Sammamish head football coach Brian Tucci remembers the exact moment the light bulbs came on for his Totems this offseason.

Coaches and players were gathered for a spring football practice when Tucci broke out an old trick he learned from his time with legendary Pacific Lutheran University coach Frosty Westering. Armed with small metal washers, each tied to a piece of string, Tucci set about explaining the power of remaining mentally focused at all times.

Even when the hand and arm are held completely still to the naked eye, if the mind is focused on motion, the synapses in the shoulder and hand will fire and cause the washer to move on the end of the string. Likewise, when the mind begins focusing on stopping the movement, unseen twitching of the muscles will halt the washer’s rotation.

“They were looking around at each other in amazement,” Tucci said. “They couldn’t believe it.”

The coach’s point was a direct one: belief is the first and most important step to accomplishing anything, regardless of how improbable it may seem.

With a change in classification, a fourth season under Tucci and a number of underclassmen ready for the opportunity to mirror their Crossroads Cup rival’s success, Sammamish players and coaches believe the program could be headed for a long-awaited breakthrough.

It will be a largely inexperienced group leading the way for the Totems after the departure of quarterback and defensive back Austin Lee and running back and linebacker Acie Black.

Both were multiple-year starters in the program and leaders, but this year’s group is excited for the opportunity presented to a host of sophomores and juniors who will be asked to fill larger roles.

“We definitely have some young guys needing to step up,” junior William Beck said. “Hopefully, that youth will bring desire and fight.”

Along with Beck, junior quarterback Terrence Allen will step into a full-time starting spot for the first time in 2012.

Tucci said the athletic Allen possesses a strong throwing arm that is complimented by his ability as a runner. The coach also hopes some small systematic tweaks in the offense will force opposing defenses to respect the Totems’ passing game more than in previous seasons.

There were changes to the coaching staff in the offseason, as well, with Tucci bringing in an offensive line coach to take over his role with that position group and allow him more freedom within practices.

But of course, the biggest change will come in the standings.

While the Totems will still face the same league competition as in previous seasons- Lake Washington, Juanita, Interlake, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Mount Si and Liberty- they will stack their record up against teams from the 2A Seamount League to determine playoff seeding.

Interlake used that system to its fullest capabilities after dropping a classification, making four straight state tournament runs and breaking a 23 year drought in the process.

Tucci and the Totems know it will be a slightly different road for them, with Lake Washington also making the drop to 2A, but the opportunity to reach the postseason without needing to climb 3A foes to do so has brought an undeniable optimism.

“We got what we asked for,” Tucci said. “Now we have to do our job.”

“We need to use what we learn from those games and focus it on the end of the season. The kids saw the success Interlake had.” – Sammamish head coach Brian Tucci

8/31 VS Cedarcrest, 7 p.m.

9/7 @ Franklin Pierce, 7 p.m.

9/14 VS Bellevue, 7 p.m.

9/21 @ Mercer Island, 7 p.m.

9/28 VS Mount Si, 7 p.m.

10/5 @ Liberty, 7 p.m.

10/12 @ Juanita, 7 p.m.

10/19 VS Interlake, 7 p.m.

10/26 @ Lake Washington, 7 p.m.