DAYTON – The lights of Welcome Stadium shone brightly Saturday night, greeting fans to the first University of Dayton football event of the 2015 season. The Flyers football team took part in an 11-on-11 scrimmage as part of the University's New Student Orientation Program, showing off new uniforms and a new-look offense. Sunday the Flyers, along with local media and Dayton football families to take part in the Flyers' annual media day.

The scrimmage featured a new fast-paced offense that head coach Rick Chamberlin (pictured above with captains Cory Stuart, Chris Beaschler and Danny Leach) says Flyers fans will enjoy this season.

"We had an outstanding scrimmage Saturday night and what we were able to see was our offense finally moving down the field," he said. "It was the first opportunity we had to see the speed-up offense execute and we were very pleased with how quarterback Blake Bir directed the offense down the field."

Quarterback was a position in question at the start of camp, but Bir has taken the lead in the competition after the first two weeks of camp.

Chamberlin commented, "I would say that Blake is the leader in the quarterback race right now, but he knows he has to continue to perform as we begin to get ready for Robert Morris."

Offensively there were a few other question marks that needed addressed, specifically at wide receiver. Chamberlin pointed this out and said, "We've got new faces there with the only veterans being Cory Stuart and Tyler Tumpane. But I'm glad to say that other young men have stepped up like Jack Euritt and a couple of freshman like Shane LeFever and Austin Ahrendt are showing us good things at camp."

One portion of the offense the Flyers won't have to worry about is running back, with the 2014 Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Year Connor Kacsor returning for his final season. He's confident in the new aspects of the offense for the season, saying, "I don't think defenses are going to be able to keep up with us. We seem to get into a rhythm and that's the biggest thing when you're moving the ball down the field."

The fifth-year senior gave a vote of confidence to the new quarterback as well, saying, "When we take reps in practice Blake's the one I've been going to, and we've found that mesh point between us." He added, "I can feel when he wants to pull the ball or when he is going to give it to me so we've been able to build that relationship."

On the other side of the ball, defense will hopefully be a strength for Dayton this fall, with senior captains Christopher Beaschler and Danny Leach both pointing to their unit's experience as a key tool to this team's success.

"We've got a lot of people returning from last year's defense, so experience is there," remarked Leach, a safety and native of Downers Grove, Illinois. "Las season we had some people playing out of position and getting on the field for the first time. Now we've got players with experience and that's huge."

Beaschler, last season's leading tackler and a native of Ada, Ohio, added, "We've always been known for our speed, but this year we combine that with experience and that will allow us to play even faster."

Chamberlin added his thoughts on the defense, "They've been playing well all camp, and part of that is because timing on offense takes a little longer than it does on defense."

Fellow captain Cory Stuart gave his thoughts on the team's perspective with the closing of camp. "Media day means the camp grind is coming to a close and we can kind of see where we are as a team and what we're going to be like. We've seen a lot of good things and a lot of things we've got to continue to work on."

He went on to add, "There's a lot of positives and there's a great attitude among the whole team. There's an edge and a culture that's different from years past and we're ready to take things to the next level."

Leach echoed that difference in the team's culture, saying, "We've got a new motto this year: 'Relentless.' Guys seem to have an edge to them this year and we're going to be coming after people."

Is a run at the PFL title on everyone's mind? No. At least, not yet. Chamberlin points out, "We still have two days of camp and so we're still working on our techniques, skill and execution. We haven't even thought of Robert Morris, and that won't happen for a while yet."

The players have that thought in the back of their minds though. "Winning a PFL title is one of the big goals of the team, but that's long term," Stuart said. "We have to take each day just one day at a time and the conference title will take care of itself."

The 2015 season opens up on Saturday, September 5th at Robert Morris, with the home opener coming two weeks later at 1:00 p.m. on September 19th against Duquesne.