PEMBROKE – The UNCP football team will welcome an estimated 80 student-athletes back to the football practice field on Tuesday afternoon as the Braves participate in the first of an NCAA-allotted 15 spring practice sessions at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.
The Black and Gold will hold the first two of an NCAA-mandated helmets-only practice session this week, hitting the practice fields behind its home stadium at 3:30 p.m. on both Tuesday and Thursday. The Braves will get the next eight days off to observe Spring Break, but will return to the practice field for the first session in full pads on March 9.
The Braves will play the first of three scrimmage games on March 21 at 9:30 a.m., with the second to be held the following Saturday, March 28, at 9:30 a.m. as well. UNCP will hold its third annual Black and Gold Spring Game on April 2 at 6 p.m. inside Grace P. Johnson Stadium.
All practice sessions are open to the general public, but spectators are asked to stay outside the fence lines.
UNCP will return 21 of 22 starters for the 2009 campaign, including all 11 on the defensive side of the ball, to a team that finished 9-1 last season and were listed just outside of the top 25 in the final national polls.
UNCP FOOTBALL SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
(All practices begin at 3:30 p.m. unless otherwise
noted)
Tuesday, February 24 – Helmets Only, No Contact
Thursday, February 26 – Helmets Only, No Contact
Tuesday, March 10
Wednesday, March 11
Friday, March 13
*Saturday, March 14
Tuesday, March 17
Thursday, March 19
*Saturday, March 21 – Scrimmage #1
Thursday, March 26
*Saturday, March 28 – Scrimmage #2
Tuesday, March 31
Wednesday, April 1 – Helmets Only, No Contact
Thursday, April 2 – Black & Gold Spring Game (6 p.m.)
* - Practice begins at 9:30 a.m.