First Day Builds Towards The Excitement
August 04, 2023 | Football, Joel Coleman
Zach Arnett is glad to be back on the practice fields but knows there is much work to do.
(NOTE: You can view head coach Zach Arnett's full post-practice media session by clicking the image above.)
STARKVILLE – It's an understandable question for a football coach to get following the first day of preseason training camp.
"What things excited you?"
Mississippi State head man Zach Arnett was posed a variation of that query on Friday following an approximately two-hour long practice at the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex. His response made two things clear. It's very early, and there's a lot of work to do between now and September 2 when the Bulldogs kick off the season at home against Southeastern Louisiana.
"Nothing excites me about anything we do – offense, defense or special teams – nothing excites me until we start seeing guys playing actual football," Arnett said. "That's not trying to sound like some tough, coach speak. It's just the truth. This is not football yet. When we get pads on and we get into it, then we've got to find out who the football players are. This is the acclimatization period. We're getting the players actually ready for football. That's the spirit of these first six days."
Don't misconstrue Arnett's words. He was admittedly enjoying himself throughout Friday morning's work.
"It was good to be out there coaching football again," he said.
That much was obvious. It was a spirited practice to say the least, filled with plenty of fire from Arnett as well as his coaching staff. Already, it's apparent that expectations are being set. There'll be no half-hearted efforts accepted under the watch of Arnett and staff.
You wouldn't have known it was only the first day of camp judging by the passion and urgency from the voices instructing. Sure, it's four weeks from the season opener, but the coaches know that time will pass by in a hurry.
"The season is right around the corner, and we've got a long way to go," Arnett said. "We all need to get better. On both sides of the ball, every unit, everyone needs to improve. We are not even close to ready to play a football game right now."
Maybe not, but that's what camp is for. Moment by moment, snap by snap, the Bulldogs are building. For the next two weeks, prior to classes starting, improving can be the only focus.
"Once school starts, you're limited to 20 hours a week and a max of four hours a day," Arnett said. "It's a good thing in training camp, you're on unlimited time. We need every second of it."
State will be right back at work on Saturday morning for the second practice of the new year. The Dawgs will practice every day through Wednesday before an off day on Thursday.
In all, counting Friday, MSU will hold three scrimmages and 25 total practices leading into its season opener. Arnett is determined to make every single day count. Plus the pads will be on soon, meaning then, he'll truly be able to spot the things that excite him and start seeing which Bulldogs will be the ones he relies on to make the cowbells clang at Davis Wade Stadium this fall.