March 21, 2007

The 2007 Wayne State University football squad held its first spring practice this afternoon at Adams Field.

Colleges are permitted 15 practice opportunities during spring ball.

WSU's complete spring practice schedule is listed below. Dates may change depending on weather.

Head coach Paul Winters has 38 past Warrior letterwinners on the roster including 22 on offense, 15 on defense, and one on special teams. Eight starters on offense return plus three on defense.

The only change to the full-time coaching staff was the addition of Terry Heffernan as the offensive line coach.

SPRING PRACTICE STORYLINES

The Wayne State Warriors had its first winning season on the field since 1993 last year despite having a true freshman start all 11 games at quarterback (Zack George started the first two before being injured versus Saint Joseph's, while Trent Pohl started the final nine games).

Among the 38 past letterwinners participating in spring practice are five three-year letterwinners in fullback Luis Gomez, linebacker Alan Guy, center Frank Lietke and tight ends John Rehberg and Kenny Schmidt.

The Warriors, after coming five points shy of tying the single-season school mark of 292 set in 2000, should be strong offensively and experienced in every position but wide receiver as last year's top two in receptions (Nick Body and Jake Weingartz) have graduated.

Freshman Joique Bell broke the NCAA Division II rushing record for a freshman by gaining 2,065 yards. He set WSU single-season records for rushing yards (2,065), rushing touchdowns (22), all-purpose yards (2,462), touchdowns (23) and points (138). He also set GLIAC league games mark for all-purpose yards and rushing yards.

Bell rushed behind an offensive line that consisted of one senior (who only played 9 games due to an injury-Grant Fodor; a junior-Frank Lietke; a redshirt sophomore-Ryan Cue; a sophomore-Chris Ostosh; and a redshirt freshman-Ray Rocheleau). Muhammad Abdullah returns for the 2007 campaign after missing the previous year due to a family illness. Wayne State will also have the services of former All-GLIAC running back Daryl Graham (Michigan Tech) who had to sit out the 2006 season due to GLIAC transfer rules.

All four starters in the defensive backfield graduated (All-American corner Derrion Fuqua, Ty Spencer, Floyd Ferjuste and Ryan Oshnock) plus all four defensive line starters (Dan Barnes, Alan Clay, Mike Ellison and Chris Smilo) as well.

WSU's linebacking corps of Alan Guy, Tristan Black and Prosper Iwu will have to step forward. Andrew Bates, a junior college transfer from Grand Rapids C.C., sat out last year but is slated to start at one of the defensive tackle spots. Juniors Dante Dunn and Jonathan Klyce have played corner and have also been key contributors on special teams.

Place-kicker David Chudzinski was selected to the Daktronics, Inc. All-America First Team; was named to the AP Little All-America First Team; and was selected to the Hansen's Football Gazette All-America First Team. He was also named to the All-GLIAC First Team (first WSU kicker in school history).

He was 33-33 on extra points and 14-16 on field goals including 4-5 beyond 40 yards.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State was tabbed for ninth in the 2006 GLIAC pre-season coaches poll, but finished tied-for-fourth with a 6-4 league record.

THIS AND THAT

Wayne State University Director of Athletics Rob Fournier announced a three-year extension of a radio broadcast agreement with WDTK Radio (1400 AM) for football, men's basketball and hockey games through the 2009-10 school year.

Fans can also listen to WSU football games online at wdtkam.com.

2007 WAYNE STATE SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Date	Time	Highlight
March 21	3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Practice Helmets
March 23	3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Practice Helmets
March 24	12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.	Practice Shells
March 25	3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Practice Full Pads
March 28	3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Practice Full Pads
March 30	3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Practice Shells
March 31	12:15 p.m.	Scrimmage Full Pads
April 1	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Practice Shells
April 4	3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Practice Full Pads
April 6	3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Practice Shells
April 10	6:15 a.m.	Scrimmage Full Pads
April 11	4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.	Practice Shells
April 13	3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Practice Shells
April 14	12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.	Practice Helmets
April 15	2:00 p.m.	SPRING GAME - Full Pads