Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Start Process of Getting in Tune
3/22/2022 12:52:00 PM | Football
New era begins with first spring camp under Norvell
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Eventually, they'll get to Chopin, but that's not what spring camp is all about.
"I told the players, it's like if you're parents ever made you play piano – we're not playing a song today, we're playing chopsticks," Jay Norvell said Tuesday after his first practice as Colorado State football's head coach. "We're just playing the notes and we're trying to play them exactly right."
The 15 practices of spring football are all about fundamentals and getting down the base, especially more so for a first-year staff. For the players, it makes learning how Norvell and his staff want things done as important as what they will be doing.
In the course of those practices, the Rams will want down pat the basics which will stick with them throughout the calendar, and know them so well, they can refer to them when playing games in the fall. Tuesday, that started -- for a large group of players still around from the previous regime to a good portion of players on the roster who followed Norvell to Fort Collins, and thus can be used as additional teachers.
"A big part of it is learning how we practice. We practice very uniquely, very differently," Norvell said. "We're not trying to be out here all day, but the time we're out here we want them to do it exactly right. You just have to be really focused on what we're doing. It's all about repetition and fundamentals, and today was a good start."
When the players arrived, they were greeted by a sign: Today We Play The Ram Way. And they all touched it, coaches too, their way of "tapping" in Norvell said, leading him to another motivational message the players liked – rent isn't due at the end of the month, it's paid daily.
"I kinda like that motto, because every day you have to pay the rent," sophomore safety Jack Howell said.
Norvell added to the moment, wearing a blue mechanics shirt and Mountain Khakis, which look and are built a bit like construction pants. On the shirt was stitched "CSU Football" on one shoulder, on the other was his "Jay" nametag patch, like one would find at a garage. That, too, sent a message to the players about what the intentions really are.
This camp is new to all of them, but new is old hat for some. Howell is on his second coach in as many years, saying the key for him was being adaptable. For Dequan Jackson and Ty McCullouch, Norvell is their third head coach.
Every coach has a message to deliver, and the one Norvell presented was music to McCullouch ears: They want to win, and they expect to win. McCullouch is on board with that. Same with the way they want to win.
Especially that way.
"Yeah, there is a difference," McCullouch said, breaking out in a big grin. "These guys love to throw, and us as receivers, we love to do that, so we have no complaints. It's pretty fun, I'm not going to lie. We come out here as receivers and we just want to win, so whatever the plan is, we'll do it."
And throw the Rams did. They ran it, too, but they threw it. A lot. In both practices, as the 1s and 3s practiced from 7-9 a.m., the 2s and 4s following the two hours after, with a bit of crossover for special teams work.
It can be a lot to digest, but it doesn't all have to go down the first day. And while constant change can prove to be problematic, Jackson spoke of the positives after the first day.
"I would say it is kind of frustrating, but I'm learning," he said. "I can put that on my resume – I've learned three playbooks out here. I'm not going to complain. God has a plan, so here we are."
Learning, step by step. With practices split, repetitions are plentiful. Above all, they were out on the field playing and practicing. The past eight weeks of winter conditioning helped build a bond as they showed up for workouts early in the morning and sweated for themselves and each other. There were some fun moments – OK, for some – when they would watch game film and the Nevada-Colorado State game from a season ago hit the rotation. A bit of playful banter, but no animosity, just unification through a shared experience.
Tuesday was the start of a new era for the program. It was also something they've all looked forward to for some time.
"The energy is always up," McCullouch said. "Everybody wants to come out here and show what they can do. It feels great to be back. Everybody agrees, we just want to do our best and show what we can do."
One key at a time until, eventually, they are all on cue and in concert with each other.
