2009 NCAA Football Spring Practice

Texas, TCU and Miami (FL) Headline Early Spring Football Practices

Feb 19, 2009

Six schools, including one with serious BCS Championship aspirations, prep for the 2009 season before March even arrives to bust your bracket.

If you've been itching for some serious pigskin action since Santanio Holmes' game-winning touchdown catch, look no farther than Reno, Nevada. The University of Nevada Wolfpack football team takes to the practice field to gear up for another exciting college football season. The other 119 FBS schools will soon join them in their respective weight rooms and film study sessions until San Diego State begins practice 47 days later on April 8. Texas (Feb. 27), TCU (Feb. 28), Miami, FL (Feb. 24), Stanford (Feb. 24) and Air Force (Feb. 24) also start training this month.

Longhorns Seek Second BCS Championship under Mack Brown

When last season's final BCS standings paired the Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners in the BCS Championship game, many Texas fans felt more than slighted. On February 27 the Longhorns start spring practice as Coach Mack Brown and Senior QB and 2008 Heisman Trophy runner-up Colt McCoy try to lead the Longhorns to a new set of Rose Bowl memories as they make another run at Pasadena and a national championship.

With 4-year starter McCoy under center and his favorite target and roommate Jordan Shipley granted an extra year of eligibility for medical hardship, the Longhorn offense should be just as explosive. Replacing WR Quan Cosby is the only pressing situation Offensive Coordinator Greg Davis faces this spring. Plenty of new guys will get quality reps and opportunites to emerge while Shipley sits out spring practice to recover from shoulder surgery.

The biggest hole for the Longhorns to fill is on the defensive line. All-American DE Brian Orakpo is taking his 11.5 sacks and jaw-dropping athleticism to the first round of the NFL Draft. While the Nagurski Trophy winner waits to hear his name called on draft day, returning back-ups Sam Acho and Russell Carter will battle along with incoming freshman Alex Okafor, rivals.com's national #2 defensive end and an early enrollee eligible to participate in Spring Practice, for Orakpo's vacated rush end position.

A Different Lone Star Team Looks to Crash the BCS

Despite an early 35-10 loss to eventual Big XII champ Oklahoma and a heartbreaking 13-10 defeat to MWC and Sugar Bowl champ Utah that ended their BCS dreams, TCU will once again try to break through to a BCS berth. Coach Gary Patterson's Horned Frogs are fresh off of an 11-2 season, a top 10 finish in both polls and a one-point upset of previously undefeated Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl. After just missing out on the BCS in 2008 TCU is the early favorite to continue the string of non-BCS conference teams in a big money BCS bowl game.

Hurricanes' QB Harris Key to 2009 Season

Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon's stellar recruiting has infused the Miami roster with premium talent, but all of Shannon's success on the recruiting trail still hasn't led to results on the field. A more consistent offense could be what the Hurricanes need to improve their 12-13 record over the past two years. An offseason as the unquestioned starter for sophomore QB Jacory Harris should help him improve his passing, timing with receivers and most importantly his confidence. The Hurricanes are loaded with athletes on both sides of the ball and could challenge for the ACC championship if Harris shines.

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