Pitt State Football Opens Spring Drills Saturday - KOAM TV 7

Pitt State Football Opens Spring Drills Saturday

PITTSBURG - The Pittsburg State University football team will open its 2011 spring drills Saturday (Apr. 2). The Gorillas will have a total of 15 practice days, culminating with their annual Spring Game on Apr. 30.

Pitt State will practice four times the week of Apr. 4-9. The Gorillas will practice seven more times during the weeks of Apr. 11 and Apr. 18. Pitt State will conclude spring drills with the Spring Game on Apr. 30 at 9:30 a.m. at "The Pitt," Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.

Second-year head coach Tim Beck will welcome approximately 100 players into spring camp. The Gorillas return 17 players (9 offense, 8 defense) who started five or more games in 2010.

"There's no question the players are eager to get on the practice field," said Beck, who guided the Gorillas to a 6-6 record and a Mineral Water Bowl post-season victory in his debut season. "We made it clear to our players there are no starters going into spring ball. Everyone has to earn their position. We expect that will lead to good competition at all positions this spring."

Beck and his staff is excited about the veteran group returning to the Pitt State program.

"This year when we travel for our opener we will have a much larger group of players who have made a travel roster before," Beck said. "We have a large junior class who are now becoming seniors. We're still looking for guys to step up and be great leaders. We do have a big group of seniors to pick from."