A New Routine for O'Brien, NCSU

The days of Oakley sunglasses, flashy red shoes, a big chest, and a raspy voice pacing the Carter Finley Stadium sidelines have come to an end.

Though coach Tom O’Brien will continue many traditions begun under former coach Chuck Amato – the scoreboard commercials, for instance, will continue – the demeanor of the new coach will be evident to fans in Saturday’s season opener against Central Florida.

“If they’ve asked me to do some commercials, I certainly have to do it,” O’Brien said. “Will I turn cart-wheels on the sidelines? Probably not.”

O’Brien declined to elaborate on his personal game-day traditions, other than saying he still partakes in his daily run, which he does every day, rain or shine, except Sunday. He did say that his love for consistency and routines will affect team preparation.

“We pretty much do the same thing every time,” O’Brien said. “I’m big about a routine so they know where they’re going and what they’re doing all the time. That way they’ll show up, they’ll be on time and we’ll get into the routine, hopefully.”

According to O’Brien, the physical practices for the week have concluded, though the team will do some walk-throughs and conferencing Friday to prepare mentally for Saturday’s game. The team will stay in a hotel Friday night and operate as a unit on Saturday.

“Each game day, we do the same thing as far as getting up and eating at a certain time,” O’Brien said. “[The] pre-game meal is always four hours before kickoff. We have church service, then we get on the bus and go the stadium, go through the walk of champions, then go through the pre-game and get ready to play.”

As far as a pre-game speech, O’Brien said the intensity of it depends on the situation,

yet he believes in preparation throughout the week, rather than brief motivation from a speech.

“The meeting Friday night, in the way we do it, is more important than what you do before the game in the locker room,” O’Brien said.

"Games are 3½ hours, maybe more now. So you can give them all of the fiery speech you want, but after about 20 minutes they forgot what you said. So, it’s better that you prepare throughout the week and get it done day in and day out. That way it will carry into the game on Saturday.”

Some game-day traditions will remain the same, according to O’Brien. The team will participate in the walk of champions, and in regards to fireworks and music, O’Brien said, “I haven’t changed anything.”

If he sees something he doesn’t like, however, he said he will make necessary adjustments.

“If I hear it and don’t like it, we’ll change it,” O’Brien said of the pre-game music.

As far as Saturday’s game in particular, O’Brien admitted he might be a bit nervous in a new setting, with many unanswered questions about his team’s potential.

“I don’t get sentimental,” O’Brien said. “But I’m sure I’ll have a little more nerves because it’s a new situation and I don’t know what’s going to happen when the game starts, either, with this football team.”

And though a 6 p.m. start may be ideal for tailgating college students, O’Brien said he prefers the routine of getting things done early.

“I’d rather get up and play at noon and get it over with,” O’Brien said. “I don’t like lying around all day.”