We now know when spring will begin for the Michigan football team.
The Wolverines are scheduled to begin their 15-practice schedule on Tuesday, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, in Ann Arbor, program spokesman Dave Ablauf confirmed to MLive on Thursday.
Michigan’s practice schedule will culminate with an open-to-the-public practice at noon on Saturday, April 18, at Michigan Stadium. The event will be free to attend, with an official format to follow.
Michigan announced the open practice on Thursday as part of a packed, nine-event weekend in Ann Arbor that will include the NCAA men’s gymnastics championship and a weekend softball series against Ohio State.
The announcement comes a little over a month after Jim Harbaugh seemed to finalize his coaching staff for the 2020 season, with the addition of two new assistants (Bob Shoop, Brian Jean-Mary). His team opens spring practice with a quarterback competition and spots to fill on the offensive line, plus question marks along the interior of the defensive line.
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In the meantime, players on campus continue to participate in winter conditioning with Michigan’s strength and conditioning coordinator, Ben Herbert. The Wolverines had eight players from their 2020 recruiting class enroll early, allowing them to practice with the team this spring.
The team is coming off a 9-4 season in 2019, one that ended with another loss to Ohio State and Alabama in the Citrus Bowl.
Michigan’s first practice will take place four days after the school hosts its annual “pro day” event in Ann Arbor, set for March 13, allowing players out of eligibility or who declared for the NFL draft early to work out in front of pro scouts.
Michigan spring dates:
Pro day: March 13
Practices start: March 17
Open practice: April 18
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