When Tony Alford took his first steps into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center as the running backs coach at Ohio State, it didn't take long for Urban Meyer and company to shove a playbook under his nose.
"Like drinking out of a fire hose," Alford said Thursday of his first few days on the job. "You get going and get going fast and furious but it is what it is."
That's to be expected at a place like Ohio State, where Meyer loathes coaching staff turnover — especially after winning the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship in January.
"It's not reinventing the wheel. You're talking about a team that's had great success through the years," Alford, who was officially hired Feb. 10, said. "So I'm just kind of coming in here and trying to fit in where I can. I got a real good room and mature kids, so it's good."
One of those kids is junior Ezekiel Elliott, who put together one of the finest rushing seasons in school history in 2014 when he posted 1,878 yards and 18 touchdowns. He enters next season as an early Heisman Trophy candidate, despite coming off his second surgery to repair a broken left wrist.
Having a guy like Elliott — as big a reason as any for why the Buckeyes made their postseason run — ready and waiting helped make the decision for Alford to leave Notre Dame and replace the departed Stan Drayton pretty easy.
"I don't know — is it pretty easy to drive a Lexus? From driving a Volkswagen?" Alford joked. "In all seriousness, though, it certainly helps. It helps to come in and have great players around and some guys that really understand how to work but I've been very fortunate in my career."
"I would just say the intensity level of everything, all the time. From the time you set foot in here to the time you walk out of here and then some.– Tony Alford, on the intensity at Ohio State
Ohio State is working to develop the depth in the backfield with Elliott sidelined. Players like Bri'onte Dunn, Warren Ball, Curtis Samuel and others are getting the snaps in spring and trying to impress their new coach.
For those guys, however, they hardly notice a difference between what Alford's brought to the table compared to what Drayton left behind.
"Coach Alford, him and Coach Drayton are actually pretty similar coaches with the way they attack it," Elliott said Thursday. "They're very passionate and they demand hard work."
Dunn added: "It really didn't change a lot. We still have good, fun meetings. Everybody's bright-eyed, ready to go every morning. Coach Alford, he just got here so we had to teach him a little bit playbook-wise but he's got it all down pat and is ready to roll."
He better be, because Meyer isn't taking the foot off the gas anytime soon.
"Everyone has different management styles. To say which one is different, better, that's not fair to anyone," Alford said of Meyer and his former boss, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly. "I would just say the intensity level of everything, all the time. From the time you set foot in here to the time you walk out of here and then some. That's probably the biggest thing."
And while he might fudge up some wording when it comes to play calling or blocking assignments because he's learning the new terms from Meyer, offensive coordinator Ed Warinner and his players, Alford's transition to the new running back boss of the defending national champions is flowing.
"The players know the playbook. They know what's going on, too. I'm not trying to come in here and act like I know everything, because I don't, obviously," Alford said. "But it's been good. It's been a good transition."
