The Pitt football team emerged from its indoor practice facility after a 90-minute workout Friday morning. Players stepped into a parking lot covered in darkness.
"You're done for the day with your physical activity and the sun's not up yet," said center Artie Rowell, a senior-to-be. "It's a surreal feeling. It's kind of cool."
Coach Pat Narduzzi this month has scheduled twice-a-week conditioning drills for 5:30 a.m., leading to the start of spring practice March 15.
The early start forces players to rise before 5 a.m.
"We could have done it anytime," Narduzzi said. "It's a mental toughness thing, getting them up. They have to fight through it. Some guys like to get up early.
"It also gets them to bed earlier, keeps them in their dorm rooms, at least at night, I hope."
By all available accounts, first impressions between players and the new coaching staff have been positive.
"I am really impressed with their work ethic and how they go about their business," Narduzzi said. "It's a work in progress, but we are excited by the way they work."
Strength and conditioning coach Dave Andrews said the previous coaching staff put down a solid foundation.
"This is an add-on job for me," said Andrews, who spent last season as Notre Dame's assistant strength coach. "This is not a tear-down-and-rebuild. The gentlemen who came before us have done a great job preparing these kids."
Quarterback Chad Voytik and Rowell said pass routes and run-game concepts are similar to what was used the past three seasons under former coach Paul Chryst.
The major difference? Pace.
"A lot less huddling and some more (shot)gun stuff," Voytik said.
"It's not going to be high octane," he said, alluding to former coach Todd Graham's style in 2011. "More of no-huddle pace, get up to line quick. It's not going to be, 'Let's get in as many plays as possible.' "
Tight end Scott Orndoff said he notices significant differences from last season.
"This staff is very high energy, really big on discipline and the minor details of every single thing you do," he said. "Very high tempo. You are always moving. Everyone's doing everything together. They want you to exercise the details and help coach each other."
Another twist is increased competition during drills. Coaches pass out jerseys in a variety of colors indicating good (gold), mediocre (white or blue) or poor (black) efforts.
No one was wearing a black jersey Friday, but Orndoff said he earned a gold one recently and then had it taken away.
"I don't know why I lost it," he said. "I feel like I am putting forth the same effort. I'm trying to get it back."
Narduzzi and Andrews said the intent during conditioning sessions is to emphasize finishing each drill. That's an important goal for a team that allowed 88 and 107 points in the last quarter of each half last season. Narduzzi calls the conditioning session The Fourth Quarter.
"We've always done it," he said, referencing his time as Michigan State's defensive coordinator. "We try to develop our guys to win in the fourth quarter."
It showed last season.
The day before Pitt allowed 29 points in the fourth quarter of a 35-34 loss to Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl, Michigan State shut out Baylor, 21-0, in the final quarter of the Cotton Bowl to win 42-41.
"We are (23) points away from being 11-2 (in 2014)," Andrews said, referring to Pitt's season. "But at the same time, you're 6-7. We've got to finish."
Notes: The spring game will return April 17 or 18 at a site to be determined. It will not be played at Heinz Field due to construction. ... Rowell, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, said he will be limited in spring drills.
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/7859923-74/coach-narduzzi-season#axzz3T0JT1lb6
This post was edited on 2/27 10:04 PM by CaptainSidneyReilly
"You're done for the day with your physical activity and the sun's not up yet," said center Artie Rowell, a senior-to-be. "It's a surreal feeling. It's kind of cool."
Coach Pat Narduzzi this month has scheduled twice-a-week conditioning drills for 5:30 a.m., leading to the start of spring practice March 15.
The early start forces players to rise before 5 a.m.
"We could have done it anytime," Narduzzi said. "It's a mental toughness thing, getting them up. They have to fight through it. Some guys like to get up early.
"It also gets them to bed earlier, keeps them in their dorm rooms, at least at night, I hope."
By all available accounts, first impressions between players and the new coaching staff have been positive.
"I am really impressed with their work ethic and how they go about their business," Narduzzi said. "It's a work in progress, but we are excited by the way they work."
Strength and conditioning coach Dave Andrews said the previous coaching staff put down a solid foundation.
"This is an add-on job for me," said Andrews, who spent last season as Notre Dame's assistant strength coach. "This is not a tear-down-and-rebuild. The gentlemen who came before us have done a great job preparing these kids."
Quarterback Chad Voytik and Rowell said pass routes and run-game concepts are similar to what was used the past three seasons under former coach Paul Chryst.
The major difference? Pace.
"A lot less huddling and some more (shot)gun stuff," Voytik said.
"It's not going to be high octane," he said, alluding to former coach Todd Graham's style in 2011. "More of no-huddle pace, get up to line quick. It's not going to be, 'Let's get in as many plays as possible.' "
Tight end Scott Orndoff said he notices significant differences from last season.
"This staff is very high energy, really big on discipline and the minor details of every single thing you do," he said. "Very high tempo. You are always moving. Everyone's doing everything together. They want you to exercise the details and help coach each other."
Another twist is increased competition during drills. Coaches pass out jerseys in a variety of colors indicating good (gold), mediocre (white or blue) or poor (black) efforts.
No one was wearing a black jersey Friday, but Orndoff said he earned a gold one recently and then had it taken away.
"I don't know why I lost it," he said. "I feel like I am putting forth the same effort. I'm trying to get it back."
Narduzzi and Andrews said the intent during conditioning sessions is to emphasize finishing each drill. That's an important goal for a team that allowed 88 and 107 points in the last quarter of each half last season. Narduzzi calls the conditioning session The Fourth Quarter.
"We've always done it," he said, referencing his time as Michigan State's defensive coordinator. "We try to develop our guys to win in the fourth quarter."
It showed last season.
The day before Pitt allowed 29 points in the fourth quarter of a 35-34 loss to Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl, Michigan State shut out Baylor, 21-0, in the final quarter of the Cotton Bowl to win 42-41.
"We are (23) points away from being 11-2 (in 2014)," Andrews said, referring to Pitt's season. "But at the same time, you're 6-7. We've got to finish."
Notes: The spring game will return April 17 or 18 at a site to be determined. It will not be played at Heinz Field due to construction. ... Rowell, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, said he will be limited in spring drills.
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/7859923-74/coach-narduzzi-season#axzz3T0JT1lb6
This post was edited on 2/27 10:04 PM by CaptainSidneyReilly
