I think this may have been the news of the day: You’re looking at Jake Spavital’s back and his T-shirt that I thought read:

Intensity:

Play fast

But I work hard and I pay close attention and I followed my instincts. It reads:

Insanity:

Play fast

You’re welome.

We’re still in the sputtering phase here in South Florida. Yesterday was the arrival. The team practiced late in the afternoon — I’m looking into the thing you’re wondering about, but remember there is a reason we’re not allowed at practice — and only tomorrow do we get to speak to the “star” players for the WVU defense and the Clemson offense.

Today was not without information, though. Check out the early notebook for a primer on the battle to start at spur safety in place of Terence Garvin (Hint: It’ll be a freshman!), how many Red Bulls Dana drinks in a game, the emergence of a heretofore anonymous receiver, Shaq Rowell’s bowl game comparisons and a man named Redhead.

As for practice, it looked a little like this …

Some lithe offense v. defense scrimmaging before practice. It’s the sort of stuff we never get to see. I figure it’s a whole lot like 7-on-7, except with eight extra players. Interesting to see who was where in the secondary and on the offensive lines, too. 

I do you no service, though, because that’s Paul Millart at QB, which means the “OH MY GOD, TAIGE REDMAN IS THE SAM LINEBACKER!” reaction was for naught. In some good-on-good stuff, the offensive line was back to normal and the safeties rotated.

(P.S. Not my reaction.)

Fun to watch, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlXkYuFs0Rc

Off to the side a while later, the quarterbacks and new-T-shirted quarterbacks coach Jake Spavital went through some footwork and accuracy drills. In this one, the throwers were supposed to throw to the lower-right box.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCmQY4sHkGU

There was a lot of special teams work to start practice. I dont think I’m exaggerating to say I saw more today than WVU had in the entirety of its bowl prep last season. Remember, WVU was inside for all its on-campus practices last year and then did only a little because of the wind and cold in Orlando. Plus, Holgorsen does a ton more special teams stuff than Stewart did.

That said, it didn’t start well. I didn’t record the field goal practice and you can thank me. As for punting …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACR0w1n_03o

Fortunately — and, to be honest, predictably — it did get better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w7icTHV1oY

The special teams session — aka, the point where we had to leave — ended with kickoff defense. First- and second-team against the scout team — not at once.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POBCAPhaQ6Y

Early start tomorrow, but I’ll have a post up early. Here’s a preview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLafTrHgvIo