 | Missouri burner Jeremy Maclin will begin the '08 campaign as a legitimate Heisman candidate. Scott Sewell/Icon SMI |
Special to SI.com, Rivals.com
OK, so maybe it's cold where you are, but spring still is in the air. How do we know? Spring football will be here soon.
No, it's not real football. Still, this time of the year is important for everybody, whether you're hunting a national title or trying to rebound from a three-win season.
Here's a look at all 120 Division I teams as they get ready for spring ball.
ACC
BOSTON COLLEGE
Starts: March 25
Ends: April 26
Spring game: April 26
The buzz: With Matt Ryan gone, who's the new quarterback? BC also has to find a new starting tailback
CLEMSON
Starts: March 22
Ends: April 12
Spring game: April 12
The buzz: The Tigers don't lose that many starters, so there aren't that many holes to fill. The biggest probably is at defensive end, as Phillip Merling went pro early. Is freshman DaQuan Bowers, who already has enrolled, the answer?
DUKE
Starts: March 19
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: New coach David Cutcliffe's first order of business is to erase the stench of losing that permeates the program. Thing is, that's going to take more time than the month allotted for spring ball.
FLORIDA STATE
Starts: March 17
Ends: April 12
Spring game: April 12
The buzz: The Seminoles will be short-handed in their first three games because of academic suspensions, so that may affect how coaches dole out playing time in spring practice. FSU needs to develop some depth at tailback and at wide receiver, and a new free safety must be found.
GEORGIA TECH
Starts: March 24
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: New coach Paul Johnson will try to find guys who fit Tech's new offense. Job No. 1, of course, is finding a quarterback.
MARYLAND
Starts: March 25
Ends: April 26
Spring game: April 26
The buzz: New offensive coordinator James Franklin needs to find a way to increase production, especially in the passing game. The Terps also might reshuffle their linebacker corps with the departure of Erin Henderson to the NFL a year early.
MIAMI
Starts: Feb. 26
Ends: March 29
Spring game: March 29
The buzz: UM has a number of early enrollees, and coaches need a few of those guys to become acclimated quickly. In addition, QB Robert Marve needs to show he has a grasp of the offense and can handle the starting job.
NORTH CAROLINA
Starts: March 3
Ends: April 7
Spring game: April 5
The buzz: Coaches must find a way to make the running game more potent. The Heels return a bulk of their starters, but some folks need to step up at defensive end, defensive tackle and linebacker to replace key losses at those positions. The players have to get used to a new defensive coordinator, too.
N.C. STATE
Starts: March 18
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: The Wolfpack played well late in the season, but coaches have to find a way to pump up an anemic rushing attack. A go-to receiver is needed, as is a replacement for safety DaJuan Morgan, who left early for the NFL.
VIRGINIA
Starts: March 21
Ends: April 12
Spring game: April 12
The buzz: With incumbent starting quarterback Jameel Sewell academically ineligible, Peter Lalich needs to show he can handle the job. The Cavs also need to find some wide receivers.
VIRGINIA TECH
Starts: March 26
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: This will be an interesting spring. First, will their be a two-quarterback system again? Second, the defensive line needs to be rebuilt. Third, two new starting linebackers must be found. Fourth, the top four receivers are gone. Fifth, the secondary is undergoing a retooling.
WAKE FOREST
Starts: March 26
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: The spring priority will be rebuilding the defensive line, which will have three new starters; there also is a new defensive coordinator. Wake also needs a go-to receiver to emerge. Finding depth along the offensive line also is important.
Big 12
BAYLOR
Starts: March 1
Ends: April 5
Spring game: April 5
The buzz: New coach Art Briles will introduce his big-play offense to a Bears team that doesn't have many playmakers.
COLORADO
Starts: March 17
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: Although the Buffaloes made significant progress in their second season under coach Dan Hawkins, the coach isn't satisfied. In fact, he has proclaimed the starting quarterback job is wide open ... even though his son, Cody Hawkins, is the returning starter.
IOWA STATE
Starts: March 25
Ends: April 20
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: The Cyclones are the only Big 12 team without a returning quarterback with starting experience. The spring may provide clues whether Austen Arnaud or Phillip Bates will emerge as the 2008 starter.
KANSAS
Starts: March 12
Ends: April 12
Spring game: April 12
The buzz: Finding adequate replacements at cornerback, defensive tackle, offensive tackle and tailback are on the spring agenda. But at least the Jayhawks are riding a big wave of momentum.
KANSAS STATE
Starts: March 29
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: Will an influx of junior college transfers provide the spackle to fill holes in the lineup? The competition at linebacker should be fierce, and the Wildcats have to find a receiver to replace Jordy Nelson's production.
MISSOURI
Starts: March 11
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: The Tigers will spend much of the spring looking for a starting tailback, and trying to decide whether to promote quarterback Chase Daniel or wide receiver Jeremy Maclin as a Heisman contender.
NEBRASKA
Starts: March 26
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: New coach Bo Pelini will look to erase the bad memories of the 2007 season. Rebuilding an awful defense is the first step.
OKLAHOMA
Starts: March 5
Ends: April 12
Spring game: April 12
The buzz: The Sooners need to find new playmakers at linebacker, cornerback and wide receiver to replace guys who left for the NFL a year early.
OKLAHOMA STATE
Starts: March 3
Ends: April 12
Spring game: April 12
The buzz: A revamped offensive coaching staff will be looking for a carryover from last season. But the Cowboys need to find a new starting tailback and develop some depth at wide receiver. Defensively, a makeover is required.
TEXAS
Starts: Feb. 22
Ends: March 29
Spring game: March 29
The buzz: Spring practice will be interesting for a couple of reasons. First, the Longhorns need to find a feature tailback. Second, two new defensive tackles need to be found. Third, new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will be installing his system, which should be more aggressive than predecessor Larry MacDuff's.
TEXAS A&M
Starts: March 23
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: New coach Mike Sherman will install a more balanced offense. And a new defensive coordinator will look to rebuild a defense that has gone soft.
TEXAS TECH
Starts: March 26
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: Red Raiders coaches will look to further tweak the defense, which actually had its moments in the second half of the 2007 season. Offensively, coaches need to find a tailback with which they feel comfortable.
Big East
CINCINNATI
Starts: April 1
Ends: April 26
Spring game: April 26
The buzz: Ben Mauk didn't receive a sixth year of eligibility, so the Bearcats need to find a new quarterback. They also need to find ways to improve the running game.
CONNECTICUT
Starts: March 18
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: Quarterback Tyler Lorenzen needs to become a more effective passer this season. Coaches need to find a go-to receiver now that the leading returning receiver has transferred.
LOUISVILLE
Starts: March 19
Ends: April 18
Spring game: April 18
The buzz: Coach Steve Kragthorpe and his staff need to make sure the players put a hugely disappointing 2007 season behind them. Then, they need to find a quarterback and a go-to receiver. New defensive coordinator Ron English will be installing his system.
PITTSBURGH
Starts: March 25
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: Expectations are high for the Panthers. An emphasis in spring ball should be on upgrading the passing attack.
RUTGERS
Starts: March 11
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: Job One for Greg Schiano and his staff is finding a replacement for stud RB Ray Rice; they also have to find three new starting offensive linemen.
SYRACUSE
Starts: March 19
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: This is an important spring for coach Greg Robinson, whose job likely will be on the line in the fall. He and his coaches have to find a way to make the offense more productive.
USF
Starts: March 18
Ends: April 12
Spring game: April 12
The buzz: Finding two new starting cornerbacks -- and a legit feature back -- are the main priorities for the Bulls, who faded a bit in the second half of the 2007 season.
WEST VIRGINIA
Starts: March 14
Ends: April 19
Spring game: April 19
The buzz: This is Bill Stewart's program now, and he and a revamped staff need to make sure the transition is a smooth one this spring. Finding a go-to receiver will be important.
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