Aug. 8, 2007

BEMIDJI, Minn. - The 2006 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Champion Bemidji State University football team begins the defense of its conference crown Friday when returning and incoming student-athletes are expected to report to campus.

Friday has been set aside for players to check into their preseason housing, check out equipment, complete paperwork and meet as a team. Saturday (Aug. 11) the Beavers officially get practice underway with a helmets-only session at 1:00 p.m. The practice marks the first of their 19-practice camp leading up to the 6 p.m. non-conference opener Sept. 1 versus the University of Minnesota Duluth under the lights of Malosky Stadium.

BSU will break camp Aug. 25 and will begin its normal 3:50 p.m. practice schedule Aug. 27.

The Beavers expect 115 players to report for Saturday's first fall practice.

Bemidji State, ranked 13th in Lindy's 2007 National College Football NCAA Division II Preseason Top-25 Poll and picked to finish first in the 2007 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, returns 17 starters and 43 letterwinners from its 2006 championship roster. Twelfth-year head coach Jeff Tesch welcomes back 10 of 11 starters, including 2007 NSIC Co-Defensive Player of the Year Zach Stafford (Sr., DT, Fergus Falls, Minn.), from a defense which led the nation in yards versus the run a year ago.

-bsu-