SHU adjusting to new challenges
The Sacred Heart University football team took the field for its first and only spring practice on March 10 before students were sent home due concerns over the coronavirus.
The outbreak has created challenges for coaches across the country, including Mark Nofri and his staff which must communicate with and prepare players who are home for the upcoming season.
“We got one practice in and that was it,” Nofri said. “We got one in and the next day we had to shut it down and the kids were leaving campus. Since then we have been sending them workouts each week with the strength and conditioning program for the players to follow.”
The SHU strength and conditioning program has prepared workouts for each athletic team, but due to NCAA regulations the workouts are not able to be monitored via video chat.
“We are just trying to stay in touch with them,” Nofri said. “Trying to make sure that they are doing the workouts that are sent to them at home and they are following up with their schoolwork because they are still taking classes online.”
It is an unfamiliar situation, but one coaches everywhere are dealing with.
“It’s not ideal obviously,” Nofri said. “Everybody has kind of been put in the same boat. We were looking forward to getting some of these younger guys’ reps in the spring, seeing what they can do and preparing them to step right in and play in August, but the only thing you can do now is talk to your guys and make sure they’re alright.”
The Pioneers went 7-5 overall and 4-3 in NEC play in 2019, finishing the season strong, winning four games in a row before dropping the season finale.
“I think we played well in the second half of the season last year,” Nofri said. “We won four out of our last five games and I felt good going into the offseason and I think we did really well, when the kids were here, with our offseason conditioning and lifting. I feel good about next year, but I want to see some of these young kids that are in our program already, asking some of the freshmen and sophomores to step up and play a bigger role. I’d have a better sense of feel if we had gone through spring, so I guess I am a little anxious to get them on the field and try to get them prepared come August.”
Sacred Heart will look to add to its young talent with its upcoming freshmen class which consists of four Connecticut recruits: running back Jalen Madison (Stratford), defensive lineman Jalen Gopie (Waterbury), defensive tackle Howard Powell (Stratford) and defensive end Kyle Davis (Bloomfield).
“We had a really good freshmen class and I’m excited about the guys we have coming in,” Nofri said. “As a head coach you just are constantly worrying about not being with your guys and not seeing them workout and develop, it’s a tough situation. There are a lot of unknowns and as a coach that doesn’t make you feel good, but I know we did a good job bringing in freshmen and we have some good young kids in our program that hopefully will step up when the time comes and they get back at it.”