FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Scrimmages and Spring Game Open to the Public  

EPHRAIM, Utah—March 24, 2006-—Snow College today announced the spring football schedule. Practices begin Monday, March 27 and culminate with the annual spring game Saturday, April 22 at 2:00 p.m. Scrimmages are scheduled for Friday, April 7 at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 15 at 10:00 a.m. The public is welcome in Badger Stadium to view the scrimmages and particularly the spring game. There is no admission cost.

This spring marks Steve Coburn’s first as head coach after six seasons leading Snow’s defense. While several players return from last season, Coburn is anxious to see who will step into key offensive and defensive line positions as well as open spots at linebacker and in the secondary.

“I think the talent is here to fill most of our vacated spots. Spring is the time where you find your players for the fall,” said Coburn. “I think we’ll have some recruits in the fall who will compete for spots but I like the talent that’s here right now as well.”

Perhaps the top talent is Matt Asiata who will return for his sophomore season in the fall. Asiata enters the spring as the starting running back and will be pushed by returning lettermen, Benny Tonga and Colt Mund. Cade Cooper enters spring as the starting quarterback and has earned the praise of coaches for his off season conditioning and leadership. Cooper got a lot of repetitions last year in a backup role. He is a playmaker who has a strong arm and good knowledge of the Badger offense.

Also returning on offense are Alex Richards, Matt Hadfield and Devin Frischknecht. All three lettered last season as receivers. Richards was arguably Snow’s best receiver by the end of the year. Hadfield is a big receiver who has improved his speed significantly. Frischknecht has moved to tight end and according to Tyler Hughes, Snow’s offensive coordinator, will have a central role in Snow’s offense.

With Coburn’s move to head coach, Justin DeCol takes over the defense. Both DeCol and Coburn like the players vying for the tackle positions on defense but defensive end is a concern going into spring. Snow also needs to solidify the line backing and secondary corps. Jameson Fitt started last season and should start again this fall at line backer. A number of players will vy for the remaining spots including: Chad Gochis, Aisea Mailei, Jared Miller and Nate Herkimer.

The secondary is similar. Lisiate Leota lettered last season, as did Luis Alvarez. Both will compete for cornerback positions in an area decimated by player graduation and LDS missions.

“I expect to see the players compete on both sides of the ball,” states Coburn. “Not a lot will change but you’ll see the attitude – the competition level – increase on offense and defense. I think that’s the most important thing that I bring as coach. We’ll compete on both sides of the ball like the defense has the past six years.”

While the offense hasn’t changed a lot, Coburn went on to say that the quarterback will be under center this season with a two-back set behind him most of the time. He said to expect a high-powered, aggressive and enthusiastic team in all three phases of the game.

Snow opens the 2006 season on Saturday, August 26 at home against Air Force. A winning season will culminate with a third consecutive visit to the Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl.

Snow College, founded in 1888, serves approximately 3,000 students at its Ephraim campus. The college provides general education and applied technology programs leading to Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Pre-Engineering degrees, and certificates of completion in a number of occupational areas.  Once owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Snow College became a state college in 1932.

  # # #