"This is the worst spring, hands down, I've seen in the 37 years I've been here," said Howard, who also spent seven years as the junior varsity coach. "But can you imagine if there was some new guy trying to do this? He'd be as bald as I am in his 20's."

Howard said his team has had no time to practice outside, both because of the snow and the cold weather.

"This is the fourth week of practice, and usually by the time you get to this point, you have had a few days of spring-like weather," Howard said. "This year, it's been consistently cold and that has made it very difficult."

But, bad weather or not, the Redskins will open the season today (Thursday) at New Hartford. Howard said the running events would definitely be completed, but the field events were questionable.

Howard said his team's depth could be the key to its success this year.

"We have 20 or so sophomores, some nice returning juniors and seniors and a couple of freshman who could make an impact," Howard said. "We don't have a superstar, but we do have solid athletes who could score points."

Senior Steve Carlson is as close to a superstar as Howard has this year, and he will run the 800, 1600 and 3200 for the Redskins. "He looks extremely strong in preseason," Howard said. "There is a runner from Mt. Markham and one from Sauquoit who are very good in those same events, so those meets should be very interesting."

Howard also has solid 800 runners in Sam Stultz, Nick Coccoma, Jake Conklin and newcomer Jeremy Holmes, and he said freshman Allan Guiney has also shown promise in that event.

Guiney's older brother Evan, a junior, could be do for a breakout year in the 1600 and 3200, Howard added, and senior Jared Tallman also returns in the 1600 and 3200.

Junior Mike Senchyshyn will be busy at every meet, competing in all three jumping events (long, high and triple jump) as well as running the 100 and possibly as a member of the 4X100 relay team. Also running the 100 and 200 will be Liam Murphy-Hoffman, Tyler Welch, Shane Connolly and Andy Ricard.

"The 400 is a mystery with Eric Dombrowski, Scott Schaeffer or Tim Dunlap all showing promise," Howard said.

Matt Barown and James Burleigh will compete in both the 110 and 400 hurdles, as will senior Andrew Brown; Brett Ferrando and Lon Bergfjord are the pole vault specialists and Pat West hopes to score points in the high jump.

"We have three good throwers in the shot put and discus in Bryan Stringer, Billy Hribar and Scott Bliss," Howard said.

Howard said last year's Center State and Section Three champion, Mt. Markham, is the favorites to repeat both titles this season.

"Sauquoit is strong too and then there's us," Howard said. "We could finish anywhere from first to third in the league. There should be some very interesting meets and some close races. The more I think about it, the more excited I get about the season...then I look outside."