FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 19, 2020) – After months of work in meetings, lifting in the weight room and working through a variety of practices on the field, the Northern Arizona University football team is looking forward to falling into a routine for the next few weeks.
The team will run what essentially equates to spring practices through the middle of November, practicing on the field three times a week.
"It's been hard to get into a routine, but it's nice to have," said NAU head coach
Chris Ball. "We got it set, but you know it could change easily. So you have still got to be pretty flexible with what's going on as far as COVID is concerned. But right now, we're in a pretty good place."
Ball said the practices are not as long as they typically are during a spring schedule but the shorter periods of time have been able to lead to practices with a little bit more intensity. The team knows things will change slightly during this segment of their extended offseason, namely with Tuesday's practice for Nov. 3 pushed to another day as the Big Sky Conference and NCAA have ruled each Election Day as an off day from athletic activities.
"We just sort of adjust on the fly," Ball said. "It's a normal spring schedule that we do in the spring... So if things happen, we will adjust and keep moving forward."
This past week's practices also allowed Ball to get back on the field with NAU's cornerbacks, as the Lumberjacks' head coach is taking on more responsibility with a position group he's coached throughout his career.
"It's been great. I hardly did any football last year, I was just trying to figure everything out, get the culture changed and worked on both sides of the ball," Ball said. "But now I think I need to be on the defensive side. That's what I do best and defensive backs are something that I've always done. To coach the corners is fun, you know it's a great group of guys and keeps me involved football wise."
With their season delayed to the spring following the Big Sky's decision to push back its schedule and the FCS moving a now condensed 16-team playoff to begin in mid-April 2021. While NAU's roster has watched multiple FBS programs begin their seasons over the past few weeks, Ball said he's proud of what he has seen from the Lumberjacks in practice given the uncertainty that ruled the past seven months.
"The kids are doing a great job of practicing. I think they understand what our expectations are, they understand the standard and the coaches have done a good job of holding them to that standard," Ball said. "I think they realized they got an opportunity to be a pretty good football team, but they have to work. They're very coachable and I'm really pleased with where we're at right now. With all the adversity and things we've had to go through to get to this point, to be as focused as we are is a tribute to them."
While the team eased into practice during its first week, one of the first few notable points on the field was the continued strength of NAU's specialists unit.
Led by punter
DJ Arnson, kicker
Luis Aguilar and long snapper
Justin Hathoot, who have all earned all-conference or All-American recognition from a variety of media outlets, NAU's special teams remained a consistent bright spot during the opening week.
During the team's run through its special team drills, Arnson's punts could be seen hanging high over NAU's practice fields across from the Walkup Skydome.
"I've lost games because of punters. They've turned the field over, continue to turn the field over and keep you on your side of the field," Ball said. "He's a huge, huge weapon and he's gotten better. Guys sometimes get to a point and they sort of level off, but he's continued to grow as a punter. He's a lot more accurate now and understands the importance of hangtime and placement. He's an extremely hard worker and very focused, so we are really, really pleased with where he's at right now."
The trio all enter their senior seasons in 2021 as they come off their best years of their careers thus far. For Ball, the credit goes to all three players as well as
Aaron Price, NAU's special teams coordinator in addition to his role as running backs coach.
"I don't know if there's anybody better in the country at any level. These guys are phenomenal and Coach Price has done an unbelievable job with them as well," Ball said. "You know, they were talented when we got here, but I think Coach Price has really taught them how to work and really made specific goals for them to accomplish their senior year. He's been around some great kickers and he was a really good kicker, so his input has really, really made a difference."
