MARQUETTE – The Northern Michigan University football team will get a jump on the new season, starting football practice three days after spring officially arrives bright and early at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, March 23, inside at the Superior Dome.

Third-year head coach Chris Ostrowsky has 15 days of practices and scrimmages lined up, culminating in the annual spring game and free youth clinic on the afternoon of Saturday, April 18. The pregame clinic is open to children ages 3 to 13.

Six practices are set before the first scrimmage on April 2, another three before a second scrimmage on April 11 and three more leading up to the spring game.

All practices, scrimmages and the spring game will be held in the Superior Dome and are open to the public.

Here is the schedule, with all events held at 6:30 a.m. except as noted:

Practices – March 23, 25, 27, 28 (9 a.m.), 30 and April 1

Scrimmage – Thursday, April 2

Practices – April 6, 8 and 10

Scrimmage – Saturday, April 11, 9 a.m.

Practices – April 13, 15 and 17

Spring game – Saturday, April 18, 4 p.m., pregame free youth clinic, 2:30 p.m.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.