Northwestern University Athletics
Spring Practice: Day 14
4/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 23, 2009
Watch Hankwitz's Interview with NUsports.com
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern conducted its next-to-last spring practice Thursday morning outside on its FieldTurf practice field. The Wildcats went through a brisk two-hour practice in preparation for the upcoming Spring Game, which will be modeled just like its previous two Saturday scrimmages.
"Saturday's game will be a 70- to 100-play situational scrimmage," said NU coach Pat Fitzgerald. "It will be designed to help our players improve fundamentally and technically, and overall, get one practice better. With the many activities our athletic department has arranged for Saturday, and the warm weather we have on the way, it's going to be a fun day for Northwestern football."
Following Thursday's practice, NUsports.com caught up with defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz, who directed one of the nation's most improved defenses a year ago. Hankwitz has had an opportunity this spring to watch several of his younger players perform, as starters Corey Wootton, Brad Phillips, Corbin Bryant and Adam Hahn have been sidelined with injuries.
"Because of the injuries, we're building depth and developing our young players," said Hankwitz. "They've been able to play with the number-one defense all spring. With their improved play, this only helps us build better depth for the fall. And overall, I've been encouraged with the development of our younger players.
For the full Hankwitz interview, and to find out which younger players have stepped up this spring, visit the NUsports.com All-Access page.
SPRING NOTES
Five 2008 seniors were named to the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society today: C.J. Bachér, Phil Brunner, Mike Dinard, Keegan Kennedy and Eric Peterman ... In addition to the many events tied into Saturday's Spring Game, the football program will be holding a former players' breakfast. Nearly 150 former Wildcats are expected to be in attendance on Saturday ... A reminder that if you can't attend Saturday's game in Evanston, you can view the game on NUsports.com. Also, the Big Ten Network is airing a special spring football show Saturday at 7 p.m. CT and alson a 90-minute spring wrapup show on Thursday, April 30.
