SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University football team will begin spring practice on Tuesday, March 25 with a helmet only session, officially beginning the team's 28-day schedule that will conclude with the annual Red-Blue Spring Game on Saturday, April 26.

Head coach Rocky Rees, the winningest coach in the history of Shippensburg football, will begin his 19th season with the Red Raiders, entering 2008 with a career record of 141-109-2 in 23 seasons and a mark of 105-95-1 at Shippensburg.

Shippensburg will enter spring practice with 84 players, returning starters at 15 positions, including six on offense, seven on defense and two on special teams. In addition, as of March 4, Shippensburg had received 21 letters of intent which promises a young crop of players to join the team.

Practice sessions will be held every Tuesday and Friday from March 25 through April 25 with additional practices on Saturday, March 29 and Saturday, April 5 as well as Thursday, April 10 and Thursday, April 17 leading up to the Red-Blue Game on Saturday, April 26.

Weekday practices are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m., while the two Saturday practices will begin at 8:00 a.m., and the Spring Game at 11:00 AM. All spring sessions will be held on the practice fields, including the Spring Game due to the Paul Kaiser Invitational being held at Seth Grove Stadium.

Shippensburg finished last season with a record of 3-8, including 2-4 in the PSAC Western Division, but the Red Raiders were just 13 points away from a 6-5 mark after a four-point loss at No. 9 Shepherd to open the season, a five-point loss to No. 19 West Chester in their home opener on Sept. 22 and a four-point loss to Slippery Rock at home on Oct. 20 in which The Rock scored the game-winning touchdown with just two seconds remaining.

The Red Raiders return three of their nine All-PSAC Western Division selections from 2007, including first team selection, red-shirt junior Mike Harris, as well as second team honorees in red-shirt junior Andy Casale and junior Kyler Ford.

Shippensburg will open the 2008 season at home against Shepherd on Saturday, August 30 in the 10th Annual Great Valley Classic.

More information on the team's complete 2008 schedule will be available later this spring at www.shipraiders.com.