Spring football dates announced

Beavers will welcome back 17 starters and 60 letterwinners when practice begins in early April

By: The Daily Barometer

Posted: 2/20/07

How will the 2007 Oregon State University football team follow one of the most exciting seasons in school history? That question and many more will begin to be answered starting Mon., April 2 with the first day of spring football practice. The 15-day session culminates with the annual spring game, Sat., April 28 at Reser Stadium.

Head coach Mike Riley welcomes back 17 starters and 60 lettermen from a team that went 10-4 and won the Sun Bowl in thrilling fashion over the Missouri Tigers. The Beavers second-most successful season ever also included victories over Oregon and against nationally ranked USC and Hawai'i. The team finished the year ranked No. 21 in the final Associated Press poll.

Returnees in 2007 include AP All-American wide receiver/punt returner Sammie Stroughter, first team All-Pac-10 running back Yvenson Bernard, first team all-conference guard Jeremy Perry, two-time Pac-10 second team linebacker Derrick Doggett and 2005 Lou Groza Award recipient Alexis Serna.

Several key positions will have new starters for 2007, including quarterback, tight end and strong safety.

The public is welcome to attend practices and scrimmages, which are held at the Merritt Truax Indoor Center, the Tommy Prothro Football Complex or Reser Stadium.

Fans are reminded that it's time to renew or purchase season tickets for the 2007 season which begins Thurs., Aug. 30 at home against the University of Utah Utes. The schedule also includes the first visit by the Washington Huskies since 2003, the UCLA Bruins' first trip to Corvallis since 2002, plus home dates with Stanford, Arizona and Idaho State.