DECORAH - Just two days into fall camp, Luther College's football team notices a radical change in its leadership.

Paul Hefty's laid-back, carefree approach of the past six seasons has been replaced by Mike Durnin's demanding and intense persona.

"Coach Hefty, you saw more as a friend," defensive lineman Brandon Rickertsen said Tuesday morning during the team's media day. "Coach Durnin is more of a true coach. He gets on you, yells at you. He demands perfection.

"I loved playing for Hefty, but we needed someone a little more strict, a little more in your face."

Durnin, a native of Milwaukee, Wis., spent the past seven years at Wisconsin-La Crosse as its defensive coordinator and defensive line coach before taking over last December for Hefty, who resigned after a 5-5 campaign in 2007.

While four of those five defeats came by eight points or less, Luther believes Durnin can take the program to the next rung of the Iowa Conference ladder.

Hefty guided the Norse to four seasons of .500 records or better, but the school hasn't captured a league title since 1978.

"Coach Hefty brought us to a point where he couldn't get us any better," junior defensive end and Decorah alum Bobby Kuennen said. "Coach Durnin is going to take us to the next level."

Alex Mierau said it started during spring drills and continued into the summer.

"The entire team is tired of being mediocre," Mierau said. "With Durnin coming in and changing things up, I think it's that time to get over the hump."

Players notice a significant change in the practice routine. Workouts are shorter, but much more spirited and organized.

Durnin said that is by design.

"It's what I believe," he said. "You come in, work hard and go home. To be successful, there's a work ethic that's involved with that.

"We want to make sure we're using a championship effort on the field, off the field and in our meetings. We're going to get after it."

In addition to a new sideline general, the Norse will have a revamped offense - Xs and Os-wise and personnel-wise. Instead of the no-huddle Hefty ran, Durnin will implement a zone attack, mixed in with the play-action pass.

On the field, Luther must replace all-American tailback Tyler Sherden, who rushed for a single-season school record 1,575 yards and 16 touchdowns, along with quarterback Justin Feldt and two of last year's top three receivers.

Tyler Bass, a junior, is expected to carry more of the workload in the backfield, while Durnin said five players - senior Zach Ruckebeil, junior Darin Schneider, sophomore Trent Stonerook and freshmen Dalen Dirth and Chris Reynolds - are competing for the top quarterback spot.

"Whoever is the most productive and gets the team in the end zone over the next two weeks of practice will earn it," Durnin said. "We'll give each one of those guys enough opportunities to win the job."

Ruckebeil, a starter on the Luther basketball team, played football two years ago. He didn't go out last season to concentrate on basketball.

"It was definitely something I missed, and during spring ball I heard Coach Durnin was doing well and things were going to get turned around," Ruckebeil said. "I figured why not give it one more shot."

Schneider, a southpaw, saw time last season in relief of Feldt.

"Each one of those guys brings a different attribute to the team," Durnin said. "I would prefer to have one guy, but I'm not opposed to a little bit of rotation."

Luther returns five starters on its 3-3-5 defense, headlined by ends Cody Webb and Bobby Kuennen. Webb had a team-high 11 1/2 tackles for loss in 2007, and Kuennen had 6 1/2 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks.

"I feel our potential on defense is untapped," co-defensive coordinator Benny Boyd said. "We have a lot of improvement to do, and some young guys in our defensive backfield are going to have to grow up pretty quick, but it will help having those guys up front."

Luther opens the Durnin Era at Carlson Stadium on Sept. 6 against St. Olaf.

"We could have played the first game a long time ago," Durnin said. "I still know we have work to do, but I definitely think we're going in the right direction."

Contact Matt Coss at (319) 291-1468 or matt.coss@wcfcourier.com

2008 schedule

Sept. 6 - St. Olaf

Sept. 20 - Dubuque

Sept. 27 - at Simpson

Oct. 4 - Central

Oct. 11 - at Waldorf

Oct. 18 - at Buena Vista

Oct. 25 - Coe

Nov. 1 - at Wartburg

Nov. 8 - Cornell, noon

Nov. 15 - at Loras

Note: All games start at 1 p.m. unless noted