Fall classes begin today on the county's three community college campuses, which marks the beginning of fall camp for the county's two defending Western State Conference football teams.

And whether the head coach is entering his second season in charge, like Ventura College's Jon Mack, or his 30th season, like Moorpark College's Jim Bittner, repeating last year's conference and postseason successes will be a bit tougher this fall.

"I could become a lot less intelligent with this schedule," said Moorpark head coach Jim Bittner. "The schedule is brutal."

Banner 2007 seasons have thrust the Raiders and Pirates into the upper tier of the newly created Southern California Football Association.

Ventura has competed in the WSC since moving from the Metro Conference in 1947. Moorpark has competed in the WSC since the school was created in 1968. Yet the former conference affiliations have been torn up and replaced with a new two-tier system.

Moorpark and Ventura will complete in the Northern Conference alongside former WSC foes Hancock, Bakersfield, Canyons, Glendale plus former Mission Conference team Pasadena.

The new conference went a combined 56-22 in 2007.

Moorpark's non-conference schedule includes longtime rival Los Angeles Pierce and Orange County powers Fullerton and Santa Ana. Ventura's non-conference schedule includes longtime rival Santa Barbara and last year's Foothill Conference titlist, Antelope Valley.

The success of last year's freshman-flooded team has set up Ventura with more than 40 returning sophomores, including quarterback Lee Mondol and defensive end Rickey Grant.

"That makes everything better," said Mack. "Guys know how to practice. Guys know what you expect of them. It's something that we're real excited about.

"But it's always wait and see. We'll find out on Monday (the first day of contact drills)."

Expected incoming freshmen include defensive back Travon Nixon (Hueneme), tight end Rafael Washington (St. Bonaventure), linebacker Ryan Panapa (St. Bonaventure), linebacker Chance Flaaten (Newbury Park) and former Thousand Oaks High linemen Jordan Allred and Dan Pinsky.

An experienced group last fall, Moorpark sent eight sophomores to Division I scholarships over the offseason, including playmaking receiver Conrad Meadows (Northern Arizona), cornerback Anthony Evans (Northern Arizona), safety Wiston Juene (Texas-El Paso) linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis (Washington State), kicker Nico Grasu (Washington State), receiver Daniel Wolverton (Portland State).

In addition, versatile lineman Garrett Nolan turned down several scholarships to walk on at USC and freshman quarterback Brian Randolph left after one successful season for Sam Houston State.

"His dream was to go to USC," said Bittner of Nolan, "and I've been hearing that he's doing pretty well there already."

Quarterback Tyler Robertson, who yielded to Randolph last fall after suffering a knee injury during a scrimmage, is expected to take over behind center. All-WSC lineman Steve Josker returns, as does running back James Clay.

But perhaps the most exciting returner is former Royal High running back Dan Mosier, who spent last season resting his sore knee.

"He's in the best shape he's ever been in," said Bittner. "He really looks fantastic. We're excited about him coming into that backfield."

Moorpark's incoming talent is stocked at running back and especially at receiver, although Bittner says he's still upset the edge in local recruiting he says Ventura has created by the Ventura promise, which gives local products one year of free tuition.

"That still burns me," said Bittner. "I can't fight it. It doesn't matter what I say."

Bittner blames the promise for Moorpark's low haul of 14 local freshmen.

"That's really low for us," said Bittner. "Normally, we would have twice that amount or sometimes three times that amount."

Moorpark's local class includes tight end Aulama Lemalu (Camarillo), receiver Kevin Kawamoto (Camarillo) and safety Jordyn Aupiu (Rio Mesa).

Yet Bittner is anxious to see how his 90-man roster looks on the field this month.

"In (community college) football, you don't know what you have until you have it," said Bittner. "Every year it's the same thing, you try to get everything in place, but until you get started you don't know.

"I'll either be really happy three days from now, or I'll be despondent."