Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team will officially begin defense of its NCAA Division III National Championship this Saturday, when the 2017 edition of the Cru reports to campus. Student-athletes will spend that first day in physicals, testing, equipment check-out and meetings. The first practice of the 2017 fall camp will be held on Sunday, August 13
th, with a full-team workout at 5:30 PM. The team will hold split practices Monday through Thursday with newcomers hitting the field at 7:45 AM and the returners following at 9:30 AM. The two groups will join together for the first practice in pads on Thursday, August 17
th. That workout is scheduled to begin at 8:10 AM. The Cru is expecting 225 players to report to fall camp. That group includes 90 returners and 135 newcomers to the program.
The Cru returns six starters on both sides of the ball from a team that captured the program's first national title last season. UMHB finished 15-0 and won its 14
th American Southwest Conference Championship with a 6-0 league record. The Cru has now won at least one postseason game in 13 straight seasons. UMHB will open the 2017 season with a 6:00 PM home game against ASC rival Sul Ross State University on September 9
th.
