In sports, few traits can outweigh talent and preparation on the field of play. For this upcoming Penn State football season, the factor of motivation may play a bigger role than both after beginning last year with an unprecedented 0-5 record, good for the worst start in school history.

Although many external variables played a part in the atypical start, tight end Brenton Strange believes the team was simply unprepared compared to his first season in Happy Valley in 2019.

“It’s the little things,” Strange said Monday. “I think some of the guys, we just missed out on the little things last year. It’s the little details that really matter, and I think that’s what we aren’t going to miss out on this year, and I think that’s what’s going to make the difference.”

For a program that has finished in the top 12 of the College Football Playoff rankings four of the last six years, Penn State’s coaching staff and roster are equally unaccustomed to the losing ways of a season ago. Although the final four games of the 2020 campaign blurred the brutality of the first five losses, the players have not forgotten what it feels like to be in a losing locker room.

“As someone that hates to lose, that’s definitely a motivator,” Strange said. “Every day in the weight room, we would go in and we would see 0-5 on the board. So, I mean, if that doesn’t motivate you to come out and try to get better every day, I don’t know what does.”

Just over a week ago, the Nittany Lions began their first spring ball period in nearly two years. With the transition at the offensive coordinator position for the third time in Strange’s three seasons within the program, the young tight end recently realized just how vital the early installment period is to finding consistency

“Last year, I think it hurt a lot, especially having a new offense this year,” Strange said. “It helps a lot because we come in and get those 15 practices, and we get to learn about those little details. I definitely believe that these 15 practices are going to benefit us in many ways.”

While the move from offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca to Mike Yurcich was certainly an unexpended offseason surprise to many, the change brings new hope to an offense that struggled mightily last year. Change is certainly difficult for all involved in a college football program, but in more places than not, the ever-revolving coaching carousel is now more normal than stability.

For Strange and the other Penn State tight ends, Yurcich’s offense calls for greater responsibility in the passing attack, similarly to how former standouts such as Mike Gesicki and Pat Freiermuth were utilized under Joe Moorhead and his successor, Ricky Rahne.

“The thing that I like most about the offense is that it’s up-tempo,” Strange said. “I don’t think a lot of defenses just want to run the whole entire game, and that’s what we do with up-tempo. It’s fast, gets the defense its heels, and creates explosive plays.

“Last year, I wasn’t really expecting to be the guy to come in and maybe get all of the receiving stats, but this year, it’s a lot different,” he added. “I have the opportunity to be the receiving guy and the guy that blocks, so I’m very excited for that.”

With high hopes of restored success lingering throughout the walls of the Lasch Building, the group recognizes there is still plenty of work left. For now, Strange plans on maintaining the competitive edge spurred from the disappointment of last year’s drastic decline.

“I’m going to keep getting better,” Strange said. “That’s what I’ve been doing all offseason, getting better.”