MANKATO -- The Minnesota State football team opens its annual Spring Practice Monday, March 22 at 3:15 p.m., on the practice fields of Blakeslee Stadium on the campus of Minnesota State University.

Minnesota State, which will hold 15 spring practices in 26 days, welcomes 64 players to spring practice. The Mavericks are coming off a 2010 campaign, which saw them finish 6-5, recording their 45th winning season in program history.

All practices conducted on the Blakeslee Stadium practice fields, weather permitting. Practices times will vary depending upon the day. The first two practices will be without pads as per NCAA regulations, with the Mavericks slated to go in full pads for 12 practice sessions.

“We are excited to get to work,” said head coach Todd Hoffner. “The spring season is important to us as we begin to install offensive and defensive packages. I look forward to a good three weeks of work and am excited to see how the guys have improved over the winter.”

Minnesota State concludes spring drills with the Spring Game that will begin at 6 p.m., Friday, April, 22, in Blakeslee Stadium.