INDIANAPOLIS -- The Butler football team will start spring practices on Tuesday, March 14. These scheduled sessions will lead up to the 2023 Spring Game set for Saturday, April 15. The Spring Game is open to the public and will begin at 11:30 AM at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl.
 
The Bulldogs will prepare for the 2023 campaign looking to improve in all areas. In 2022, Butler went 5-1 at the Sellick Bowl and ended the regular season with a 7-4 overall record. They won five-straight PFL games from Oct. 8 to Nov. 5 beginning with the 31-0 shutout vs. Dayton to snap the Flyer scoring streak at 501 games.
 
BU came back to win the Hoosier Helmet at Valparaiso on Oct. 15 by outscoring the Beacons 20-6 in the fourth quarter. The 'Dawgs also defeated San Diego for the first time since 2009!
 
"We are excited to get back to work," Head Coach Mike Uremovich stated. "There is going to be great competition at every spot of the field this spring and I'm looking forward to seeing how much we have developed as a team in all phases. We have a lot of work to do."
 
The Bulldog offense led the FCS in red zone offense last year. BU also led the PFL in completion percentage, sacks allowed, tackles for loss allowed, and fourth-down conversions.
 
"We are starting all over this spring as an offense," Uremovich added. "We do every year. We have to find out who can make plays with the ball in their hands and execute on a consistent basis. There will be great competition to get on the field and I'm looking forward to watching us come together as a (offense) unit."
 
The 'Dawgs ranked second in the PFL in scoring defense last year. Defensive Coordinator, Jeff Knowles made an impact at Butler in his first season calling plays. Knowles called the first shutout of his collegiate coaching career for BU against Dayton to end the longest scoring streak in Division I football. It was Butler's first shutout win over an opponent since 2010.
 
"Our team has attacked the off-season with great enthusiasm," Knowles said. "Defensively, our staff is working to push our players to their limits on a daily basis. We are making sure that we are meeting the standard of The Butler Way. It's a new year, and we need to get better."
 
Longtime Butler assistant coach Joe Cheshire took over as the programs specials teams coordinator in 2022. The 'Dawgs led the league in net punting and ranked second in both punt return defense and kick-off returns.
 
"Coach Uremovich has installed the importance of the 3rd phase of the game and our players have bought into that 150%," Cheshire said. "Our focus this spring will be two-fold. First, we will break down into the fundamental techniques necessary to succeed and spend time teaching those skills. Our second major focus will be to develop our competitive depth across the board. We feel that we have a very talented group of players to work with. This spring should be highly competitive and that will continue into fall camp."
 
Butler placed six student-athletes on All-PFL Teams last year and had 13 players earn 2022 Phil Steele FCS honors. Bret Bushka and Luka Zurak highlighted the post-season individual awards. Bushka was tabbed PFL Offensive Player of the Year and Zurak was the Special Teams Player of the Year in the PFL.