Penn State sophomore corner Keaton Ellis is happy to be back — as much as a State College native can return to a place that he never left. Nevertheless, as 75 football players return to campus for workouts and meetings there is a small sense of normalcy, a small sense of returning to life as we’re used to it.
But that feeling doesn’t last long. First there is a COVID-19 test that, according to Ellis, lasts just 15 seconds.
Then there’s everything else COVID-related. Masks for starters. And that fancy nutrition bar full of shakes and healthy snacks? Well those are delivered after practice now. Oh, and the brand new player’s lounge full of video games and comfortable chairs? Can’t go in there either.
‘When I first heard the news [about returning]. I was really excited, and obviously this is the first step in trying to get back to normal and getting everybody together, start practicing, and that kind of stuff,’ Ellis said during a media call on Wednesday.
“This first phase, I got tested the other day, and so went through all that. We did physical stuff; that’s what this week’s been really is, you know, making sure everybody’s healthy and getting everybody’s return physical stuff. I’m excited to be back and moving forward.’
In fact Penn State players won’t even be spending much time inside the football building. According to Ellis, the Nittany Lions will go through their workout regimen in Holuba Hall because there is more room to safely spread out. So forget about that nice weight room. You’ll see it later.
Oh and celebrations. Working out is a group effort and maxing out is a reason to high five, a reason to hug. Except now you can’t do that either.
“It’s gonna be different,” Ellis said. “Verbally, you know, that’s the biggest thing, because you’re not gonna have that physical contact dapping someone up or the high fives. The chest bumps you won’t have as much as you did before. I think it’s still gonna be the same. The leaders will still be vocal and if someone makes a good play or someone is working hard you can still let them know and all that kind of stuff.”
And team meetings? Still on Zoom video calls. Still not in person even with 75 members of the team making the pilgrimage back to State College. Because as James Franklin said earlier in the spring, what happens if you put everyone in the same room and your quarterback gets sick?
‘…The other challenge is, are you going to meet with all your quarterbacks at the same time?’ Franklin said at the time. “Well, if you meet with your quarterbacks at the same time and they all get sick, you don’t have a healthy quarterback … I’m saying that this is a lot more complicated than how I think a lot of people are looking at it.’
When it’s all said and done, getting back on campus is a chance to see teammates for the first time in ages and get back together in the same place — at a safe distance — for the first time really since last season ended.
Maybe things are different, but they’re also slightly more normal than they have been the past few weeks and months.
For Ellis and company, it’s a welcome change, even if things are still a little strange.
‘Getting back with my teammates is probably the biggest thing [I’m looking forward to] and to start building that camaraderie for the season, and working together, and sacrificing together, and sweating together, and bleeding together, because that’s what it comes down to, that team camaraderie.
“We haven’t had spring ball to build that, so I’m just excited to get back with my teammates and start grinding again and [getting] back to normal and getting everybody together, start practicing, and that kind of stuff.”