Missouri State head coach Terry Allen and the football Bears officially began spring practice Tuesday at Plaster Field. The team will work out 15 times before concluding drills April 16 with the annual Maroon & White Game.

The Bears will conduct their first four workouts this week, including a Saturday session that will culminate in a controlled scrimmage, starting around 10 a.m.  The remaining spring practice dates are as follows.

• Tue., March 22 (3 p.m.)
• Wed., March 23 (3 p.m.)
• Thu., March 24 (3 p.m.)
• Sat., March 26 (8 a.m., scrimmage 10 a.m.)
• Tue., March 29 (3 p.m.)
• Wed., March 30 (3 p.m.)
• Fri., April 1 (3 p.m.)
• Sat., April 2 (8 a.m., scrimmage 10 a.m.)
• Tue., April 5 (3 p.m.)
• Wed., April 6 (3 p.m.)
• Fri., April 8 (3 p.m.)
• Sat., April 9 (8 a.m., scrimmage 10 a.m.)
• Tue,. April 12 (3 p.m.)
• Wed., April 13 (3 p.m.)
• Fri., April 15 (3 p.m.)
• Sat., April 16 (Maroon & White Game, time TBA)

(all workout dates and times are subject to change due to weather and other considerations).

Allen, who will begin his sixth season at the helm of the Bears, returns 31 lettermen and 60 total squad members from a 2010 team that finished 5-6 overall and tied for third (4-4) in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Missouri State will open its 2011 slate at Arkansas on Sept. 3, followed by non-conference games at Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 10) and Oregon (Sept. 17).