Jerry Kill has introduced a few new wrinkles to spring football practice as he begins evaluating his new team and teaching the Gophers his system.
Practice begins next Thursday inside the Gibson-Nagurski football complex, adjacent to the Bierman athletic building, and continues with 15 sessions over the following 30 days. All practices will be open to the public, Kill announced Monday.
After practicing for three consecutive days to open spring ball, the Gophers will settle into a three-days-a-week pattern until the spring game, which will be held Saturday, April 23 at TCF Bank Stadium.
The Gophers will also practice in the stadium on April 2, 9 and 15, and the latter date embodies another change: Kill has scheduled a nighttime practice, in order to work under the lights to prepare for a handful of night games during the regular season.
The Gophers' practice schedule: March 24, 2:15 p.m.; March 25, 2:15 p.m.; March 26, 3:15 p.m.; March 29, 2:30 p.m.; March 31, 2:30 p.m.; April 2, 3:30 p.m.; April 5, 2:30 p.m.; April 7, 2:30 p.m.; April 9, 3:30 p.m.; April 12, 2:30 p.m.; April 14, 2:30 p.m.; April 15, 7:15 p.m.; April 19, 2:30 p.m.; April 21, 2:30 p.m.; April 23, 1 p.m.