Northwestern University Athletics
First Spring Practice is in the Books
4/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 1, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- While the weather conditions were more winterlike than spring, Northwestern opened its four-week spring season Tuesday morning with a 19-period practice.
After practice, Fitzgerald took questions from the media. He touched on the battles for starting spots taking place this spring, the transitions for his new coordinators and several other topics.
Watch Coach Fitzgerald's post-practice press conference
With temperatures in the mid-30s and clouds spitting off-and-on light sleet and drizzle, the Wildcats began their drills at 7:30 a.m. Northwestern is starting its spring season with three new assistant coaches on the staff, including two new coordinators, so there was plenty of learning taking place for both players and coaches on NU's FieldTurf practice field.
"It's a two-way street," said head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who is beginning his third campaign as NU's head coach and eighth overall. "You need to get to know each other and build rapport through communication, and you build trust the same way. It's an important month for our football family to get closer together."
During the offseason, Fitzgerald hired Mike Hankwitz and Mick McCall as his respective defensive and offensive coordinators. He also added Marty Long as the 'Cats' defensive line coach, and most recently, hired former Wildcat Louis Ayeni as the team's new offensive graduate assistant.
The Wildcats are returning 47 letterwinners this year, the most since 1992, which was Gary Barnett's first season as NU's head coach.
"I'm most excited about the competition we're going to have this spring and in August," said Fitzgerald. "Players get better when there's competition for jobs. We have a depth chart right now, but the one that matters is for Aug. 30."
PRACTICE NOTES
• Northwestern will practice in helmets and shorts two more days (Wednesday and Thursday, April 2-3) before donning pads on Saturday.
• With starting cornerback Sherrick McManis sidelined this spring (injury), Justan Vaughn, David Oredugba, Jordan Mabin and Mike Bolden will get plenty of repetitions at the corner positions. Northwestern must replace Deante Battle at one corner spot.
• Safety Brendan Smith and wide receiver Andrew Brewer, who both had their 2007 seasons cut short due to injuries, were back on the practice field today. Smith has earned a medical hardship for his 2007 season, and will now have two years of eligibility remaining.
• Northwestern's second spring practice is set for 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
