MONTGOMERY, Ala.—The Alabama State University football team will begin their official preparations for the 2013 season when they start spring drills, Tuesday, April 2 at Hornet Stadium.  Practice is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
 
ASU is coming off a season which saw them finish tied for first in the Eastern Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.  They lost out on the tiebreaker to Jackson State for the berth in the SWAC Championship game as both teams finished the season 7-2 in conference action.  The Hornets finished 7-4 overall which gave them at least seven wins for the third consecutive season.
 
The Hornets lost several starters from last season, but will return to the practice field with 13 returning starters (8 offense, 4 defense, 1 special teams).
 
Even with those returners, spring practice will be extremely exciting to watch as 10 transfers will step on the field for the first time for ASU.  All of those players are expected to compete for starting positions, with some of those positions already being manned by returning players.
 
Leading the returning players will be 2012 All-American punter Bobby Wenzig and First Team All-SWAC performer Isaiah Crowell, who was also named the SWAC's Newcomer of the Year.
 
Spring practice will conclude with the playing of the Black and Gold game on April 27.  ASU will open the 2013 season in the new ASU Stadium on Aug. 31 when they host Jacksonville State.

-Hornets-