Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team will begin defense of its 2006 American Southwest Conference championship when just over 100 newcomers report to campus on Monday, August 13th. The newcomers will go through two days of practice before returners report to campus on Wednesday, August 15th. Newcomers will check in at McLane Hall on the UMHB campus between 7:30-11:00 AM on the 13th and then spent the rest of the day in physicals and meetings. The first practice of the 2007 fall camp will be Tuesday, August 14th at 8:45 AM. The first full team practice after the returners report will be Thursday, August 16th at 8:45 AM. The full team will put on the pads for the first time on Monday, August 20th for another 8:45 AM workout. The team will also have its only two-a-day practice the following day. Several newcomers will also report on the first day of classes on August 22nd and the Cru is expecting to have between 200 and 210 student-athletes in camp once everyone has checked in.

The Cru returns 10 offensive starters and six defensive starters from a team that went 10-3 overall and finished 8-0 in ASC play. UMHB advanced to the national quarterfinals before falling to Wesley College and the Cru was ranked 8th nationally in all three major polls last year. UMHB will open the 2007 season with a 6:00 PM home game against Christopher Newport University on September 8th. The Cru will then open ASC play with a 1:00 PM home game against Sul Ross State University the following week.