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COLUMBIA (WACH) – The Gamecock Football Team's 2011 spring football practice dates were released on Wednesday afternoon.

The Gamecocks will open their spring practice on Tuesday March 15 and will end with the program's annual Garnet and Black Spring Game on Saturday, April 9 inside Williams-Brice Stadium. Admission to the spring game is free.

All of South Carolina's 15 spring practices are open to the public.

According to USC, most practices will take place at the Bluff Road practice fields beginning at 4 p.m. and Saturday scrimmages will take place inside Williams-Brice Stadium at 10 a.m.

Autographs will not be allowed at the practice sessions.

“We’re going to open up the entire spring to our fans and hope to have big crowds at our Saturday scrimmages,” said seventh-year head coach Steve Spurrier.

The defending SEC Eastern Division Champion Gamecocks will return 48 lettermen, including 13 starters.

The 2010 team went 9-5 in 2010 and finished the season ranked 22nd in both major polls.

Here are the practice dates and times currently scheduled (all dates and times subject to change):

Practice No. 1: Tuesday, March 15, 4 p.m.

Practice No. 2: Thursday, March 17, 4 p.m.

Practice No. 3: Friday, March 18, 4 p.m.

Practice No. 4: Saturday, March 19, 10 a.m. (Scrimmage)

Practice No. 5: Tuesday, March 22, 4 p.m.

Practice No. 6: Thursday, March 24, 4 p.m.

Practice No. 7: Friday, March 25, 4 p.m.

Practice No. 8: Saturday, March 26, 10 a.m.

Practice No. 9: Tuesday, March 29, 4 p.m.

Practice No. 10: Thursday, March 31, 4 p.m.

Practice No. 11: Friday, April 1, 4 p.m.

Practice No. 12: Saturday, April 2, 10 a.m. (Scrimmage)

Practice No. 13: Tuesday, April 5, 4 p.m.

Practice No. 14: Friday, April 8, 4 p.m.

Practice No. 15: Saturday, April 9 (Garnet & Black Spring Game); 1 p.m.