New London — The air at the first Coast Guard Academy football practice of the season Thursday on the newly refurbished Cadet Memorial Field, despite a triumphant 7-3 record a year ago, was one of caution.

"We're going to be very cautious. We're going to get this football team organized in a safe, proficient manner," 21st-year head coach Bill George said. "We have an extremely challenging first three games. (Last season is) over. There is no momentum. Everything is going to start over."

Of course, that was until George came out on to the field with the mismatched color combo of a red hat and orange shirt and proclaimed he wore it ... because it's what he wore on the first day last year.

So maybe there's something to the successes of the 2018 season, which culminated with a 26-12 victory over the Merchant Marine Academy for the Secretaries' Cup. The seven wins were the most for the Bears since finishing 8-2 to win the New England Football Conference Bogan Division in 2007.

Coast Guard begins the new season on Saturday, Sept. 7 at the University of New England and plays Friday, Sept. 13 at Nichols before commencing the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference portion of its schedule at Norwich University on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Due to NCAA regulations and a later start date for the season opener, the Bears began practice later in August than they do traditionally, giving the team's freshmen — still considered swabs in the academy's hierarchy — only one day before beginning the gruelling Sea Trials which will cap an already taxing summer.

Coast Guard returns seven starters on each side of the ball, including quarterback Ryan Jones (164-for-286, 1,799 yards, 9 TDs; 338 yards rushing, 5 TDs) and first team all-conference wide receiver Justin Moffatt (71 catches, 853 yards, 3 TDs), as well as all four members of the secondary.

Jones has a word for it other than momentum.

"I would say it's confidence," the senior quarterback said, "but it's not arrogance. There's no really easy wins, but these guys know they're conference contenders more than ever. ... This has always been my passion. We have one more year to make the most of it."

"I think coach is definitely right," senior linebacker and co-captain RJ Robiskie said. "We're going to start the season off on a clean slate. But if I had to say something, when we had our first meeting (Wednesday night), a lot of guys were hugging each other, shaking hands. Camaraderie is something I've seen this year. Everyone's excited to be back. They're happy to be playing football again. We need to keep that energy, that enthusiasm."

Robiskie, who will share the captain's duties with defensive back Mark Wicke and tight end Scott Pierce, said it's not a matter of the team having "a superstar quarterback or a stud wide receiver."

"It's about, 'I want to be out here,'" Robiskie said.

In addition to George's outfit, Robiskie carried over a piece of nostalgia from last season, as well. As he headed to the locker room to dress for practice, Robiskie wore the gym shirt of last year's Coast Guard captain, defensive lineman Jack Brandt, who passed the shirt down to his younger teammate.

"He was my mentor," Robiskie said of Brandt. "He gave me one last little present. ... Jack was BC (Battalion Commander) for Swab Summer his first class year. I'm XO (Executive Officer) for Alpha Company, so we're kind of the same. It's a big thing for me (to be captain of the team)."

And so the Bears move forward, trying not to look in the rearview mirror too awful much.

"It's like the Satchel Paige thing," George said. "Don't look back. Something's gaining on you."

Yet Coast Guard's players know they're capable of accomplishing a great deal, as they did a year ago. It will just take the right approach.

"If we ramp it up now, we're in trouble," George said. "We do believe we have some talent. We want to get to that point. But there's a lot going on in the next four days at this place. I'm not saying we're going to sit back and do nothing, but we're starting at a peculiar time. We need to be extra cautious."

v.fulkerson@theday.com