ABILENE -- The ACU football team will report back to campus Friday to begin workouts for the 2012 season.
Returning players and newcomers will report at 4:45 p.m. for meetings and physicals before capping the day with a conditioning run. The first practice of the summer is schedule for 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Wildcats have been picked to finish second in the Lone Star Conference in 2012 behind pre-season favorite and defending LSC champion Midwestern State.
ACU first-year head coach
Ken Collums will welcome back 38 letterwinners, including seven starters on offense, five on defense and two specialists. ACU's defensive coaching staff underwent an overhaul in the off-season and is now led by defensive coordinator
Darian Dulin, linebackers coach
Mark Ribaudo and defensive line coach David Rausch.
Among those returning is senior quarterback Mitchell Gale, the LSC's Pre-Season Offensive Player of the Year and the NCAA Division II Pre-Season Offensive Player of the Year, according to Lindy's magazine.
ACU will open the 2012 season on Saturday, Sept. 1, when it hosts McMurry University at 6 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium. McMurry is in its first season of NCAA Division II competition, and the game will be a renewal of a series that dates back to 1930. ACU holds an all-time series edge of 24-15, although the teams haven't played since 1971.
The Wildcats will begin LSC play the next Saturday (Sept. 8) when it hosts Texas A&M-Kingsville at Shotwell Stadium. ACU will once again be part of the LSC Football Festival at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington when it takes on Tarleton State at 4 p.åm. on Saturday, Sept. 15.
ACU's other home games for the 2012 season are Saturday, Oct. 6, against Eastern New Mexico; Saturday, Oct. 20, against Midwestern State; and Saturday, Nov. 3, against West Alabama.
2012 SUMMER PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 10
4:45 p.m. -- Team meeting
7 p.m. -- Conditioning run
Saturday, Aug. 11
4 p.m. -- Practice (helmets and shorts)
Sunday, Aug. 12
4 p.m. -- Practice (shell)
Monday, Aug. 13
8:30 a.m. -- Practice (shell)
Tuesday, Aug. 14
8:30 a.m. -- Practice (shell)
Wednesday, Aug. 15
8:30 a.m. -- Practice (full pads)
4 p.m. -- Practice (shell)
Thursday, Aug. 16
4 p.m. -- Practice (shell)
Friday, Aug. 17
9 a.m. -- Practice (full pads)
Saturday, Aug. 18
7 p.m. -- Practice (full pads)
Sunday, Aug. 19
4:30 p.m. -- Practice (full pads)
Monday, Aug. 20
8:30 a.m. -- Practice (full pads)
4 p.m. -- Practice (full pads)
Tuesday, Aug. 21
8:30 a.m. -- Practice (full pads)
Wednesday, Aug. 22
8:30 a.m. -- Practice (shell)
4 p.m. -- Practice (shell)
Thursday, Aug. 23
8:30 a.m. -- Practice (full pads)
Friday, Aug. 24
8:30 a.m. -- Practice (full pads)
Saturday, Aug. 25
4 p.m. -- Practice (dress rehearsal)
Monday, Aug. 27
8 a.m. -- Fall semester practices begin
4 p.m. -- Practice (full pads)
Tuesday, Aug. 28
4 p.m. -- Practice (full pads)
Wednesday, Aug. 29
4 p.m. -- Practice (full pads)
Thursday, Aug. 30
4 p.m. -- Practice (full pads)
Friday, Aug. 31
4 p.m. -- Practice (walk-thru)
Saturday, Sept. 1
6 p.m. -- Kickoff vs. McMurry at Shotwell Stadium
