COLUMBIA, S.C. – The calendar may still say this is still winter for a couple of more weeks, but the Benedict College Tigers will hold their Spring Football Game on Friday.
The Tigers started their spring practice workouts earlier than traditionally held, and will finish up with a Purple vs. Gold game at 6 p.m. on Friday in Charlie W. Johnson Stadium. Admission is free.
"By going early, we can concentrate on guys who are injured to rehab and for guys in the weight room to get stronger. It also gives us more time to concentrate on academics," said Benedict head coach
Ron Dickerson Jr.
Another change for the Tigers is this will be an actual intersquad game, rather than an all offense versus all defense scrimmage. The two youngest coaches on the Benedict staff – running backs coach
Da'Von Smith will coach the Purple Team and defensive backs coach
Shannon Showers will coach the Gold Team. The two coaches had a draft and filled their rosters.
The game will see live action, except for quarterbacks, with 15-minute running quarters. Also, the defense will score three points for a fumble recovery or interception. Touchdowns will count for seven points, although they will still attempt PAT kicks.
"Team camaraderie has been great," Dickerson said. "We're going in the right direction and we'll do the things we've been working on during spring ball and have some fun. We've found some starters and filled some vacancies, but we still have some holes to fill. But we're going in the right direction."
Dickerson is very happy how the spring practice has gone this year.
"It's gone really well. We've improved so much from the fall," Dickerson said. "We're really honed in on things we needed to polish up. Remember, three-fourths of the team last fall, that was the first time they played college football. I've been impressed with how the offense has clicked and how the defense has clicked."
