CHADRON, Neb. – With spring football practice underway at Chadron State College for most of the past month, fans will have an opportunity to watch some public scrimmaging with the football spring game this Friday, April 17, starting at 4:30 at Elliott Field. 

While it won't be a full-fledged competitive game with scoring, offense and defense will compete against each other in 5-10 play increments. There will also be an opportunity to see best-on-best – the No. 1 offense will take on the No. 1 defense with second and third-stringers battling as well.

Head Coach Jay Long said all players who are healthy will get time on the field.

"I like where we're at," Long said. "I think we're in a good position. We graduated some really good players, seven of them who were all-conference and three who were All-Americans. But we've also got a lot of excellent players who got some experience last season and will be available to be leaders at their positions this fall and a bunch of young guys who are developing and will be ready to help." 

Chadron State finished with an 8-4 record last fall with all eight wins coming over Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponents in a row. The Eagles still received their first NCAA tournament berth in over a decade and gave Pittsburg State a good battle before falling 21-17. CSC was ranked No. 23 in the final American Football Association poll and No. 18 by D2Football.com.

There are 10 full-time starters back from a year ago while six transfers joined the Eagles at the start of the second semester in January. Both Long and his coordinators said each of them is expected to at least provide depth this fall. Finally, players who have spent last season in developmental roles but have seen starters at their positions graduate are now poised to prove they are ready for a bigger role.

"We have a developmental program," Long noted. "All the guys who were all-conference for us last year had been here at least three years, except two who came to us year ago and are back again this year."

During Friday's event, the team will be on the field by 4 p.m. and undergo a few drills before playing out their scrimmage.