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It hasn't even been two months since bowl season. But that didn't stop Scott Satterfield and the Appalachian State Mountaineers from starting their road to the 2016 season on Sunday afternoon at Kidd-Brewer Stadium.
Gorgeous day at the ROCK to open up Spring Practice just before Super Bowl 50! #SB50#AppNation pic.twitter.com/TX3KXvT8QU
— App State Football (@AppState_FB) February 7, 2016
The two-hour practice appears to be the first one conducted by an FBS program is preparation for the fall campaign.
The highlight for the Mountaineers was the return of Brandon Pickney, a defensive back and projected starter who suffered a knee injury back in August, costing him the 2016 season.
Not all the current team was in practice with several still recovering from injuries sustained in the 2015 season, most notably wide receiver Shaedon Meadors and cornerback Latrell Gibbs.
The idea behind having spring practices so early is that the Mountaineers will have nearly five uninterrupted months of off-season strength and conditioning before fall camp in late July/early August.
The practice was the first of 15 set for the spring. Practices in good weather, like Sunday's, will be at Kidd-Brewer Stadium and open to the public. However, bad weather practices will be held indoors and closed to the public due to lack of space. There will be no spring game for the second-straight year.
Sunday, Feb. 7 - 1 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 8 - 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 10 - 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 12 - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13 - 11 a.m.
Monday, Feb. 15 - 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 17 - 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 19 - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20 - 11 a.m.
Monday, Feb. 22 - 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 24 - 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 26 - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27 - 11 a.m.
Monday, Feb. 29 - 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 2 - 5:30 p.m.