Dallas, Texas -- SMU head football coach Mike Cavan welcomed 17 scholarship newcomers to the Mustang football program on Sunday afternoon. Thirty-one players total, including invited walk-ons, checked in today and will be on the practice fields at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow when fall workouts begin.

"It is nice to get the kids here and get reacquainted with the parents and families," said Cavan. "We will hit the ground running on Monday."

The Mustang newcomers will go through two-a-day practices on Monday and Tuesday with the varsity reporting on Wednesday. The first full squad practice will be Friday morning. Two-a-days run through August 23.

SMU opens the 2000 season in Gerald J. Ford Stadium on September 2 against Kansas.