Spring football starts Tuesday when Tracy Claeys and his revamped staff hit the field for the first time together.
The Gophers will spend the next 40 days beginning the transition to a new system under Claeys. The team will have 15 spring practices capped by the April 9 Spring Game at TCF Bank Stadium.
Claeys is leading his first spring camp as the Gophers head coach. He briefly held the interim head coach title after former coach Jerry Kill abruptly retired for health reasons in late October with five games left in the season. Less than two weeks later, Claeys was named the new head coach with a three-year, $4.5 million contract.
Without former head coach Jerry Kill and former offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover in the rotation this season, there will likely be a lot of change implemented during this year's early spring camp. Jay Johnson is the new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and Bart Miller the new offensive line coach.
The shakeup cost the Gophers several recruits, but Claeys said his first recruiting class includes 20 players that fill most of the team's stated goals.
The next month will help Claeys identify any holes his team might have and put a physical stamp on the program as it tries to establish a new identity. One area of concern is the offensive line and quarterback Mitch Leidner will be limited after having surgery on his left foot.
Six spring practices held at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex will be open to the public:
March 10, 3:45 p.m.
March 24, 3:45 p.m.
March 26, 3:45 p.m.
March 31, 3:45 p.m.
April 2, 11 a.m.
April 7, 3:45 p.m.
(Dates, locations, times are subject to change)
