By Jim Henry

jhenry@joplinglobe.com

Some new words were heard early this week at Missouri Southern’s football practice.

“Coaches for the first time in eight months were saying ‘game week,’ ” Adam Hinspeter said. “It kind of picked us up a little bit and got us going in practice.

“It is time now in the first week to figure out how good we are after all that training, after the spring ball and summer conditioning and now through preseason camp. We’re excited to go.”

The Lions, coming off their first winning season in 10 years, open the 2008 campaign on Saturday night against Harding (Ark.). Kickoff is at 6 at Fred G. Hughes Stadium for the first of seven home games.

Hinspeter, the Lions’ senior quarterback, became the full-time starter early in his redshirt freshman season. He begins his final season with 7,173 yards passing, the sixth highest total in MIAA history. He needs just 274 yards to climb into third place behind Missouri Western’s Kasey Waterman (10,025) and Truman State’s Eric Howe (9,097).

“We were very productive in year one throwing the football, and he was a big part of that,” Lions head coach Bart Tatum said. “He really took a leadership role and was uncanny accurate. He picked up our offense from day one, a very smart football guy.

“Then last year we just sold out to shore up our running game. We doubled our rushing output (from the previous season). It had a little bit of a negative impact on our passing game, but he still had a pretty good year.

“I think this year if we can put everything together, he could really have a breakout season. That’s what I want for him in his fifth year. He’s invested a lot in this program.”

Hinspeter, however, isn’t worried about personal achievements.

“Whatever we can do to win games, I just want to run the offense, get the ball to the right guys and hopefully they can make plays,” he said. “Really we just want to score however we can. If it’s how we did it last year and really emphasize the running game, or if it’s through the air ... whatever we have to do. I think this year we have the ability to adapt to what the defense is doing.”

“He’s going to be ready to have a breakout season,” Tatum said. “He has all of our records throwing the football already, but I really think he could have a good season.”