"It was different than my first day at Boston College,'' the Wolfpack's new coach said, recalling how a blizzard forced him to cancel that April 1 Eagles practice in 1997.

O'Brien, standing tall and straight in tan shorts, a light black jacket and white cap, moved methodically to the different position stations, intently scrutinizing precision drills. He said little but exuded a quiet strength.

O'Brien isn't an arm flailer and sideline screamer. He's calculative, business-like, and about the business of winning. Some have compared his approach to that of former successful Pack coach Dick Sheridan, and it's an approach players say they like.

"He's a former Marine officer,'' quarterback Daniel Evans said. "We are gonna work; we're gonna get after it. We are not going to dilly-dally around. He's not going to take any mess.

"The attitude [coach O'Brien and] the new staff brings, I think is great. My teammates, everybody is embracing it."

O'Brien earned the rank of major in the Marine Corps, and the Wolfpack -- 3-9 last season -- is counting on him to wrought a major change in State football.

He did it at BC, turning a losing program into one that went to bowl games the past eight seasons.

"We will buy into [his philosophy],'' said Marcus Stone, a one-time quarterback who has switched to tight end. "The coaches teach the fundamentals real well."

Stone added that he doesn't miss playing quarterback and is excited about concentrating full-time on his new position after talking with O'Brien.

That means Evans, who supplanted Stone as the starter last season, redshirt sophomore Justin Burke and Nebraska transfer Harrison Beck will compete at quarterback.

"We decided to go with the younger kids and see how they are," O'Brien said.

Though O'Brien is somewhat familiar with State's personnel, Wednesday was the first time coaches could evaluate players on the field. The emphasis was on sharpening fundamentals, implementing the base offense and defense and getting acquainted with new terminology, BC terminology.

O'Brien doesn't have a depth chart. Instead, he uses an "organizational chart" and says players will switch around for a while.

"We have to figure out what they can do, what they can do best, figure out their strengths and weaknesses,'' he said. "We are going to get better each and every day, each and every drill."

And in a fresh football atmosphere. Old signs and slogans have vanished from the practice facility. Once again there is change, once again there is hope for a brighter tomorrow.

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