Matt Viator Discusses Start of Spring Ball for McNeese

Spring ball is getting set to ramp up across the country as College Football teams all across the sport will be getting to see their new squads in action for the first time. McNeese Head Coach Matt Viator sat down with the media to preview the Spring for his squad...

"It’s exciting to get back out there, but I’d say I’m cautiously optimistic. There’s a lot to fix, but so far, the effort and approach have been good."

Viator did mention in his availability with the media that they will be without a few contributors throughout the spring, as they had several players undergo offseason surgeries. Viator was confident that most of them would return by June 1. He did not disclose which players would not take part in spring ball.

"We'd love for everyone to go through spring ball, but getting those guys back for summer is a positive for us," he explained. Despite those absences, he feels confident in the depth chart. "We're a little short at tight end and corner, but that’s the way it is for most teams."

When asked about his goals for spring practice, Viator highlighted the importance of routine and discipline. "I’m a big believer in how we do things," he said. "Everyone wants to talk about what you're doing, but what separates teams is how you do it—how you practice, how you prepare, and the details of your daily approach. Everything matters to me, even how they leave the locker room."

With a new staff, the first off-season under a new regime can be tricky for returning players, but Viator was very complimentary of the way that the guys have handled all of it...

"I can't say enough good things about the players and how they've adjusted and adapted to what we're trying to do," he said. "I don’t know exactly what I was getting into, but the way they’ve approached everything has been really encouraging," he noted. "They come out with the right attitude and effort, and the rest is up to us as coaches to put them in the right positions."

As for positional depth, Viator said it’s too early to make a full assessment. "Right now, it’s just numbers on paper. We have a big wide receiver room, good numbers on the offensive line, and some depth concerns at tight end and corner. But I won’t truly know until I see them perform in full-speed practice."

It's never too early to talk about the Quarterbacks...

"Everything you see from Jake is what you get, and it is what we thought it would be. I have been impressed with him. I have also been extremely impressed with Alex Flores. I'm really glad he stayed."

The McNeese Spring Game will be held on April 12th.