"Every year since the sixth grade, you smell the fresh-cut grass in August, and the first thing you think about is football," Matta said. "The kids come together [at training camp]. You see how much they've grown and the dividends that pay off from the weight room.
"It's a great time of year."
The Cougars last year finished with a record of 10-3 when Ridley ended their season with a 20-7 win in a District 1 semifinal game.
This year, they come back with seven returning starters on offense and four on defense. All that lifts the spirits of Lauletta, a senior, three-year starter at quarterback.
"I have a picture from after the [Bishop] Shanahan game last year," Lauletta said. "It shows me walking off the field. Every morning I walk by it. It was a big win in the middle of the season.
"We've worked in the weight room and on the practice field [since the season ended] but until that date [Aug. 16] you can't put on the pads and hit. It's an exciting day for everybody."
Lauletta can hand the ball to Drew Harris, who accumulated more than 2,000 yards rushing last season as a sophomore. Or he can throw to tight end Tyler Kroft, who has committed to Rutgers.
La Salle's Joe Naji described the anticipation for the first day of training camp best when he said: "We start in January with seven-on-seven workouts, and it's a buildup that continues throughout the summer. And on the first day, you can feel the excitement of the entire team.
"This is what you've been working for the past eight months. It's time to get going."
La Salle coach Drew Gordon said the excitement comes when the players transfer their off-season hard work to the practice field on opening day. That's when they see what they've got.
Gordon is pleased to note that 10 starters are back from last year's 14-1 team that won the PIAA state Class AAAA championship.
