Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Begin Spring Drills March 30
3/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 17, 2009
2009 Northwestern Spring Guide 
EVANSTON, Ill. -- With the winter academic term ending this week, Northwestern's football program now turns its focus to the 2009 spring season, which begins Monday, March 30 with an early-morning practice session.
Northwestern will conduct 15 spring practices, which includes the annual Spring Game at noon on Saturday, April 25. (Northwestern's "Walk for Randy" is set for 9 a.m. that day.)
The Wildcats' weekday practices are being held in the morning, with all sessions starting at 8:15 a.m. Saturday practices, other than the Spring Game, begin at 9:30 a.m.
Northwestern is returning 14 starters (5 offense, 8 defense, 1 special teams) in 2009. The Wildcats' biggest offseason questions come on the offensive side of the ball, where a majority of the starting skill players have graduated.
"We have a number of young players who are ready to step up and compete for starting jobs this spring," says head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who begins his fourth year as the Wildcats' head coach. "Since we played in a late-December bowl game, our offseason was shorter. We gave our guys an opportunity to rest up in January, yet they continued to work to get better. That has been our emphasis this offseason: work to get better and improve every day. I believe we are further along this year than last year with team cohesion and being in the right spot to understand what we need to do. We're excited about the spring."
Northwestern's top returnees reside on defense, where the Wildcats made huge strides last season. The 'Cats' top returning player, senior defensive end Corey Wootton, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, will sit out the spring while he continues to recover from a knee injury in the Alamo Bowl. NU's other three returning All-Big Ten honorees include cornerback Sherrick McManis, and safeties Brad Phillips and Brendan Smith. Phillips, too, will sit out the spring while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
You can follow the Wildcats during the spring on NUsports.com with daily updates (video included) on practice, as well as a blog from wide receiver Andrew Brewer.
NOTE: Spring practices, other than the Spring Game, are CLOSED to the general public. For high school coaches, scouts, friends of the program, etc., wishing to attend practice, please contact Carolyn Fleming (Email: c-fleming@northwestern.edu) in Northwestern's football office (847-467-3708) for a practice credential.
2009 Spring Practice Schedule
| Mon., March 30 | 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Tue., March 31 | 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Thu., April 2 | 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Sat., April 4 | 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Mon., April 6 | 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Tue., April 7 | 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Thu., April 9 | 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Sat., April 11 | 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Mon., April 13 | 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Tue., April 14 | 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Thu., April 16 | 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Sat., April 18 | 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. (Coaches' Clinic) | Recap / Video |
| Tue., April 21 | 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. | Recap / Video |
| Thu., April 23 | 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. (Closed to Media) | Recap / Video |
| Sat., April 25 | Noon (Spring Game) | Recap / Video |
