Northwestern University Athletics
Spring Practice Gets Underway
3/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 30, 2005
2005 Northwestern Spring Guide
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- April is just few days away, meaning spring football has arrived for the Northwestern Wildcats.
The Wildcats begin their 2005 spring drills at 4 p.m. this afternoon (Wednesday, March 30).
Northwestern will conduct 15 spring practices, which includes the annual spring game. The spring game, presented by Yellow Book USA, is slated for noon on Saturday, April 23.
Northwestern is coming off a 6-6 season that included a fourth-place finish (5-3) in the Big Ten Conference. The Wildcats are returning six starters on defense and five on offense.
"We're anxious to get going," says head coach Randy Walker, who is starting his seventh year with the Wildcats. "We have key players returning on both sides of the ball, but we also have a few positions where we need to solidify some things.
"Constructing an offensive line that we feel comfortable with heading into preseason camp is one of our priorities this spring. We also want to see our defense keep progressing. It is also an important spring for our special teams, especially our kickers and punters."
The Wildcats are led by returning first-team All-Big Ten selection Tim McGarigle (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick). McGarigle, an All-America candidate, is the nation's top returning tackler.
The Wildcats' spring schedule is:
| Wed., March 30 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Recap |
| Thu., March 31 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Recap |
| Fri., April 1 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Recap |
| Sat., April 2 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Recap |
| Tue., April 5 | 7 to 9 p.m. | Recap |
| Thu., April 7 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Recap |
| Fri., April 8 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Recap |
| Sat., April 9 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Coaches' Clinic) | Recap Photos |
| Tue., April 12 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Recap |
| Thu., April 14 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Recap |
| Fri., April 15 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. (Closed) | Recap |
| Sat., April 16 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Recap |
| Tue., April 19 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. (Closed) | Recap |
| Thu., April 21 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. (Closed) | Recap |
| Sat., April 23 | Noon (Spring Game, presented by Yellow Book USA) | Recap |
NOTE: Practices will be held in Trienens Hall. Weather permitting, practices could move to NU's outdoor fields.
