By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Zach Watkins and his Washburn University coaching staff will finish off their first year of spring football with a 6 p.m. Spring Game Friday night at Yager Stadium.
Washburn University football will hold its 2025 Spring Game at 6 p.m. Friday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Watkins, who was promoted to head coach in late November after starring for WU as a player and a long stint as an assistant coach, said he's been very pleased with the progess the Ichabods have made this spring in approximately 15 practices beginning in early March and sandwiched around spring break.
"I think it's been really, really good,'' Watkins said. "I think our players have really taken time to learn what their coaches are teaching. I think the coachea have taught really well the new schemes, the new expectations, the new standard.
"There's always room to improve and you never feel like you're fully prepared until game-time hits, but I'm really satisfied being 13 practices in (at mid-week) where we are this first spring.''
"The vibes are high,'' Washburn senior safety Jordan Finnesy said. "We were able to keep most all of our most crucial pieces here in the program, which is huge.''
All of the Ichabod returners were already familiar with Watkins, which Finnesy said has made for an easy transition.
"It's easy to buy in for a guy like that,'' Finnesy said. "He's a guy that's proven himself time and time again and everybody's really bought in to what coach Watkins wants to do here and what he believes in.
"I think you're going to see that on Friday and going forward as well.''
Friday's Spring Game will consist of an intrasquad contest in largely game-type conditions.
"It will be four quarters, running clock, so it will be shorter than a normal game,'' Watkins said. "We have litmited depth in the spring so it will be shorter but we'll have MIAA referees and the first and third quarters will be THUD so it won't be live tackle. The second and fourth quarters will be live tackle.
"It will be Blue vs. White team instead of 'O' vs. 'D' and we're splitting up all the kids and tried to make it even. It will feel like a game, which is cool.''
The Ichabods will open fall camp in early August and will open the 2025 season on Aug. 30 at home against Truman State.
