Tuesday, March 16, 2010
By Joe Scalzo
scalzo@vindy.com
Youngstown
Photo
YSU Head Football Coach Eric Wolford
When YSU coach Eric Wolford was an upperclassman playing offensive line at Kansas State in the early 1990s, the coaches annually brought in recruits who wanted to take his job.
“And you know what? It wasn’t going to happen,” said Wolford, a four-year starter under Bill Snyder. “That’s the type of mentality you have to have.”
Since being hired in December, Wolford has made it clear that no jobs will be guaranteed based on reputation or experience, vowing to start younger players if they’re just as good as the upperclassmen.
With spring practice starting Wednesday and YSU’s staff promising the depth chart will be wide open, that could make for some uneasy upperclassmen.
“I was taught at a young age in this profession, if you have a guy that’s a sophomore and you have a guy who’s going to be a senior and they’re both equal, the sophomore is going to be with you for two more years,” Wolford said. “In my eyes, a senior should never let a sophomore beat you out.
“You should have enough pride that you won’t let that happen.”
It’s sure to be an unsettling stance for players who are already unsure of their role with the new coaching staff. But after going 10-13 the past two seasons, Wolford believes the players need to impress his staff and not vice versa.
“I think it’s exciting for them because they know they have a fresh start,” he said. “I’ve made it clear to them during this offseason what the expectations are around here. They know that. They have a pretty good idea how we’re going to practice. I think they’ve got a pretty good idea how we’re going to coach them.”
The Penguins have spent the past few weeks working out at 6 a.m. with the coaches and Wolford has shown a tough love approach.
“I want to find out what these guys’ breaking point is and try to instill in them that they can handle a lot more than they think they can,” he said. “We’ve kind of cleared the air at some of these 6 a.m. [workouts] about what exactly it means to do things exactly right and what is effort.
“Everybody’s going to be accountable. Our players will be accountable for their actions.”
Wolford said he’s looking for players who are willing to compete hard and be prepared, even if they’re not starters. Because there’s always a chance the player in front of you might miss practice for injury or sickness, opening the door to get more playing time.
“You don’t know when your opportunity’s going to come,” he said. “Why not seize it?
“Why not say, ‘You know what? You’re not getting your job back today. It’s mine now.’ ”