Narduzzi Lays Out Goals In Day Two Of Camp
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN)- Since arriving at Pitt in December, new Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi has wowed reporters and fans with his displayed enthusiasm and organization in press conferences.
Naturally, Narduzzi opened Pitt's Media Day on Tuesday by laying out three main goals as his squad's Sept. 1 season opener against Youngstown State inches toward kickoff.
"[Our] number one goal, really, coming to camp is to have our football team become a lot closer than they have been," said Narduzzi. "How do we do that? It's those sessions we have [in the film room and lounge]. It's putting them together in a dormitory. It's putting them together as team. That's how camp is supposed to be."
Narduzzi said that fixing the chemistry is something that players shared with him during introductory meetings. He said the focus has been on working players from different positions in with each other so each player becomes schooled in how his teammates might go about their job.
"I really believe it was a factor that they talked about, that 'Hey coach we got some good players here coach, but we don't know some guys.' It started with our weight room, where coach [Dave] Andrews continually mixed them up in the weight room. They had to work out with a guy they normally [don't] work out with," said Narduzzi. To me we have to know one another. If we don't know each other we cant play hard for each other."
Narduzzi added that another team goal is to absorb more football knowledge and putt forth adequate effort on the field to ensure winning results.
"We're out there to push them and get them to play with great effort. We talk about it all the time, and you guys have heard me say that probably fifty times. It's playing with effort," said Narduzzi.
"It is coached, it is not just saying, 'Hey we're going to play with effort.' We're out there on the field and the coaches are sprinting around with our players. It is coaching effort every play and if we don't we don't get effort, there is going to be something they've got to pay. There's going to be consequences."
With the transition to head coach from last season, Narduzzi voiced there was not much of a change, just more organizational aspects that he has to deal with.
"It's more meetings. It's dealing with you guys a little bit more," Narduzzi told the pack of reporters circled around him. "Running a team meeting more. Doubles are a little bit different because there's more development that you need. It's not just spring ball. Fifteen days of spring ball are a little bit easier because it's spring ball.
"They're in classes at that point. Now, with so much free time, there are meetings constantly," said Narduzzi. "Really, the difference right now compared to what it was as a defensive coordinator is really being on top of everybody and making sure we stay on schedule and make sure things move smoothly and everybody has what they need."
Wednesday's camp will be the first day in which Panthers players suit up in pads.
