Northwestern University Athletics
Spring Football Season Begins March 28
3/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 15, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Fresh off its seven-win season and a trip to the Vitalis Sun Bowl, Northwestern is set to begin its 2006 spring season Tuesday, March 28. The Wildcats start their first practice at 4 p.m. that day.
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 22.
Northwestern is returning 18 starters (8 offense, 9 defense, 1 special teams) in 2006. The Wildcats' biggest off-season question mark comes at quarterback, where four-year starter Brett Basanez, who owns 30 school records, has departed. Sophomore C.J. Bachér, last year's backup, and redshirt freshmen Andrew Brewer and Mike Kafka, are expected to battle for the QB spot.
"We had a great winter and we're excited to see how our strength and conditioning gains carry over to the football field," says head coach Randy Walker, who is starting his eighth year with the Wildcats. "A lot of people didn't realize how young our football team was in 2005.
"It's an important spring for our entire team, but especially our young defense and quarterbacks. We also will pay a great deal of attention to our special teams play."
The Wildcats are led by returning All-Big Ten players Tyrell Sutton, Shaun Herbert and Marquice Cole.
2006 Spring Schedule
| Tue., March 28 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Recap |
| Wed., March 29 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. (Closed to Media) | Recap |
| Thu., March 30 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Recap |
| Sat., April 1 | 9 to 11:30 a.m. (Closed to Media) | Recap |
| Tue., April 4 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. (Closed to Media) | Recap |
| Thu., April 6 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Recap |
| Fri., April 7 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. (Closed to Media) | Recap |
| Sat., April 8 | 10 a.m. to Noon | Recap |
| Tue., April 11 | 7 to 9 p.m. | Recap |
| Wed., April 12 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. (Closed to Media) | Recap |
| Thu., April 13 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Recap |
| Sat., April 15 | 10 a.m. to Noon | Recap |
| Tue., April 18 | 7 to 9 p.m. (Closed to Media) | |
| Thu., April 20 | 4 to 6:30 p.m. (Closed to Media) | |
| Sat., April 22 | Noon (Spring Game, presented by Yellow Book USA) | Recap |
