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Wolford pleased with first day of workouts
By JOE SCALZO
SEE ALSO: Fearsome 5.
YOUNGSTOWN
Grinning from ear to ear, new YSU football coach Eric Wolford summed up his first training camp practice on Thursday with phrases not heard much during spring practice.
“We had a good day,” he said. “Today’s one of the best days of my life, next to the day I married my wife, I can assure you of that.
“I’ll probably be able to sleep a little better tonight.”
It was a different tone from March and April when Wolford often grew frustrated with his team’s effort and energy level — and wasn’t shy about saying so.
“I think the kids came out and practiced hard,” he said Thursday. “They understand the tempo we expect.
“We have some talent here. We’ve just got to continue to coach it and develop it.”
Thursday’s practice was crisp and organized from the beginning, an encouraging sign for a team trying to integrate 36 new players.
“There’s a lot of new faces — I can’t even name 30-some guys on the team,” said senior defensive lineman Torrance Nicholson, a three-year letterman. “It was exciting [but] it’s one thing to be excited and another to come out here and work.”
Wolford said his two points of emphasis were fundamentals and special teams, believing special teams cost YSU a chance at two or three more wins last season.
“Our message is clear — we want to improve every day,” Wolford said. “No steps back.
“I can honestly say in spring ball, until practice 13, we improved every day. And I want to see if we can carry that through 29 [practices] going into Penn State.”
The first hour of practice was played in intense heat and humidity, then cooled off a bit when the sun set behind the stadium steps. The Penguins wore helmets and shorts. They won’t practice in full pads until Monday night.
“A lot of these young guys are eager to get the pads on,” said Nicholson. “I’m an old guy. I’m eager to get the season going.”