Expectations at Penn State are high as the Nittany Lions men's team starts the 2016-17 season.

Head Coach Blake Burdette, who joined the team after they had started play last year, now has had a full year to work with the players and get them ready. The first test will be Thursday, tomorrow, in Kingston, Ont. against Queens University. Penn State finished last year 10-4, including 6-1 in the Rugby East. They beat the other 6-1 team, Kutztown, but lost the conference title due to bonus points. They were then dumped out of the Varsity Cup in the opening round by Dartmouth. Certainly they would like to do a little better this year.

"We want to win the conference, that's one of our goals," said Burdette. "I kind of look at last year as a redshirt year. I have had time now to get to know the school and the players. They are different from the players I have coached in the past, in some ways. We have a great recruiting class of players I was able to see and recruit. I am excited about what we have."

How good are they? Independent assessments say PSU is very good. Burdette said, "that's why we're playing Queens University in the first weekend. We want to see where we are. We'll see."

The Queens Gaels will most likely look to Alex Colborne, Lucas Rumball, and Kainoa Lloyd as they start their quest of a fifth Turner Trophy in a row as the best team in the Ontario University Athletics Conference.  

Penn State returns 11 starters, and some talented freshmen, including Jordan Crofts (Skyline, Utah), Tommy Capriotti (Doylestown, Pa.), and Kevin Ndou (Pelham, NY).

“We are looking forward to going to Queens and getting the season going. Last year didn’t end the way we wanted, so playing a quality opponent out the gate will show us where we are as a team,” senior wing Mike Eife said in an article on the team's website. 

Burdete said everyone feels more comfortable, and so now it's about putting his stamp on things.

"We want to play together, and we've got to put our guts into it," he said. "I think if we are together like a family and we're tough, then with the talent we have, we'll do alright. But we've got a difficult start to the season, which we need."

After Thursday’s game, Penn State returns to Happy Valley to host Pitt on Saturday.