Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football Report, Aug. 19
August 19, 2014 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma State football team practiced at the Sherman E. Smith Training Facility Tuesday afternoon, taking the field for the first time since the Cowboys began classes Monday. Cowboy cornerbacks coach Van Malone talked about practice and the OSU cornerbacks. His comments:
Cornerbacks Coach Van Malone
On Tuesday's practice:
“Well, it's the first day with the guys that we kind of know are going to be travelling and are going to be playing in the game, so it went OK. Coaches never say that after day one – this is what we consider as really day one; really getting into Florida State. We've got a lot of work to do, but we can live with today a little bit.”
On the new schedule with class:
“For the young guys especially, having the opportunity to get into classes and get into school and take their minds, at least earlier in the day, off football, and to be able to focus in on that and be able to transition – “OK, class is over now it's time to come out here and go to work and go to practice.” We've had them all football for quite some time. The younger guys had the toughest adjustment with that. The older guys, they think it's business as usual.”
On preparing for the first game:
“It's really digging into the first opponent. That's important because we still have periods during the practice where we go against ourselves, but right now it's full steam ahead for the rest of the year on the opponent. That's another adjustment for our young guys. They have to understand that we're dividing into scout teams and now it's total focus on the opponent.”
On the progress of the cornerbacks:
“We have to be patient and understand that it's a process, even as coaches. We want it to happen right now, but it's a process, especially when you have as many young guys as we have. We have to continue to pressure them, continue to push them to be more than they think they can be; more than they came here expecting to be. Now we have to get them ready to go full speed; 100 miles an hour just like the older guys who've been there and who've done it already.”
