When Spring Camp Ends the Work Doesn't Stop

After Saturday's Green-Gold Game, spring camp is finished. The work, however, is not.

Definitely not in the coach's offices, where decisions still loom and recruiting remains in full swing, even for the season ahead. For the players, it honestly can be – NCAA rules dictate a period of six weeks without contact from the coaches, even the speed and strength staff, a stretch which ends after Memorial Day. But it isn't, not if the players are serious about stated goals.

All of what follows will be tied directly to what took place in the past four weeks. From head coach Jay Norvell's perspective, it was abundantly positive.

"I think we've made important strides this spring. I think we've made real strides in some of the areas of improvement we've been challenging our guys with," he said. "The first was minus-yardage plays; our pass protection has been much better, and our quarterbacks understand how to get the ball out much quicker, and they understand quick answers when they get pressure. They didn't understand that last year. I think our wide receivers have really improved their technique against bump-and-run coverage and they're starting to win more consistently. I think our defense is creating more turnovers and our guys are catching the ball better in the back end.

"Those are all real positives for us this spring."

Building off them is the key for both the staff and the players themselves. To move forward, neither group can stand still. Which leads Norvell to another positive development: He has complete confidence no one will. Seeing is believing, and not just from his vantage point.

"I feel like our guys are going to get in there. (Speed and strength coach Jordon) Simmons is going to give us a packet to follow for workouts, and I really feel guys are going to be following that," center Jacob Gardner said. "We have drills in terms of we can go to certain places to train. We have drills Coach (Bill) Best is going to give us we can do. We'll get that stuff, and it is continuous.

"Last year we had trouble with pride, pride as an offense. We get out here now and things are really competitive. It's good fun. Now we can be confident because we know what we're doing. Now it's who is more athletic and is willing to get the job done. You can see that on offense and defense and guys are pushing to get better."

Simmons knows what science tells him, information he relays to the players. What he knows is over the next six weeks, the players are not likely to lose their gains in the weight room even if they were to avoid it like a root canal. He also knows their speed will dive within a week if their only movement is from a chair to the fridge.

Each of them will leave with a workout plan. But Simmons and his staff can't check up on them. He's not worried about it either, based on what took place between the season and winter conditioning. He has a baseline test he gives upon return, and he could tell within a few days most of the group had stayed ready.

"They're on their own. Really, what it's about is their leadership, the guys who have fulfilled those leadership roles to make sure they're keeping themselves and their teammates accountable," Simmons said. "I give them step-by-step instructions for every single day that they're gone, what they need to do from warm up to their running to their lifting to their recovery. But they're on their own, and they understand the expectations. The biggest thing I tell them is if they can't do anything else, do the sprinting."

The staff is involved in their own kind of sprint, which is to improve the roster. Spring camp brought to light position rooms which are light, others which need to raise the level of competition. Some of those gaps are already filled with the signing class, but more is being ventured. The team has had in recruits in the past four weeks, which will be a continuing trend in the next couple of weeks with a repopulated transfer portal to consider.

Some of the players who took part in spring camp will not return, as is the current landscape of the sport.

"It will be different. There will be some changes," he said. "There will be a handful of changes; exactly how many I'm not sure yet. After spring we always meet with the players and tell them where they're at, and we have scholarship renewals, so we have some decisions on some kids whether they'll be renewed or not. There are kids we're bringing in. We've been recruiting every weekend. We've had recruits in the last four weekends and that will continue. The roster will be different."

The difference being as Norvell heads into the process, he feels the program is in a much better place. There is a positive culture building, and it is being passed along to the newcomers. Those who were on hand for spring camp were joining a team building a more engaged environment.

The words the players are using are telling – dedication, purpose, intensity. It is a team Norvell said has been virtually drama-free, one which has followed his mantra of being blue collar, with sleeves rolled up daily and work being the only focus.

"We brought a lot of guys in too who they've openly expressed we all want to change the culture of this place and we want to change the record, obviously," Gardner said. "You can see the importance. It's everywhere. Everybody is focused on it."

Over the next six weeks, Gardner will continue to work. It's a guarantee because the upcoming season is important to him on a group level. He will be part of the solution. Whatever Simmons gives him will be followed. Whatever plan Best presents will become part of his routine. Gardner also knows he won't be alone, nor will he have to beg for company.

When Simmons has them all back on May 30, he's not concerned about their conditioning. He's been around long enough it won't be each and every one of them, but his confidence level is very high the majority will be on the line ready for the next phase.

He won't be able to watch them, but he knows what he's seen.

"That was proven from season to winter. They know what to expect, and those guys who don't have guys on the team who do," he said. "They're going to transfer that information over. Those guys are going to know we're going to ramp up and be safe, but then we're going. They'll know what the expectations are and if they don't show up ready to go, within the first couple of days, even though the intensity level isn't high, it's plainly obvious to see who did what they were supposed to, who didn't, who it's important to and who it is not."

Change doesn't happen, it is created, making the next six weeks just as vital as the four which preceded them.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results