Spring practice in full pads began Saturday at Fan Appreciation Day with two names noticeably absent from the playing field ““ quarterback Ben Olson and running back Chris Markey.
Markey, the Bruins’ leading rusher last season, went down on Thursday with a stress fracture in his foot while Olson suffered a mild hamstring strain but should be able to practice today.
Coach Karl Dorrell said that an MRI on Markey’s foot showed that he was not going to need surgery but will sit out for the rest of spring practice with a protective boot. He is expected to be ready to play by training camp.
Olson, who is competing for the starting job with Pat Cowan, watched from the sidelines on Saturday as Cowan and walk-on McLeod Bethel-Thompson took the snaps at quarterback.
“I just did it (on Friday), just kind of tweaked it a little bit,” Olson said. “I probably could have practiced (on Saturday) but you don’t want to hurt it worse and be out for the rest of spring.”
Olson’s inability to play on Saturday will not affect the coaches’ decision of who will win the starting job.
“The competitive things, like the scrimmages, those are the things that mean a lot in terms of our evaluations (of Olson and Cowan),” Dorrell said.
The team will scrimmage situationally throughout the week and will start with bigger scrimmages on Saturday.
FORBATH ADJUSTING: With All-American Justin Medlock gone, the kicking load will rest on the leg of redshirt freshman Kai Forbath.
Although Forbath has no game experience for the Bruins, he was one of the most touted kickers in the 2005 class, hitting a 57-yard field goal in high school while converting 26 of 33 attempts in his final two years.
He did outkick Medlock on occasion last year but has yet to test his skills in a collegiate high-pressure situation.
“We’re really looking to put him under some pressure this spring, just because he’s going to have to get used to it,” Dorrell said on Wednesday. “The goal this spring ““ you’ll see us scrimmage a lot at field goal. Just full-speed rush, all that stuff.”
Although expectations are high because he’s replacing a kicker who was just about as automatic as they come, Forbath has just one thing on his mind.
“To be as perfect as I can be,” he said. “Obviously I’m a freshman and hopefully won’t mess up, but I’m just going to try and do as best as I can.”
For spring practice, Forbath is honing in on his kickoff game as an area that he sees he could improve on.
“Field goals I’m pretty confident with right now, but I have some things to work on with my kickoffs,” he said.
FANS FLOCK TO SPAULDING: Approximately 4,000 fans attended Fan Appreciation Day to see the Bruins practice in pads for the first time.
They filled the bleachers, lined Spaulding Field about five deep, and watched from the parking structure on the east end.
Dorrell spoke to the fans at the conclusion of practice and applauded them for showing up in such numbers. Players and coaches signed autographs and took pictures with fans on the field after practice ended.