Photos Courtesy of Dave Baylor

NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware football squad, looking to return to prominence in the Colonial Athletic Association, opened up its 2009 pre-season camp on Saturday morning as head coach K.C. Keeler welcomed back 90 players for the beginning of four weeks of drills leading up to the opener Sept. 4 vs. West Chester.

The team, which includes 35 first-year players, practiced for nearly three hours without pads on the two practice turf fields just beside Delaware Stadium and took part in drills covering all aspects of the game.

“As I reminded our guys today, a third of our team is freshmen,” said Keeler following the practice session. “So we had a little more walking around and a little more teaching that usual. I liked what I saw but we are looking to get better each practice. We look a lot better physically this year and I feel really good about our conditioning. The kids did a great job with JB (strength coach Jason Beaulieu) over the off-season and worked hard and got stronger.”

The team will continue practice Sunday with an 8:15 a.m. start and will begin 6:15 a.m practices Monday, Aug. 10 through Wednesday, Aug. 12 with Delaware’s annual Media Day set for Thursday, Aug. 13 at 3:30 p.m. at Delaware Stadium.

Scrimmages are tentatively set for Sunday, August 16 at 4:15 p.m. and Friday, August 21 (time to be determined).

Below is the team’s practice schedule for the remainder of the month. Practices and scrimmages are free and open to the public unless noted. Check the UD athletics website at www.bluehens.com for schedule changes when available.

August 9 (8:15 a.m.); 10-11-12 (6:15 am); 13 (Media Day, 3:30 pm); 14-15 (6:15 am); 16 (7:15 am/4:15 pm scrimmage); 18 (7:15 am/4:15 pm); 19 - 8:15 am); 20 (7:15 am/4:15 pm); 21 (Scrimmage tba); 23 (7:15 am); 24-25-26 (8:15 am); 28-29-30 (8:15 am).

Hen Scratchings: Great season and individual game ticket packages are still available at www.bluehens.com or by calling 302-UD1-HENS...junior Pat Devlin (top right), a first-year transfer from Penn State, and junior Sean Hakes shared most of the snaps at quarterback during the practice...two-time All-Colonial Athletic Association selection Matt Marcorelle, who has switched from defensive end to outside linebacker, looked good in first-day drills...Delaware was picked No. 4 in the CAA South Division in a vote of league head coaches and media members who cover the league...the Hens are looking to improve upon a 4-8 record of a year ago when Delaware lost three games by 10 points or less...junior wide receiver Chris Johnson and sophomore offensive lineman Ben Grant did not report to camp and have left the team...new Delaware Director of Athletics Bernard Muir (bottom left) attended the first practice and addresses the team at the end of the session.