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Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh physically and mentally stands behind quarterback Justin Herbert, who readies for a snap on the first day of training camp. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
He strutted around the deep green football fields like a new father, shouting and gesturing and celebrating with cheers and compliments and a loudly blown whistle.
Then Jim Harbaugh explained.
His first official training camp practice as the Chargers coach was like…childbirth?
Yeah, childbirth.
“Just like being born,” he said after Wednesday’s inaugural training camp workout at the Chargers’ gleaming new El Segundo practice facility. “It was like coming out of the womb. It’s comfortable and safe, and now you’re born. The lights are on. It’s bright and there’s chaos. People are looking, people talking to each other and, just feels good to have it happen.”
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh surveys the field during the first day of training camp. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Oh, it’s happening all right. In a wondrous culmination of an offseason of labor, the new Chargers era began Wednesday with their new $16-million coach filling up their new $250-million home with wit and wisdom and just plain weirdness.
It was truly a bolt to the senses.
Harbaugh showed up in throwback black cleats, baggy black pants, and enough gravitas that his five-win team spent the morning playing with such unbridled enthusiasm, he felt obliged to give the strangest of orders. He asked players to please stop hitting each other.
“We’re not in pads. When we’ve got no armor, you know, we’re wearing pants and jerseys and helmets. So we can’t, we can’t play like we’re like we’re in football pads,” Harbaugh said, replaying his demonstrative post-practice speech. “So you know, to me, I’m just this with them…”
He lowered his hands in a slow-down motion, then proceeded to pull out another metaphor.
“My analogy would be a plane taking off the runway,” he said. “It…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jim-harbaughs-chargers-camp-debut-232228536.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-07-24 23:22:28
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