ALBANY — Big Blue won’t be resting on their laurels after winning Super Bowl XLII.

New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin talks about the excitement - and challenge - of opening training camp as defending Super Bowl champions.
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The New York Giants’ coaching staff won’t let it happen.

“Every year stands on its own,” said second-year defensive coord­inator Steve Spagnuolo at Wednesday’s annual media day in SEFCU Arena. “We will be looking for signs of complacency. What we want is for the guys to go back to square one. All the slates are wiped clean. We’re looking to attack like we did last year. We want to get back on the horse and get back to the process.”

Although Spagnuolo’s defense will have plenty of new names, he won‘t have to work quite as hard teaching the X’s and O’s during this training camp, compared to his rookie season.

“We’re using the same system as we did last year. That’s a nice comfort level,” he said.

The Giants not only led the NFL with 53 quarterback sacks, but they were also seventh (305.0) in total defense and eighth in rushing defense (97.7). In 2006, the Giants were 25th in total defense.

“We don’t worry about rankings and stats,” he said. “The only stat that matters is winning.”

Still, the Giants’ defensive stats were outstanding a year ago, and Spagnuolo doesn’t appear to be concerned about several new faces on his side of the ball, especially among the linebackers and in the secondary.

“Our linebacking situation is an ongoing process,” he said. “We have an experienced linebacker coach who has been through this before. It will be an interesting

position to watch.”

elsewhere

u Training camp officially starts with the first practice session at University at Albany’s Dutch Quad field Friday morning from 8:40 to 10:40. There also will be an afternoon session from 3:20-5:20 p.m.

u Friday will also have some spec­ial guests on the first day of camp. ESPN’s “NFL Live” will make its second appearance on the UAlbany campus with host Trey Wingo, analyst Cris Carter, an eight-time Pro Bowl receiver with Philadelphia, Minnesota and Miami, and Rachel Nichols.

u Players’ autograph night will be July 28, after the team’s first night practice session.

u Giants Youth Day, including several give-aways, face-painting and other fun activities for youngsters, will be Aug. 11.

u The Giants will hold Albany Idol Day Aug. 12. At stake will be an opportunity to sing the national anthem for their exhibition game Aug. 28 against New England.

u All-session parking passes are available for $15. Individual single-day parking passes are $5. Call

442-4683 for more information.