MUNCIE, Ind. -- In some ways, Tuesday's first spring practice for the defending MAC Champion Ball State football team felt like old hat. In other ways, it felt completely new.
One the one hand, there were familiar faces everywhere with 16 seniors from last year's nationally-ranked team returning to take advantage of extended eligibility offered by the NCAA in light of the COVID season. The group that took the field Tuesday looked remarkably like the one that played New Year's Eve in the Arizona Bowl.
On the other hand, this was the first spring practice session for the program in more than two calendar years.