FORT COLLINS –– Former Colorado State head football coaches Mike Bobo and Steve Addazio only occasionally opened the practice field’s gates to the public in the past several years.
First-year coach Jay Norvell is taking a different tact. The former Nevada coach opened practice to the public on the first day of spring ball Tuesday, as he will for all 15 of CSU’s spring workouts.
“We don’t really have a whole lot of secrets,” Norvell said Tuesday. “We try to work hard. We try to get good at what we do. I think itap great when students and people in the community want to come out and watch. I love the open practice format. We want to keep building this football program and have people interested in it. And itap important for the community to see and understand what we represent.”
Those who attended Tuesday’s practice saw Norvell orchestrating his players while sporting the polar opposite of traditional coaching attire. Norvell wore a tucked-in, light-blue, collared shirt with his first name stitched across the chest.
The color choice was intentional.
“We want to be a blue-collar outfit,” Norvell said. “There’s no easy way to be good in this game. You have to do certain things every day. So just like we’re working in the car shop, we come every day and put a full day’s work in at practice. (The shirt) is a reminder to me that every day we’re going to work.”
— Colorado State Football (@CSUFootball)
The rentap due every day.
Thatap the motto of CSU’s new mentality.
Rams’ players appear to be embracing the humble approach during an energized practice Tuesday.
“I like the energy he brings,” fifth-year linebacker Dequan Jackson said. “He has the right mindset. I approach the day the way he says it. So every day I come out here with a mindset that I have something to work on, and thatap what we’re trying to instill for every guy on this team. We have to pay rent every day. Not once a week or month. Thatap whatap gonna set us up in the long run.”
Every Ram who spoke to the media Tuesday praised the camaraderie the team developed this past winter during a grueling training regime.
“Those winter mornings were tough,” sophomore defensive back Jack Howell said. “But it was definitely a bonding experience. The harder you work and the tougher things you get put through with your brothers, itap amazing. And going through all of that in the winter really helped us form a connection.”
Norvell’s spring camp priorities are teaching players the what, how and why the staff wants things done.
“I told the players itap like if your parents made you play piano,” Norvell said. “We’re not playing a full song today. We’re just playing one note and trying to play it exactly right. A big part of (spring) is learning how we practice. We practice uniquely.
“And 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. So itap about repetition, fundamentals and explaining our football the way we want it taught. We’ll build a foundation in these 15 practices that will stick with us for the whole season. And today was a good start.”
