BREMERTON — There isn’t much about this year’s football landscape that looks familiar to first-year Bremerton High Coach Paul Theriault.

Coach T., as he is affectionately known, has to make adjustments on a number of levels. A number of players return from a team that went 3-7 but still made the playoffs.  In addition, he is supported by a new coaching staff as well. The speed of the players and coaches to come together and accommodate each other will go a long way toward defining success this year.

Key players returning for Bremerton include Anthony Lopez, Savante Perrigo, Mikhail Papillon, Alex difilippi, Michael Barber, Richard Bios, Javonn Stoudermire.  All of these returnees will be expected to make a significant contribution in an improvement in the team’s fortunes. “We’ve also seen some players, like Anthony Lopez and Paps (Mikhail Papillon) have proven themselves to be natural leaders, even in the off-season, said Theriault.

Theriault declines to identify which specific Olympic League teams will pose the greatest challenge.

“They’re all going to be tough,” he said.

But one promise Theriault does make to the students and fans at Bremerton HS is that the team will be solid and fun to watch.

“They’ll see exciting football,” he said.

Bremerton opens the 2016 season at home against Klahowya on Friday, September 2 at 7 p.m.

“This game is what it is,” Theriault said. “It’s very important.”