Tennessee Hound Dogs Thinking Positive for New Season

[This is a fictional sports article]

After making the USA Football League playoffs last season, the Tennessee Hound Dogs hope they have all the right pieces in 2023 to win the Southeast Division title.

“We are very encouraged how we finished last year,” said head coach Colton Preston. “I think we have worked to improve our run defense and running game during the offseason.”

The Hound Dogs also had to replace their right guard and left tackle as George Whitman and Scott Thomas were both called up to the NFL’s Titans.

General Manager Ronald Oliver knows this is going to happen.

“Unfortunately, that’s how this business works when you are a developmental league for the NFL. If you have good players, they will get their shot in the big leagues, and we can’t fault them for that. We just have to be good a finding solid replacement to fill their holes.”

The Hound Dogs finished 8-6 in 2022 and advanced to the quarterfinals. They had to defeat Florida in their season finale to clinch a playoff berth.

“If we could have stopped the run, we might have won that game,” Preston said.

The Hound Dogs hope they have solved that problem with defensive end Tywan Hamilton and outside linebacker Roberto Santiago. Hamilton played at Austin Peay last year and Santiago was signed from the XFL’s Arlington Renegades.

On offense the Hounds have quarterback Richard Lewis leading the team, but Preston is looking for better things this season.  

"I think Rich did a good job managing the offense but I'm looking for him to breakout and be more aggressive in the passing game.  We need him to make some big plays for us on offense because we need to score some points."

The Hound Dogs open the season on Monday in Denver against the Colorado Cougars.

2023 Tennessee Hound Dogs Schedule

Sep 4 - at Colorado (Denver)

Sep 11 - Wyoming (Knoxville)

Sep 18 - at Florida (Tampa)

Sep 25 - South Carolina (Memphis)

Oct 2 - at Alabama (Birmingham)

Oct 9 - Georgia (Nashville)

Oct 16 - at North Carolina (Greensboro)

Oct 23 - Florida (Chattanooga)

Oct 30 - at South Carolina (Columbia)

Nov 6 - Alabama (Knoxville)

Nov 13 - at Georgia (Atlanta)

Nov 20 - North Carolina (Memphis)