Spokane, Wash. -- The 100th year of Whitworth College football officially opens on Friday when 84 players put on a Pirate helmet for the first practice of the 2006 season. The returning players will practice at 1:00 pm on Friday, followed by a freshmen and transfers practice at 2:30 pm. The entire team will run a full practice for the first time on Saturday at 2:15 pm. Whitworth returns 16 starters this season, including ten on defense, from a team that finished 5-3 in 2005. The Pirates are picked second in the NWC preseason coaches poll, and are listed second among "others receiving votes" in the D3football.com preseason top-25. Optimism is strengthened by the fact that the Pirates will be led by three preseason All-Americans. Joel Clark (Sr., QB), Michael Allan (Sr., TE) and Ryan Marshall (Jr., DB) were all named to the Football Gazette Division III Preseason All-America First Team. Allan and Marshall were also named to the D3football.com and Lindy's Magazine preseason All-America First Teams. Whitworth opens the season on September 9th at the University of Redlands. Kick off is scheduled for 7:05 pm. The Pirates' home opener is September 16th against the University of La Verne at 1:00 pm. 2006 Pirate Practice Schedule: Friday (Aug. 18) - 1:00 pm (Returners, helmets only); 2:30 pm (Freshmen/transfers, helmets only) |
