "Bear" Bryant was lured out of retirement with a trail of donuts that led to bear team headquarters in Potter County. After reviewing Game Commission tapes of previous seasons, he set about improving the bears' game in all three phases.
"We had a great defensive effort in the first half (archery season)," Bryant said. "It was really cold, so our guys just went into den mode. We like to call it 'Cover 4.'
"Now it's time for special teams and offense to take over. We haven't really had any special teams in the past, but this year we drafted a bunch of 8- and 10-point bucks out of the white-tail division. We're going to send them out there to distract the hunters. The bucks know no one can get a shot at them, so they have a certain amount of swagger. I just hope they are disciplined enough not to get a lot of taunting penalties."
As for offensive plans, Bryant declined to provide many details. "We don't want the other team to know our playbook ahead of time," he said. "But I will say we really rely on a running game."
