The Missouri State football Bears will conclude four weeks of spring practice Saturday (April 26) with their annual Maroon and White spring game at 1 p.m., at Plaster Field. The event is free and open to the public.
The Bears started spring workouts April 1 immediately after the 10-day Missouri State spring break. Saturday’s game is the final workout of the 15-practice spring schedule for head coach Terry Allen. The 10-member senior class on the 2007 team has left Allen and his coaches with an 81-player roster, the largest on record for Bears’ spring sessions. The Bears have 45 returning lettermen, also the largest number on record for a Missouri State squad in the spring.
Allen and his staff have divided the Missouri State squad into two equal units on both offense and defense. The spring game will feature 12-minute quarters of offense and defense. There will be no live kickoffs, punts will not be returned and there will be field goal and PAT attempts. All possessions will begin at the 30-yard line.
Missouri State’s roster includes returning starters back from six positions on offense and nine on defense. Regulars back on offense include QB Cody Kirby, OT Mark Graf, OT Kevaughn Brown, OG Seth Reichert, OG David Arkin and TE Clay Harbor. SE Brandon Oliver is back after starting four games and FB Jeff Sargent started three.
Defensively, the Bears return DE Terian Washington, DE Clayton Dickehut, DE Connor McDonough, DT Chris Brehmer, NG Mike Taylor, NG Levi Moore, LB Sam Block, LB Tony Randolph, LB Jeremy Dawson, CB Chris Farrar, S Roger Wright and S Derek Miller.
Missouri State made its biggest gain in season win total in 19 years in 2007 as the Bears finished 6-5 after a 2-9 mark the previous campaign. The 2008 season will be Allen’s third year at the Missouri State helm. The Bears begin their season schedule Sept. 4 against Washburn at Plaster Field.
