Dallas, Texas -- The SMU football team, orginally scheduled to start spring practice on Monday, will hold its first practice on Thursday instead. Mustang players will go through conditioning drills on Monday and Tuesday then take Wednesday off before opening the spring on Thursday. The annual Red and Blue Game is still set for Saturday April 7. Practices will be open to the public.

The Mustangs return 18 starters from last year's team, including 10 on defense. SMU opens the 2001 season on September 1 at Louisiana Tech. The home opener is set for September 8 against TCU.