AMITE--As the first of September approaches, the Southeastern Lions football program is out on the road getting their fan base stoked about the upcoming season. New Coach Ron Roberts has made a couple of stops in the area, starting in Amite last week, trying to make Lions fans aware that his team is going to be a very exciting one to check out this season.

“Our goal is to go out and play as hard as we can,” Roberts told a crowd last Monday night at LaCarreta’s Restaurant in Amite. Roberts took over as the Lions new head football coach at the end of last year and his tenure is officially underway in Hammond.

Lions fans should be fired up about their new head guy as Roberts comes to Hammond with some impressive credentials. Coach Roberts built Delta State into a national power as he led the Statesmen to some of their most successful seasons in school history.

Roberts was at the helm for Delta State for five seasons and guided the Statesmen to a 47-16 overall record that included four Gulf South Conference titles. Roberts knows he has an uphill climb as the Lions are coming off very bad losing seasons.

Southeastern hired Roberts after firing Coach Mike Lucas. Lucas had the Lions in contention for the Southland Conference title just a few seasons ago but then the program fell apart going 2-9 and 3-8 the last two seasons.

Roberts talked about how important it is to have Strawberry Stadium packed for the team because when the players are in front of big crowds it really makes them work and play harder. The Lions have also pegged a high caliber QB as their main guy under center.

Once a bright young star for the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, Nathan Stanley is now the Lions' new starting QB for the upcoming season. Stanley beat out former Hahnville star and last year’s Lions starter B.J. Young.

Roberts says the battle between Young and Stanley will continue this fall. And with the addition of 16 transfer players don’t expect these Lions to go quietly into the night as they will more than likely sneak up on some teams this season.

Southeastern opens their 2012 schedule on September 1 as they travel to take on one of the newest members of the SEC, the Missouri Tigers. To purchase tickets or learn more about the Southeastern Football Program you can check out their website at lionsports.net.