Finally! Most NCAA Division III football programs open preseason practice this weekend.
136 are scheduled to report today here at UW-Whitewater. Since the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference did away with "red-shirting" and placed its roster limit at 100, the number that report each season has dropped.
While D III powerhouse programs such as Mount Union, St. Johns and Mary Hardin-Baylor annually approach, or top 200, Whitewater chose to limit the size of its recruiting classes.
UW-W recuiting coordinator Brian Borland told me earlier this week that the football program is more selective in choosing potential recruits.
With Borland scheduled to have 136 report back to campus today for its annual two-week training camp - when camp ends the coaching staff will be required to pare the roster to 100 student-athletes.
The first five days of camp for all teams are a conditioning period, during which no more than one practice may take place and practice may not exceed three hours in length. The first two days are helmets only, followed by two days in helmets and shoulder pads and full pads thereafter.
Check out my blog late Saturday afternoon for a full update on "report to camp" day at the Student Athletic Complex.
The Warhawks will begin its defense of the 2009 Division III National Championship by hitting the UW-W practice fields on Sunday afternoon.
No comments:
Post a Comment