NATCHITOCHES – The changing athletic calendar has brought teams together more often than in years past.
 
That doesn't mean, however, that Monday's report day for Northwestern State didn't come with the same anticipation as it did in the past when teams weren't together as often in the offseason.
 
"They were gone for about five days," first-year head coach Blaine McCorkle said. "They had a great summer with (strength and conditioning) coach (Jason) Smelser in the weight room, out here running, getting their bodies ready. We gave them a good chunk of last week off, but we're excited to have them back. Even though they've been here, today is a fun day, and everyone has good energy. They know it's time to go to work, and the season is upon us."
 
Monday marked the perfunctory part of training camp, which begins in earnest with a 7 p.m. practice Tuesday.
 
Upon reporting to campus, the players went through a battery of tests, equipment fitting and additional preseason duties before an afternoon and evening of meetings.
 
Even with what would be termed a typical Monday, the excitement throughout the Donald G. Kelly Athletic Complex was palpable.
 
"We've been together since June working out and being together every day," linebacker Danny Sears said. "So now, it's like, 'Hey, we get to hit each other and do a little bit more football.' It gets everyone a little excited after working out for two months and not being able to do anything like that."
 
The excitement level can be attributed partly to McCorkle and his staff, which was mostly in place for spring practice, allowing the new group to settle in and begin installing its playbook and culture.
 
"I'm really excited the school chose this staff to come in and help us change this thing around and do something better," running back Kennieth Lacy said. "Expectations have been set from the staff, trickling down through the leaders in the locker room to the rest of the team. It's going to be great. It's going to be exciting when we start tomorrow. Everyone's going to be flying around, making plays, doing what they can to help this team win a championship."
 
While Lacy and Sears are returning lettermen, Monday marked the first report day for McCorkle as a head coach at the FCS level – where he has spent 18 of his 26 college football coaching seasons.
 
With that as a backdrop, McCorkle is as excited as his new charges for what lies ahead for them.
 
"We ought to be able to hit the ground running from where we left off day 15 (of spring) and take off from there," McCorkle said. "My son has his first day of preseason tonight. I was talking to him about being nervous, and he is and should be. I told him, 'I'm going into year 26 of coaching and 48 years of college football, and I'm nervous, too.' It's a good nervous. That's what makes it special – the excitement and the anticipation.
 
"It's like opening your Christmas presents. You don't know how this thing is going to unfold over the next few months, but it's exciting."