MJC football has great expectations for 2009 season

The Pirates will welcome more than 100 players for the beginning of formal practice Aug. 13. They will open the season Sept. 5 at home against traditional rival San Joaquin Delta.

MJC's 10-game schedule features six home games, after only four last year, and a rare daytime home game Sept. 26 vs. Feather River. The Pirates adjusted the kickoff time (3 p.m.) as a concession to Feather River, which did the same for Modesto in 2008. The Pirates will begin defense of their Golden Gate Conference title on Oct. 17 at home against Los Medanos.

The Pirates have won their last 13 GGC games en route to two straight titles. Their back-to-back unbeaten records in league play also are an MJC first.

They capped the season by beating Sacramento City for their first Graffiti Bowl victory in six years and finished with a record of 8-3, 12th-best in the 88-year history of MJC football.

One omission is the annual preseason scrimmage against another school, a state-wide budget cutback. Sam Young, beginning his 10th season as head coach, said the Pirates planned to travel to San Mateo for the scrimmage.

"We feel lucky we didn't lose a game. It's one-tenth of our season and a moneymaker," Young said.

Instead, MJC has scheduled a Blue and White Game, an instrasquad scrimmage on Aug. 27. Young said the Pirates will save about $1,000.