Spokane, Wash. -- Whitworth University football officially opens the 2007 season Saturday when 96 players put on a Pirate helmet for the first practice of the season. The players check in today, picking up equipment and going through physicals. The first practice will be Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Whitworth returns 15 starters this season, including eight on defense, from a team that finished 11-1 overall and won a Northwest Conference title in 2006. The Pirates are picked second in the NWC preseason coaches poll, and are ranked in three preseason top-25 polls. Optimism is strengthened by the fact that the Pirate defense will be led by a pair of preseason All-Americans. Casey Clifton (Sr., LB) and Jay Tully (Sr., SS) were both named to the Lindy's Magazine preseason All-America Second Team, while Tully is also part of the D3football.com preseason All-America team. Whitworth opens the season at home on September 8th against the University of Redlands. Kick off is scheduled for Noon. 2007 Pirate Practice Schedule: Saturday (Aug. 18) - 2:00 pm |
