Penn State’s football program kicked off spring practice sessions earlier this week.
The majority of the Nittany Lions’ players — those who did not spend time with Campbell at Iowa State — may need a few days to make a significant adjustment.
They are now on Matt Campbell time, until Penn State’s spring concludes with the April 25 Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium.
After years of working in the afternoons for James Franklin and his staff, the Lions have shifted to a morning practice schedule that is expected to continue in the fall.
Thursday morning’s two-hour practice, after a team breakfast, started around 9 a.m.
Campbell is a big believer in the morning approach, something he began tinkering with during the 2020 covid season in Ames.
The Cyclones’ leader for 10 seasons, Campbell said he got away from afternoon practices in 2021 but eventually realized it was a mistake.
“It’s an area for me that I’ve really become convicted on that it is absolutely the best thing for student-athletes,” Campbell said late Tuesday morning, shortly after PSU finished a morning practice.
“When we were in covid at Iowa State, everything went online at Iowa State. … I just felt like there was so much going on, that the best thing that we could give our players was us to start the day.
“Equally, I thought the best thing that our players got was our opportunity to interact with them, and we got their best.”
The ensuing 2021 Iowa State afternoon practices did not produce the same effect, according to Campbell.
“We slipped academically, and we slipped with our production, and it was a major mistake on my end,” Campbell said.
Iowa State eventually returned to a morning routine, and Campbell does not plan to alter his approach.
“I think two years ago, three years ago now, we went to morning practices in the fall, and what I saw — you’re talking the last three semesters in the fall,” Campbell said.
“What we saw was our team GPA was around a 3.4 GPA the last three full fall semesters.”
Campbell continued: “I think it gives our young men a start to their day, which is huge. It gives them breakfast, gives them lunch after practice, and gives us a chance to reconnect with them with dinner so I could get their meals and how they eat.
“I think we saw injuries significantly decrease because we had the opportunity, man, they’re not sitting in class and their day didn’t start slow.
“Everybody’s day starts the same, and it starts with breakfast, it starts with the opportunity to be in an engaging environment. I think what we got with it is academically you saw everything skyrocket. I’m really excited to continue that.”
The early feedback from his new players has been overwhelmingly positive, Campbell said.
“I think already our guys have come up and said, man, I really love this morning block,” Campbell said. “We did it this spring just to make sure we could work out the kinks for the fall, but I think those things are really big. It gives us the ability to really have a great rhythm to our day, and it gives us the ability to start the day right.
“I think the other thing, once you get in the season, by the time Thursday you get off the field, our guys physically can be their best by the time they get back on the field on Saturday,” Campbell added.
“Whether we’re traveling or at home. I just think it gives you a significant upgrade in terms of, like, refueling those guys and getting them to have their tank completely full by Saturday.”
