Approximately 70 participants will convene at Malosky Stadium this Saturday (April 5) for the opening of the University of Minnesota Duluth's spring football drills. Head coach Bob Nielson, who returns for his second tour of duty and sixth season with the Bulldogs, welcomes back 42 lettermen (including nine starters on offense and seven on defense) from last fall, when UMD posted a 4-6 overall record and tied for fifth place in the final North Central Conference standings at 3-5. The Bulldogs will practice 15 times during the next four weeks, culminating with their annual Maroon-White Game on May 2.

UMD's 2008 spring practice schedule is as follows:

•April 5 - 10:00 a.m..

•April 7 - 3:30 p.m.

•April 9 - 3:30 p.m.

•April 11 - 3:30 p.m.

•April 12 - 10:00 a.m.

•April 14 - 3:30 p.m.

•April 16 - 3:30 p.m.

•April 18 - 10:00 a.m.

•April 23 - 3:30 p.m.

•April 25 - 3:30 p.m.

•April 26 - 10:00 a.m.

•April 28 - 3:30 p.m.

•April 30 - 3:30 p.m.

•May 1 - 3:30 p.m.

•May 2 - 34th Annual Maroon-White Game (6:30 p.m.)