The Prairie View A&M Panther football team kicked off its third spring practice under head coach Heishma Northern on Tuesday afternoon at the football practice fields.  For the first time since the 2005 campaign, all eyes will be on the defensive side of the ball as the team will unveil a revamped scheme under new defensive coordinator Charles McMillian.

After finishing ninth in total defense last fall, Northern made several personnel changes on the defensive side of the ball during the offseason which began with McMillian's hire.  In addition to adding McMillian, a former assistant at Texas A&M and TCU, Northern also reshuffled the defensive staff and moved running backs coach Brian Morgan to inside linebackers while cornerbacks coach Raasaan Haralson moves to outside linebackers.

A former defensive coordinator at Prairie View A&M and Grambling State in addition to coaching on the offensive side of the ball while beginning his coaching career, Northern said the changes remind him of a similar staff change early in his career at Grambling State.

“We moved some guys from one side of the ball to another and promoted from within,” said Northern.  “We still had staff continuity; worked things out and rolled off a string of SWAC Championships.  I'm looking forward to taking the staff that we have and improving our players, have them play with a higher motor, let them have fun so they can win some football games.”

The Panthers will have a total of 15 practices with their annual spring game scheduled for Friday, April 19 at Blackshear Field.

TENTATIVE PRACTICE SCHEDULE
1.         Tuesday, March 26       4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
2.         Friday, March 29          9 a.m.- 11 a.m.
3.         Saturday, March 30      9 a.m.- 11 a.m.
4.         Tuesday, April 2           4 p.m.- 6 p.m.
5.         Thursday, April 4          4 p.m.- 6 p.m.
6.         Saturday, April 6          9 a.m.- 11 a.m.
7.         Sunday, April 7            9 a.m.- 11 a.m.
8.         Tuesday, April 9           4 p.m.- 6 p.m.
9.         Thursday, April 11        4 p.m.- 6 p.m.
10.        Saturday, April 13        9 a.m.- 11 a.m.
11.        Sunday, April 14          9 a.m.- 11 a.m.
12.        Tuesday, April 16         4 p.m.- 6 p.m.
13.        Thursday, April 18        4 p.m.- 6 p.m.
14.        Friday, April 19          SPRING GAME (TBA)
15.        Saturday, April 20        9 a.m. - 11 a.m.