BAY MINETTE, Alabama  — When Baldwin County hits the field for the first time on Aug. 31 the Tiger faithful can take solace in the fact that things can’t get much worse than they have gotten over the last two seasons.

In the last two seasons the Tigers have compiled only one victory and second year head coach Bobby Moore believes job one this season is to improve the culture.

“Last season we talked about changing the culture and I think we did that over the course of the year,” Moore said. “We played some very competitive games early on against some very good teams.”

A difficult early part of the schedule didn’t do the Tigers any favors as they had to play Daphne, McGill, Fairhope, and Spanish Fort in the first half.

“We had to play Theodore, Daphne, and Fairhope right out of the shoot last year. All three of those teams made it to the third round of the playoffs,” Moore said. “We played some competitive games and we got better every week.”

This season the Tigers return nine starters on the offensive side of the ball including all five of the offense lineman that played for the tigers a season ago.

“I think the fans should be excited about our offensive line. I think those guys are doing a great job,” Moore said. “I think we will be able to run the football the way we want to run it.”

On the defensive side of the ball however, the Tigers have lost a few key members and will only bring back four starters from a year ago.

“I think early the offensive guys are going to have to take control of the game,” Moore said. “We are going to have the run the ball and be efficient on offense. We need to let they young guys on defense grow up.”

This season, as the Tigers continue to try and get better and to get back to the playoffs they’re going to have to do it against one of the toughest regions in the entire state. A region that got even tougher with the addition of Dothan, Enterprise, and Northview.

“Our main goal is to get better every day,” Tiger quarterback Nate Jones said. “Our main goal is to win the state championship, but we have to have the little goals just to get to the ultimate goal. We need to take one game at a time and make the playoffs.”

This season the Tigers may not be playing as tough as a schedule, but they will still have to play some very talented football teams. It’s a schedule that sees the Tigers play five games on the road against Theodore, Fairhope, Robertsdale, and the long trip up to Dothan.

The home slate is not any easier as Enterprise, Northview, and perennial powers Daphne and Foley all make the trip to Simmons Field.

The Tigers will also play against 5A opponent Gulf Shores and 4A opponent Escambia County.

Baldwin County kicks off the season on the Aug. 31 when they hit the road to play Theodore.

Their home opener is the following week when regional powerhouse Daphne makes a visit to Simmons Field.