Football coaches are routine-oriented by nature. Because the vast majority of college games are played on Saturdays, nearly every week has the same structure, and when teams do have a bye week, coaches know about it well in advance and have a clear plan.
In 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, there’s no such thing as a routine week — or at least there hasn’t been for Georgia Tech in the past month.
“Coaches love schedules,” defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker said Tuesday. “We love knowing the course of the season. We love knowing from January on what we’re gonna do, what our plan is, what time of the year it is. A global pandemic and these games being rescheduled and postponed throws quite the wrench in that. ... There certainly has been no monotony.”
The Yellow Jackets last played Oct. 31 against Notre Dame. Assuming their game against Duke kicks off Saturday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium, it will have been 28 days since their last game. The long break started with a scheduled bye week, and then the postponements kicked in.
When Tech’s game against Pittsburgh, originally scheduled for Nov. 14, was postponed Nov. 12, the Jackets already had installed most of their game plan and had gone through a fairly normal week of practice. Then the game against Miami, originally scheduled for Nov. 21, was postponed Nov. 16, which meant Tech wouldn’t play again until Nov. 28 at the earliest.
Tech coach Geoff Collins and his staff have gotten creative to keep their players engaged during such an extended period without games, and it’s been a learning experience for everyone involved.
“It’s basically like another training camp, one that you’re obviously not expecting (and) not anticipating,” Collins said. “Just trying to make sure we get some guys stronger, get some guys back healthy, those kind of things. Some of the things that we’ve done to create some more bonds that maybe you wouldn’t get normally throughout the course of the season.”
Strength-and-conditioning coach Lewis Caralla has kept the players busy with extra time in the weight room, a luxury usually not allowed when there’s a game every Saturday. The Jackets were banged up by the end of October, so the time off has also allowed players to get healthy and get their bodies back in peak condition.
In addition to extra lifting time, Collins and his staff have orchestrated everything from dodgeball games to a home-run derby in Bobby Dodd Stadium to a socially distant team barbecue Saturday. There was a kickball game, too — all in the name of getting the players’ competitive juices flowing.
“You play kickball and you play home-run derby,” Thacker said, laughing, when asked how they’ve kept the team engaged. “... It has been a challenge. There is obviously no script for this.”
With four games remaining on the schedule, there’s a lot of football left for the Jackets. The mid-season break allowed players to get healthy, but it also challenged their ability to stay committed to improvement without a game on the immediate horizon.
After three weeks of operating under what Collins referred to as a “sudden-change mentality,” the normal game-week structure is back — and it’s clear that Tech’s coaching staff is ready for the routine to return.
“Our guys are stoked up to play,” offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude said Tuesday. “There’s no fatigue, no football fatigue at all. We had a great practice today. The guys are spirited. Thankful that we’re having the opportunity to be able to do this. ... I think the kids are really excited to play. I know I am.”
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