DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University football team strapped on the helmets for the first time in 2017 as the Bulldogs began spring practice on Tuesday at Drake Stadium. Drake is set to have 13 more practices throughout the next month leading up to the annual Blue-White Spring Game on April 22.

Drake head coach Rick Fox and his staff enter their fourth season together and are excited about the group of guys they have and will be welcoming in the fall.

"The theme this spring is to "win the now". Win right now. When you win a bunch of nows in a row then you win then and you can't win then if you don't win now. So that's what we are trying to do is to win each rep, each moment and each second. When we add that up it will lead to a great fall," said Fox.
 
The Bulldogs return a strong core of players including six offensive starters and seven defensive starters. The team looks to improve from its 7-4 record a season ago. 

"This first week in spring is about getting the rust out with a lot of young guys getting more reps. Also there is a lot of learning going on so it isn't pretty, but we had great energy today and need to keep building on that.
 
The Bulldogs return to the field on Thursday afternoon and then Saturday morning to complete their first week of spring practices.