PULLMAN, Wash. - The Washington State University football team will begin its spring practice schedule, Thursday, March 24, the first of 15 practice dates that conclude April 26. The annual Crimson and Gray Game will be held April 23 at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane at 1 p.m. and will be televised by the Pac-12 Network.
This spring marks the fifth under head coach Mike Leach as the Cougars return 47 lettermen from last season's Sun Bowl-winning squad, 24 on offense, 20 on the defense and three on special teams.
Offensively, the Cougars return eight starters from 2015, including 2015 All-Pac-12 First-Team selections Luke Falk and Gabe Marks. For the second-straight season, the Cougars led the nation in passing offense (389.5 ppg) and finished tied for second in red zone offense (94.5 percent). For the first time in school history, WSU had a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in the same season, as Marks led the Pac-12 with 1,192 yards and Dom Williams totaled 1,040. Ten of the top 11 receivers from 2015 return as do all three running backs, who averaged 6.1 yards per carry during the season.
Defensively, WSU looks to take another step under second-year coordinator Alex Grinch. Last season the Cougar defense allowed 27.7 ppg and 416.6 ypg, both marked improvements over 2014 when WSU allowed 38.6 ppg and 442.2 ypg, respectively. The Cougars finished the season with 24 turnovers forced, averaging 1.8 takeaways per game and tripled the amount of turnovers from last season (8). Backed primarily by its defense, WSU's turnover margin improved from -1.42 in 2014 (123rd) to -0.08 this year (T-75th). WSU made a huge jump in tackles-for-loss, averaging 7.8 per game (8th), after the Cougar defense managed 6.4 (T-44th) in 2014.
The Cougars will practice Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at Martin Stadium and Rogers Field with the Crimson and Gray Game set for Saturday, April 23 at Joe Albi Stadium.
2016 Washington State Football Spring Practice Schedule:
Day Date Time
Thursday March 24 2:30 p.m.
Saturday March 26 TBA
Tuesday March 28 2:30 p.m.
Thursday April 30 2:30 p.m.
Saturday April 2 TBA
Tuesday April 5 2:30 p.m.
Thursday April 7 2:30 p.m.
Saturday April 9 TBA
Tuesday April 12 2:30 p.m.
Thursday April 14 2:30 p.m.
Saturday April 16 TBA
Tuesday April 19 2:30 p.m.
Thursday April 21 2:30 p.m.
Saturday April 23 1 p.m.*
Tuesday April 26 2:30 p.m.
*Crimson & Gray Game (Joe Albi Stadium – Spokane, Wash.)