2012 Northwestern Football Spring Practice: Wildcats Already Back On The Field

Northwestern Wildcats football turns its focus to the 2012 season as spring practice officially opened on Saturday, March 3. For the second straight season, practices begin before final exams and spring break, and head coach Pat Fitzgerald believes the forward shift has been a good thing for the program:

"Last year was the first time we moved the start of our spring practices up about three weeks and the feedback from our players was really positive," said Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald. "The schedule also has benefits from an academic standpoint as well as a recruiting standpoint, and it coincides well with our offseason conditioning training. Our coaching staff and players are excited to take advantage of our 15 days together on the practice field."

quotes via NUSports.com.

The biggest story to follow will be the development of junior quarterback Kain Colter, who is primed to take over the starting quarterback job in place of Dan Persa. Colter split time last season and also contributed as a wide receiver and running threat in the offense, but everything is set up for him to become the primary passer and leader of the offense in 2012. The move will put some pressure on running back Treyvon Green and wide receiver Demetrius Fields to become secondary playmakers in the offense and augment whatever Colter can do.

Spring practices are closed to the public (except for the Spring Exhibition on April 14), but if you'd like a look at the complete schedule, here it is:

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