There is getting ready for football and there is keeping yourself and your teammates safe from the COVID-19 virus. It is new world order for every college program. UCLA’s Shea Pitts says the extra effort is worth it.<\/p>\n
One is a sacrifice of time and body that college football players undertake every day. The other is something new for everyone across the country and it accounts for some big adjustments in everyday life.<\/p>\n
UCLA\u2019s Shea Pitts<\/a> is spending the camp\/practice period in an adjustment phase. The linebacker is also learning to play the coverage game on defense. There are hybrid-caliber players that head coach Chip Kelly<\/strong> is working as a \u201cstriker\u201d or nickel back. Pitts says it is an opportunity to get himself on the field more. “I’m trying to get on the field any way I can. It doesn’t really matter what position it is.”<\/p>\n It is a compressed schedule for everyone in the Pac 12<\/a> with the season not starting until November 7th<\/sup>.\u00a0 The schedule does not allow for real training camp time as camp and practice become one in the limited hours allowed each week. Pitts says it works because everyone in the conference is on the same calendar. \u201cAt the end of the day, everyone has the same opportunity. It may be unfair to us, but it is unfair to everyone, too. So, we all have the same opportunity. So, who is going to distinguish themselves from the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n UCLA has taken to calling their athlete\u2019s world their \u201cEcosystem.\u201d It essentially keeps the football players in their own bubble, with at least most of them living in the same building. It can be a challenge to eat, sleep, practice, and do on-line classes all with the same guys all day, every day.<\/p>\n Pitts says it is worth it. \u201cAt the end of the day, it is what you are willing to sacrifice to be successful as a team. If that means not seeing anybody else for this six, eight, nine, ten-week period, I\u2019ll for sure do that. Because we are trying to play games and we\u2019re trying to win,” Pitts said. “So, we\u2019ll definitely be able to sacrifice seeing people in order to keep practicing and keep this ecosystem safe. Because this team is way more important than anyone on the outside. You\u2019ve got friends and family you really want to see, but you\u2019ve just got to take a little part and sacrifice it for something bigger. It is difficult, but it is going to be worth it in the long run if we keep this ecosystem safe and keep playing games.\u201d<\/p>\n From the football standpoint, Pitts credits some of the new faces on the UCLA team with injecting a new energy. \u201cYou\u2019ve got Q-Knight, (Qwuantrezz Knight<\/a>). He is bringing energy every day. I walk in the building, and Q-Knight is just firing me up. I see him playing fast and I want to play fast too. You\u2019ve got Obi (Obi Eboh<\/a>). He is in law school, so he is pretty smart. He is really a coach on the field. We\u2019re lining up and he is over here calling stuff out before it even happens.\u201d<\/p>\nThe UCLA Ecosystem<\/h3>\n
Influx Needed<\/h3>\n