You don't have to watch Georgia Tech's football team practice to know things have changed. All you have to do is listen.

In the past, one growl could be heard from one end of the practice field to another. It belonged to Jon Tenuta, and it could either make you cringe or blush or laugh, or sometimes do all three at once.

Tenuta, the defensive coordinator and secondary coach, could be heard riding defensive backs and linebackers who lined up in the wrong spot or blew an assignment. Sometimes he'd even throw a compliment toward an offensive player.

Other coaches worked much more quietly. Tenuta was like a de facto voice of the staff. One exception: receivers coach Buddy Geis was noisy, too, but almost always in an encouraging way.

Monday was different. Tenuta has moved on to Notre Dame. Now, if you listen, you can hear a lot of voices, all as fired up as Tenuta was, but generally cleaner.

Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, a holdover from the old staff, was one of the more vocal at Tech's first spring practice. So was receivers coach Buzz Preston, but you'd never confuse him for Geis. He sounded more like a Marine drill sergeant.

Others spoke up, too, including coach Paul Johnson, who was hands-on with the offense throughout.

"I coach. I'm not much of a stand-around guy," Johnson said after practice.