By Brittany Burke
The competitive football season won’t begin until September, however, for the fans that can’t wait to get their football fix can attend the annual Blue Devils Blue and White Spring game.
The game, scheduled for Friday, April 29, is the first game for the team since its final home game in November. The yearly game serves a less competitive purpose, as the athletes put on the pads and take to the line against their own teammates.
“It’s really a chance for the players to demonstrate their skill level and to actually play a game,” said head football coach Jeff McInerney. “For some of them it’ll be their first game because they didn’t play last year and it’s really a big point of getting used to playing in games and how to approach the game.”
CCSU Blue Devil football has been back in action practicing on the field, and this game will serve as a way of testing new strategies before facing Southern Connecticut State University to kick off the season.
“I’m going to be looking at every individual…obviously a group cannot have a good play but a player can do well on his job, so just how they react, just getting to the grind in the spring and go out there and play and how they handle it because for some of them it’s a new experience,” said McInerney. “For the group it’s a whole different unit so you want to see how they react as one team, because we will have a blue and white team.”
With the departure of 18 seniors from the championship team, the new squad is facing a new regime, which is what the athletes have been working on in the spring practices. With Gunnar Jespersen returning to take the snaps behind center, the Blue Devils offense is more secure than it was going into the 2010 season. However, with a handful of defensive linemen and backs gone, the defensive side of the ball is up in the air. The position of kicker will also be looked at, as Joe Izzo wrapped ups his final season this year.
“We’re putting in a new defense, so we’ve been more aggressive and we’ve been installing like crazy, so I’ve been really pleased with that and on offense we’ve kind of sharpened our horns and we’re way further along,” said McInerney. “Last year we had some things on offense and were further along now on that side of the ball, where a year ago it was reversed, which happens quite a bit. Then in the kicking game, I think Steve Calitri has been doing fabulous as the punter and kicker in kick off, I’m very pleased with Steve.”
The spring game is an opportunity for the Blue Devils to throw everything out on the field as a way of seeing what works and what doesn’t before delving in to the rest of the spring season. It’s not as formal, but it gives the players a taste of the new things implemented, the fans a glimpse of what to expect and the coaches an outlet to test their new strategies, which is what McInerney plans to do.
“We’re gonna use it all, we’re not like a lot of people, I’m not hiding anything. We’re gonna go out there and hit it and get it, we’ve got to see how it looks. Some people limit things that they’ll do but I won’t do that. We’re not gonna hit the quarterback in the spring game, we won’t tackle the quarterback but everybody else will tackle,” said McInerney.
It is also a time to honor the past and future. The spring game will feature the celebration of the 2010 team, which currently serves as co-NEC champions, as well formally announcing which players will serve as captains for the 2011 season.
The Blue and White game will be held on Arute Field with a kickoff time scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
“[It will be a] beautiful spring day, they’re predicting sun and there’s nothing better than watching football, sitting in the stands, talking to your fellow students, classmates, coworkers, peers…it’s not like a regular game, you can come out for 20 minutes, just stop in say hi and enjoy the moment, there’s nothing like sitting in the football stands with the sun out.”