The UTM Skyhawks opened spring football practice Monday, March 29at Hardy M Graham Stadium on campus.

The Skyhawks have 29 consecutive days to get in 15 practices, three of which must be in shorts, before the annual blue and orange spring game April 24.

“We are excited about playing football,” said Matt Griffin, second-year head coach. “We have been in the weight room the past eight weeks and we are ready to get after it.”

The Skyhawks finished 2-10 last season and ended a 42-game Ohio Valley Conference losing slide with a thrilling, come-from-behind, overtime win over Tennessee Tech on homecoming.

The Skyhawks are scheduled to practice on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The practices during the week will begin at 4 p.m. while Saturday practices begin at 9 a.m. The complete practice schedule can be found at www.utmsports.com. The practices are open to the public.

Griffin said he expects the team’s first scrimmage to be toward the end of Friday’s practice (April 2).

The first full scrimmage is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, April 3.

Spring practice culminates with the blue and orange game at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 24 at Hardy Graham Stadium.