@UNCBEARSFB Kicks Off 2015 Spring Practice

Calendar

Aug 29

TBA

Football

vs Weber State

Sep 5

TBA

Football

vs South Dakota

Sep 12

TBA

Football

at Wyoming

Sep 19

TBA

Football

vs Northeastern State University

Sep 26

TBA

Football

vs Utah Tech

Oct 3

TBA

Football

at Montana

Oct 10

TBA

Football

at Eastern Washington

Oct 17

TBA

Football

vs Cal Poly

Oct 24

TBA

Football

at UC Davis

GREELEY, Colo. - Tuesday marked the start of a new chapter for the Northern Colorado football team, as the Bears began its 2015 spring practice season under the guidance of head coach Earnest Collins Jr. UNC practiced outside at the Butler-Hancock Practice Fields, split into two groups with each practicing for about two and a half hours.

According to Collins, the Bears had a good first day of spring practice, and the two-group format seemed to work really well. Collins mentioned that the up tempo practice really helped the team get in more repetitions and that it was just great to finally be back on the field.

"It was awesome," said Collins. "It's just fun to be back out at practice, you know we're going with some up tempo stuff and the guys are Helter-Skelter, but for me just the enthusiasm and getting lined up and getting the ball off, I thought it was great. We got probably double the reps in that we normally get, so it was good for the guys, young and old."

Collins added that those extra repetitions allowed players to correct their fundamentals and fix mistakes.

"The first day you get double the plays, means you have double to look at," he said. "Players had the opportunity to run the same play more than once, allowing them to correct their mistakes the second time around, which as a coach is some of the things you are looking for in that first day."

As for anything that stood out to Collins, coach said he liked what he saw from the whole team.

"It's just the whole team," Collins explained. "You're not really looking for any particular person, so to speak. You're just looking for excitement and enthusiasm to be back out here and I thought our guys had that and were ready to go."

On the offensive side of the ball, last year's starting quarterback Sean Rubalcaba is hoping to tighten some things up and work on being a better leader.

"I think we just need to tighten some plays up and get to the ball a little faster," Rubalcaba said. "It was a long offseason for us, but everyone was ready to be out here today. For me, I think I need to work on my leadership this spring and making sure everyone is in the right spots on the field and just giving one hundred percent every day."

With the defense graduating five of its starters, it left some open leadership roles to be filled. Last season's starting safety, Taylor Risner is hoping to step into one of those positions.

"It's all about being more vocal," Risner stated. "We lost some key members of our defense and now it's time for other players to step up and be a voice and know that they have to start being a leader and I believe I'm one of those guys."

Northern Colorado will continue its spring practice at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, March. 26.

For the full practice and scrimmage schedule see below:

2015 Spring Practice Schedule
Practice #2: Thurs., Mar. 26 – 8:00 a.m.
Practice #3: Sat., Mar. 28 – 9:00 a.m.
Practice #4: Tues., Mar. 31 – 8:00 a.m.
Practice #5: Thur., April 2 – 8:00 a.m.
Practice #6: Sat., April 4 – 9:00 a.m.
Practice #7: Tues., April 7 – 8:00 a.m.
Practice #8: Thur., April 9 – 8:00 a.m.
Practice #9: Sat., April 11 – 9:30 a.m. (Scrimmage #1)
Practice #10: Tues., April 14 – 8:00 a.m.
Practice #11: Thurs., April 16 – 8:00 a.m.
Practice #12: Sat., April 18 – 1:00 p.m. (Scrimmage #2 and Junior Day)
Practice #13: Tues., April 21 – 8:00 a.m.
Practice #14: Thurs., April 23 – 8:00 a.m.
Spring Game: Sat., April 25 – Noon