MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State football team opens its spring practice schedule on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. The Eagles are scheduled to have 14 workouts between April 3 and 27.
MSU will practice on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Sundays and Wednesdays are designated as make-up days, if needed. Workouts are open to the public and free of charge.
“Football players and coaches will tell you the winters are too long,” said Matt Ballard, who begins his 19th season as head coach at Morehead State. “We are really excited about getting back on the football field and everything we’ll be able to accomplish during the month of April.
“Our guys have been working extremely hard with their conditioning. Team improvement happens when each individual is dedicated to making himself better -- and that’s what we’re seeing. I really think we’re primed to have an outstanding spring season.”
Morehead State’s annual Spring Game is set for Sunday, April 29, at 4:30 p.m. at Jayne Stadium. Chuck Mraz and Jason Blanton from the Eagle Sports Network will broadcast the affair on WIVY-96.3 FM (MSU athletics' flagship station) and it can also be heard on MSPR-90.3 FM.
“Our No. 1 goal is getting through the spring without any significant injuries,” Ballard said. “We need to get a lot out of this month, but we need everyone to be healthy heading into the summer.”
Morehead State returns five individuals who earned Pioneer Football League postseason honors a year ago -- wide receiver Donte Sawyer, kicker/punter Rainer Duzan, quarterback Zach Lewis and offensive linemen Joey Clegg and Eric Matteson.
The Eagles finished last season 3-8 overall and 2-6 in the PFL, but half of their defeats came by less than five points.
MSU led all 2011 Football Championship Subdivision schools in first downs (25.2 per game), while ranking second in total yards (478.9) and passing yards (358.2). The Eagles also placed sixth in the nation with 36.1 points per outing.
Individually, Lewis ranked fifth nationally in passing yards (325.9) and seventh in total yards (313.5), while Sawyer placed 15th in all-purpose yards (146.2) and 28th in receiving yards (82.2).
The 2011 Eagles set 17 school records -- eight team and nine individual. Lewis led the way by establishing single-season marks for completions (324), attempts (315) and passing yards (3,585).
“Spring practice is all about defining roles for the players in the program,” Ballard added. “We graduated starters on both sides of the ball, so we’re going to need some of the younger guys to step up in those spots. Going from a role player to a significant contributor is usually a pretty big leap, but that’s what we’ll be looking for in some cases.”
Ballard’s assistant coaches heading into the 2012 campaign are John Gilliam, Rob Tenyer, Chris Garner, Paul Humphries, Thomas Duffy, Matt McCutchan, Mike Simmons and Brett Rude.
Morehead State opens its 2012 regular-season schedule on Thursday, Aug. 30, at home against Southern Virginia. Game times for the upcoming campaign will be announced at a later date.
2012 MSU Spring Football Schedule
Tuesday, April 3 – 6 p.m. (helmets)
Friday, April 6 – 6 p.m. (helmets)
Saturday, April 7 – 10 a.m. (shells)
Monday, April 9 – 6 p.m. (full pads)
Tuesday, April 10 – 6 p.m. (full pads)
Friday, April 13 – 4 p.m. (half shells)
Saturday, April 14 – 10 a.m. (full pads)
Monday, April 16 – 6 p.m. (half shells)
Tuesday, April 17 – 6 p.m. (full pads)
Friday, April 20 – 6 p.m. (half shells)
Saturday, April 21 – 10 a.m. (full pads)
Monday, April 23 – 6 p.m. (half shells)
Tuesday, April 24 – 6 p.m. (full pads)
Friday, April 27 – 6 p.m. (half shells)
Sunday, April 29 – 4:30 p.m. (Spring Game)
All times Eastern
