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The Minnesota Morris football team finally opens the 2011 season Saturday afternoon, and here's a look at some of the top storylines heading it the season.

The two teams are set to kick off at 1:00 p.m. on Sept. 3

Can UMM build on 2010's success?
After a winless UMAC season in 2009, the Cougars were picked last in the preseason in 2010. They responded with one of their best seasons in recent years, finishing in a three-way tie for third with a 4-2 conference record. Many of the playmakers on offense remain, and the coaching staff returns nearly intact. The only better season in the last 20 years was the 7-3 mark in 2006, but in 2007 with the transition to Coach Hickman, the team came back to the pack with four wins. Now entering his fifth year Hickman appears to have built the program back to where it was, and with 12 returning starters, the Cougars should be able to take the next step in 2011.

Can the defensive line carry the defense?
With three new starting linebackers – including a freshman – and half of the defensive backfield new, the defensive line will have to be the strength. But with three seniors on the front four, and a sophomore who played in all nice games, there will be no shortage of experience in the trenches. Mitch Zimmer is the team's leading returning tackler after piling up 60 stops a year ago. The teams second leading returning tackler resides on the other side of the line in Matt Anderson who also collected 10.5 tackles for loss. Three times they held their opponents under 100 yards rushing, and registered at least five stops behind the line of scrimmage in eight of nine games. With equal production up front in 2011, life will be easy on the young players behind them.

Who will catch the ball?
Gone is leading receiver John Russow, who caught 25 passes for 492 yards and three touchdowns. Dan Camacho is also gone, who became a more and more of a factor as the season wore on, tying Russow with three scores, while finishing third on the team with 14 receptions for 160 yards. Devon Johnson does return after hauling in a team second best 17 catches for almost 200 yards. Players expected to step up include, Brendon Foss who caught just 12 passes as a freshman – including three for scores, and Josh Hitlner who finished with just six catches while battling injuries. Also in the mix will be senior William Paine, who can expect an expanded role in his second season with the team.

How far can the Gramenz/Dower take the team?
Fans – and opposing defenses – can expect a heavy dose of the dynamic duo this fall. Gramenz was the clear number one a year ago, and enters the season as a Preseason All-American, but Dower showed he can be a featured back a well, topping the 70-yard mark three times, with a career high 101 against Macalester. Each runner will lighten the load for the other, but neither should have trouble stepping up if their number is called.  Gramenz set a UMAC season high last season, carrying the ball 37 times in a shootout win over Northwestern, while Dower was a consistent in the return game when wasn't in the backfield. Neither has shied away from the challenges yet, and  now in their second year together, they will take the Cougars as far as they can run.

Can the Cougars win the UMAC and secure the autobid?
It  appears the road to the UMAC title once again goes through Greenville, a unanimous choice by the coaches to repeat. The Cougars and Panthers did not face each other in 2010, when Greenville was running to a perfect 6-0 UMAC record. Morris' two UMAC losses were each winnable games, a 28-21 setback to Martin Luther and a 28-7 loss to St. Scholastica.
With the new nine-game conference schedule, it is unlikely that the league champion will make it through with a perfect mark.  The Cougars will have o get a least one of their losses turned around and hold their own in their meeting Greenville.