| Date |
Practice |
Time |
| April 5 |
Practice #1 |
4 p.m. |
| April 6 |
Practice #2 |
4 p.m. |
| April 7 |
Practice #3 |
9:30 p.m. |
| April 9 |
Practice #4 |
9:30 p.m. |
| April 11 |
Practice #5 |
9:30 p.m. |
| April 13 |
Practice #6 |
4 p.m. |
| April 15 |
Practice #7 |
9:30 p.m. |
| April 17 |
Practice #8 |
9:30 p.m. |
| April 20 |
Practice #9 |
4 p.m. |
| April 22 |
Practice #10 |
9:30 p.m. |
| April 24 |
Practice #11 |
9:30 p.m. |
| April 26 |
Spring Game |
4 p.m. |
Watch The Spring Game on IBNSports.com
Spring Football Roster
2008 Schedule
2008 Quick Facts
2007 Final Statistics
2008 Outlook: Wide Receivers (April 14, 2008)
2008 Outlook: Quarterbacks (April 15, 2008)
2008 Outlook: Running Backs (April 16, 2008)
2008 Outlook: Offensive Line (April 17, 2008)
2008 Outlook: Tight Ends (April 18, 2008)
2008 Outlook: Special Teams (April 22, 2008)
2008 Outlook: Spring Game Draft (April 24, 2008)
2008 Spring Game Recap (April 26, 2008)
2008 Outlook: Defensive Backs (April 28, 2008)
2008 Outlook: Linebackers (April 30, 2008)
2008 Outlook: Defensive Line (May 5, 2008)
ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell football team will open 2008 Spring Practice on Saturday, April 5, at 4 p.m. on Schoellkopf Field as a full roster opens competition for what is expected to be an exciting fall campaign. The Big Red will have 11 full practices (see schedule on right) leading up to the annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 26, at 4 p.m.
Spring practice will commence with important goals to reach toward competing for an Ivy title. With 31 seniors returning, Cornell will be a veteran team for the first time in several years. After three seasons of spring football without the numbers necessary to conduct full drills, more than 90 players are expected to compete in camp. That number doesn't include senior running back Luke Siwula, who will return in the fall for a fifth season of eligibility. Backup punter Michael Bolling is also expected to return for a fifth year.
The Big Red will attempt to shore up a defense that allowed 30.1 points per game, while fine tuning an offense that spread itself out and averaged 27.0 points per game, the highest average in 58 years (31.6 ppg., 1949), and set a school record for first downs in a season (231).
Coming off last season's 5-5 season, which included a 4-1 home record and a perfect non-conference slate (3-0), Cornell will get a jumpstart with the team's eight returning starters on both offense and defense as competition will begin for many of the open slots. Head coach Jim Knowles '87 gets ready for his fifth season with 16 total starters and 36 letter winners.
While both coordinators return, the Big Red will have several coaches in different positions this spring. Offensive coordinator Bruce Barnum will move from coaching tight ends to working with the offensive line, while assistant offensive coordinator Brian Coon switches from the line to running backs coach. Former Big Red captain David Archer will switch sides of the ball in his second year on the sideline, moving from linebackers to tight ends. Joe Borich, who already works with the quarterbacks, will take on wide receiver duty as well. Travis Burkett will become the special teams coordinator after working with the tight ends a season ago.
The defense will also shake up its position coaches, as defensive coordinator Clayton Carlin will continue his work with the defensive backs and assistant defensive coordinator Pete DeStefano stays with the defensive line. First-year assistants Rashaan Jordan will coach linebackers, while Ross Pennypacker will tutor the defensive backs.
Check back during the next three weeks for spring practice updates, photo galleries and positional previews.
The Big Red opens the 2008 season on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Bucknell.
