NEW YORK— Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football Al Bagnoli and Columbia Football announced its 2018 preseason training camp practice schedule on Tuesday afternoon. Listed below, Columbia will host 24 practices in preparation for its season opener at Central Connecticut State on Saturday, Sept. 15 (5 p.m.).
 
Columbia players report to campus on Thursday, August 16 and practice begins on Saturday, August 18. A complete training camp practice schedule is listed below. All practices take place at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium and are open to the public.
 
Columbia is also scheduled to host a preseason scrimmage against NCAA Division III Montclair State on Friday, August 31 at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon.
 
Kickoff times and television designations for Columbia's 2018 Football schedule were announced on July 2. Click here for Columbia's complete 2018 football schedule. Additional television coverage will be released at a later date.
 
Columbia returns 15 of 22 starters and six All-Ivy League selections from a program that recorded its best season in 21 years. Last year, Columbia posted an 8-2 record, finished second in the Ivy League with a 5-2 record, began a season with six straight wins for the first time since 1996, put together the school's longest win streak since 1935 (seven games) and posted one of the nation's top-five best yearly comebacks in the FCS with a with a five-win improvement from 2016 to 2017. Along the way, it was the Lions' resiliency, toughness and work ethic that captured the attention of their fans, the New York City media and national media members alike.
 
Football season tickets, single-game tickets and 2018-19 True Blue ticket packages remain on sale! Click here or call 888-LIONS-11 to purchase your football single-game tickets, season tickets or True Blue package today!
 
Following is a list of dates and times for Columbia's preseason practices:
 
2018 COLUMBIA FOOTBALL PRESEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE
All practices take place at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium; all practices are open to the public;
please note: dates and times subject to change.
 
Thursday, August 16
Move-In Day
 
Friday, August 17
Administrative Day
 
Saturday, August 18
Practice (1), 3:30-6 p.m.
 
Sunday, August 19
Practice (2), 3-5:30 p.m.
 
Monday, August 20
Practice (3), 3-5:30 p.m.
 
Tuesday, August 21
Practice (4), 3-5:30 p.m.
 
Wednesday, August 22
Practice (5), 3-5:30 p.m., First Practice in Full Pads
 
Thursday, August 23
Practice (6), 3-5:30 p.m.
 
Friday, August 24
Practice (7), 3-5:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, August 25
Practice (8), 10:15-12:45 p.m.
 
Sunday, August 26
Practice (9), 1:45-4:15 p.m.
 
Monday, August 27
Practice (10), 2:45-5:15 p.m.
 
Tuesday, August 28
Practice (11), 4:50-7 p.m.
 
Wednesday, August 29
Practice (12), 10:15-12:45 p.m.
 
Thursday, August 30
Practice (13), 3-5 p.m.
 
Friday, August 31
Scrimmage (14), Noon vs. MONTCLAIR STATE
 
Saturday, September 1
Photo/Media Day, 10:30 a.m.-Noon
Practice (15), 5-7 p.m.
 
Sunday, September 2
Practice (16), 3-5:30 p.m.
 
Monday, September 3
Practice (17), 10:15-12:45 p.m.
 
Tuesday, September 4
First Day of Classes
 
Saturday, September 8
Columbia Football Players Club Rookie Draft and Kickoff Cookout
Practice, 10-11:15 a.m.
Cookout, Noon
 
Monday, September 10
Game Week Begins
 
Saturday, September 15
Game One: Columbia at Central Connecticut State, 5 p.m.