For most college football players, the 6 a.m. winter conditioning sessions are history. Now comes the fun part.
Make that the “fun” part: spring practice.
The NCAA permits teams to practice just 15 times, 12 in pads. But many coaches will use the drills to make key personnel decisions. A closer look at the Big Ten, Notre Dame and Northern Illinois:
Michigan (10-3, 7-1)
Top challenge: Replacing both QB John Navarre and Silver Football winner Chris Perry, who combined for nearly 85 percent of the offense in ’03. At QB, redshirt freshman Clayton Richard will challenge junior Matt Gutierrez, who won every start at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. “He’s very passionate about being the quarterback,” coach Lloyd Carr said of Gutierrez. “If you just watch him, if you’re around him, there’s an intensity about him.” Senior David Underwood seeks to replace Perry.
First game: Sept. 4 vs. Miami of Ohio.
Ohio State (11-2, 6-2)
Top challenge: The departure of QB Craig Krenzel and WR Michael Jenkins isn’t the only reason the offense will look different. Coach Jim Tressel has shuffled his staff, moving Joe Daniels to passing-game coordinator and hiring Rutgers’ Darrell Hazell to coach wide receivers. The Buckeyes averaged just 24.8 points per game last season, 74th among Division I-A schools.
First game: Sept. 4 vs. Cincinnati.
Purdue (9-4, 6-2)
Top challenge: With only three returning starters on defense, competition should be strong. QB Kyle Orton is 100 percent after surgery to repair a ligament in his hand and could emerge as a Heisman Trophy candidate. John Standeford is gone, but other top WRs return, including Taylor Stubblefield.
First game: Sept. 5 vs. Syracuse.
Iowa (10-3, 5-3)
Top challenge: Replacing OT Robert Gallery and SS Bob Sanders, the only two unanimous first-team all-Big Ten coaches’ selections. RB Fred Russell also departs, giving way to fifth-year senior Jermelle Lewis, who missed most of ’03 after knee surgery. Iowa native Marcus Schnoor will compete with Lewis this spring.
First game: Sept. 4 vs. Kent State.
Minnesota (10-3, 5-3)
Top challenge: Replacing four-year starter Asad Abdul-Khaliq, an honorable mention all-Big Ten QB in ’03. Backup Benji Kamrath also was lost to graduation, so inexperienced redshirt sophomore Bryan Cupito will battle junior-college transfer Adam Ernst and perhaps John Carlson, who graduated early from high school so he could practice with the Gophers this spring.
First game: Sept. 4 vs. Toledo.
Michigan State (8-5, 5-3)
Top challenge: Replacing QB Jeff Smoker, who threw for 3,395 yards in ’03. Former high school All-American Drew Stanton will battle redshirt freshman Stephen Reaves. Coach John L. Smith won’t name a starter until August because Stanton had surgery on his right knee after getting clipped on punt coverage in the Alamo Bowl. Stanton will avoid live contact this spring.
First game: Sept. 4 at Rutgers.
Wisconsin (7-6, 4-4)
Top challenge: Sophomore John Stocco and senior Matt Schabert will compete to replace QB Jim Sorgi. Senior Anthony Davis, who has rushed for 100 yards 19 times, looks to re-emerge as the team’s top RB after being sidelined with ankle injuries. Chicago native Dwayne Smith led the Badgers in ’03 with 857 yards on 165 carries.
First game: Sept. 4 vs. Central Florida.
Northwestern (6-7, 4-4)
Top challenge: RBs Noah Herron and Terrell Jordan will vie to replace Jason Wright’s monster productivity. But the Wildcats’ bigger goal is to get QB Brett Basanez to return to his 2002 form, when he made the Big Ten all-freshman team and threw for 368 yards against Illinois. Last season Basanez finished ninth in the Big Ten in passing yardage, throwing 12 interceptions and just four touchdown passes.
First game: Sept. 2 at Texas Christian.
Penn State (3-9, 1-7)
Top challenge: Integrating a new offense. Fran Ganter, the offensive coordinator since 1984, has moved into administration. His replacement is 63-year-old Galen Hall, the former Florida coach who most recently served as running backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys. Hall’s goal: “Not turn the ball over and [to] try to make third downs. And win the time on the clock.”
First game: Sept. 4 vs. Akron.
Indiana (2-10, 1-7)
Top challenge: Selecting a No. 1 RB from a group that includes two former Big Ten all-freshman picks. BenJarvus Green-Ellis (a.k.a. The Man with Four Names) excelled last season, averaging 98 yards against conference teams, including 203 against Penn State. Yamar Washington, who missed last season with a torn left ACL, ran for 688 yards in 2002.
First game: Sept. 4 vs. Central Michigan.
Illinois (1-11, 0-8)
Top challenge: Perhaps as important as selecting a quarterback–sixth-year senior Jon Beutjer will compete with Chris Pazan, Tim Brasic and Brad Bower–the Illini need to regain their confidence. “We have a lot of very good young players who have every reason to play with a swagger,” coach Ron Turner said. Turner also said he joked to new defensive coordinator Mike Mallory: “Take who you want [on the roster] and let’s talk about it. We have to stop people.”
First game: Sept. 4 vs. Florida A&M.
Notre Dame (5-7)
Top challenge: Where to start? Notre Dame needs to upgrade its offense and restock its defense. The Irish will need tailback Ryan Grant to step into the gap left by the graduation of Julius Jones, who ran for 1,268 yards last season. And quarterback Brady Quinn is going to have to do better than 153 passing yards per game with a 47.3 percent completion rate. On defense, the Irish will have to revamp a secondary that lost Vontez Duff.
First game: Sept. 11 vs. Michigan.
N. Illinois (10-2, 6-2 MAC)
Top challenge: Replacing record-setting rusher Michael “the Burner” Turner. A.J. Harris gets the first shot, and four of last year’s top five interior linemen return. Seven defensive starters also return.
First game: Sept. 4 at Maryland.
