Penn State’s DeChellis rested and ready to go
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Penn State coach Ed DeChellis and his assistants looked more rested Tuesday than they did this time last year. With practices already under way for the 2005-06 season, the coaching staff might have more energy because they no longer have to fill out 5-on-5 drills in practice.
Entering his third season at Penn State, DeChellis finds himself with a full complement of players for the first time. With 15 bodies on the preseason roster, DeChellis can put together three five-man squads in practice, a sign to him that the program is making strides.
“I think we’re as healthy as we’ve been since I’ve been here,” DeChellis said. “This is the first year everyone is on the same page.”
The Nittany Lions have been unable to climb out of the Big Ten cellar in DeChellis’ first two seasons since he took over for Jerry Dunn in 2003. So far, DeChellis is 16-42, and 4-28 in Big Ten play, including a 1-15 conference mark last season.
In that time, DeChellis has seen seven scholarship players leave the program, all but one of them Dunn recruits.
“I think when you take a program and try to make it healthy, there’s always going to be problems,” DeChellis said. “Is there any way to foresee those problems? No, but in the same sense, I think we’ve done what we had to do.”
With a roster comprised almost entirely of his own recruits, DeChellis said he is hopeful that a new, positive foundation can be built. DeChellis and his players have spoken of creating a closer, family atmosphere in the program. His lone senior, forward Travis Parker, said he feels that attitudes among teammates have improved.
DeChellis also decided to remove the players’ names from their jerseys for the upcoming season.
“I think the name on the front of the jersey is very, very important. It’s the only name we should be concerned about,” DeChellis said.
“It’s not about me, it’s not about our guys individually, it’s about our team. It’s about Penn State.”