The BYU football team continued day two of the final week of the spring session yesterday, practicing outside in the chilly weather.

“We’ve made progress in a few key areas,” coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “We’ve had a very successful spring to this point, with very few injuries. The lack of physical play is a tradeoff, but in the long run I think it was a smart more. It was the right decision.”

The team took part in position drills, concluding practice with a light-contact scrimmage.

Despite the limited nature of spring practice, there have still been a few injuries.

Freshman defensive back Jordan Pendleton has been hampered with what is thought to be a rib injury since the first scrimmage of the year. Another defensive back, senior David Tafuna is just coming around after an injury sidelined him for much of spring practice, and junior linebacker Terrance Hooks will miss much of the season with a torn patella tendon.

The Cougars look forward to bringing back several contributors from full-time missions for the upcoming season.

“When you consider the 13 that are coming back this next year …we’re anxious for all of them to come back,” Mendenhall said. “We know they are good kids and good ball-players. This is kind of the beginning of how we feel about the young men that are coming back, as far as relationship and known quantities.”

Spring practice will conclude Saturday, April 12 with the 35th annual Blue-White scrimmage. The contest will be at Lavell Edwards Stadium at 1 p.m. Parking, and admittance to the event are free.

Grade-school youth ages 5-12 are invited to participate in a free football clinic at Lavell Edwards Stadium, beginning at noon. Members of the BYU football team will teach basic fundamentals.

Stadium gates will open at 11:00 a.m. A promotional football poster will be available to the first 2,500 fans.

Season tickets for the 2008 BYU football season went on sale yesterday. Tickets are available at the Marriot Center Ticket Office (800-322-BYU1 or 801-422-BYU1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) or online at BYUtickets.com.

The deadline for ordering season tickets is Monday, April 28. Ticket requests submitted after the deadline will be filled on a space-available basis.

Information on student tickets and the All-Sport program will be released at a later date.

The 2008 BYU football schedule includes six Saturday home games, beginning with an Aug. 30 date versus Northern Iowa. The Cougars also host UCLA, Wyoming, New Mexico, UNLV and San Diego State.

Copyright Brigham Young University 9 Apr 2008