CARSON CITY, Nev. (Colo.) – Four months into the Jeff Choate era, Nevada football already has a new attitude.
“Football is a tough game and Reno is a tough town. It's time to make Reno a football town again,” said the Wolfpack's head football coach.
But this weekend's venue was Carson High School. Mr. Choate took his team to the nation's capital to raise awareness of small communities.
“We want this to be Northern Nevada’s team,” he said. “I know this: If a 7-, 8-, 9-year-old kid says they want to go to a Wolf Pack game, they're going to a Wolf Pack game. Reaching out is an important part of that.”
Wolf Pack junior linebacker Chris Smalley, who grew up just 20 minutes south of Carson City, liked the change of environment.
“We've got UNR fans in Douglas (County), we've got fans here, we've got fans in Elko. It's very important to get out into these communities and make sure you have contact with other people. is important.”
During Saturday's scrimmage, which was open to the public, Nevada went back and forth between scrimmage periods (where staff created depth charts in simulated 11-on-11 games) and periods for each position group.
For Choate, it was important to see how the players react in front of fans and in a game-like atmosphere.
“And he really tackles,” Choate said. “I think where our deficiencies are in that regard. A lot of times you don't get that level of contact because football is a tough game and you can't go and beat them in practice every day. ”
Smalley liked what he saw.
“There was great energy on both sides of the ball. Our defense showed up at times. Our offense got better at times, so I think we're coming together as a team.”
Choate gave the scrimmage a mixed review, which was to be expected.
“It's good competition. We saw really good things with both teams and the kicking game. It's going to be a great movie to go back to, learn from it and keep moving forward.”
The next step is to solidify the depth chart with at least two depths at every position.
The spring game will be played next Saturday, and this portion of the offseason work will be completed before fall camp begins in August.
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