COMMERCE, Texas – A&M-Commerce head coach Colby Carthel and staff opened up spring practice on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, getting an early jump in preparation for the upcoming 2014 season.
 
"We are the only school in the Lone Star Conference opening up spring ball this early, and that is by design," Carthel said. "In football you can never completely avoid the injury bug, even in spring practice. But by opening it up so early, we leave ourselves more time for recovery should we have some guys get hurt."
 
Camp is slated to consist of 15 dates on the field, and will last through Thursday, March 6 with the Blue-Gold Game tentatively scheduled for that evening at 7:00 p.m.
 
The Lions are entering spring practice riding the momentum of a turnaround season that saw them pick up seven wins in Carthel's first year at the helm, just one season after posting a 1-9 mark. They finished third in the LSC in scoring at 35 points per game, while leading the league with 49 sacks on the defensive side of the ball.
 
On Feb. 5 the staff parlayed that showing into a 54-man signing class on National Signing Day, including five all-state selections from the state of Texas.
 
A&M-Commerce is scheduled to open up the 2014 season at home on Sept. 4 at 7:00 p.m. vs East Texas Baptist.