Pittsburg State football coach Chuck Broyles was asked to give an opening comment after lunch at the MIAA media day Monday in Kansas City, and he responded as he so often does: with a light-hearted joke.

“This time of year, coaches always face challenges,” Broyles said. “My biggest was barbecue ribs and a white shirt, and I don’t think I got any on me.”

It’s exactly the sort of easy-going humor that makes Broyles so easy to like — and maybe what makes him a successful athletic director. But if you looked past the surface Monday, or talked to him one-on-one, you would have noticed something about him was a bit askew, a bit gloomier.

Of course, that’s what happens when your athletic department suffers like Broyles’ has. In December, Adam Newbery, a former Gorillas football player, died in a car wreck. In June, defensive lineman Sean Kyle, who would have been a key contributor as a sophomore this season, died in a construction accident.

And, as if those weren’t bad enough, PSU had to endure the stunning loss of Tommy Riggs, the school’s associate athletic director for marketing and promotions. Riggs, who was 32, died July 17 of an apparent heart attack.

“What a great loss (they were),” Broyles said. “Not only for them and for their families, but for us.”

Give Broyles credit. This can’t be easy for him, but he’s managed to appear grounded and light-hearted in the midst of all that tragedy. That’s what his players will need.

They’ll also need football. PSU started spring practice Thursday, and the Gorillas now will be able to bury themselves in thoughts of playbooks and blocking assignments.

Pitt State will have to replace running back Germaine Race, who carried a list of accolades almost as long as fallen defenders he left in his wake, and speedy wide receiver Bryan Pray.

But the offense, which averaged 45 points in 2006, will be fine. Quarterback Mark Smith, who broke his arm early a season ago, and four offensive linemen are back in the fold.

The biggest question surrounding the team will be its defense — again. The unit returns nine starters, so it should be improved.

Of course, that raises the age-old question: Is it good to have so many players coming back when all of them struggled in the previous year?

In this case, I’ll say yes, considering several of the returnees are big playmakers (Nick Dellasega, Jason Northern, Rusty Morgan) or were playing last year as true freshmen (Jordan Karr, Zack Langston).

Another question mark is redshirt freshman kicker/punter Matt Liess, who’s charged with replacing All-American Nathan Alleman.

But all of this worrying is a good thing for Broyles and the Gorillas, who momentarily can forget about other sorrows and bring much-needed joy to an entire fan base.