By William Qualkinbush.

A tumultuous offseason for the Clemson baseball program transitioned into the past tense on Friday. The first day of practice often brings with it a sense of optimism and boundless possibility, but Jack Leggett took the sentiment a step further.

“I’m relaxed,” Clemson’s head coach said when asked about his approach to the season. “I’m excited about it, looking forward to it.”

It was not odd to hear Leggett make the statement. After all, the aforementioned inherent optimism lends itself to such statements by default.

What it does not do, however, is explain that mind frame within a team whose 2014 season ended with a thud and a coach whose job security was openly questioned by speculative fans and media. Conditions would seem to favor a more measured or cautious approach.

So why was Leggett so at-ease on Opening Day? There are several theories that make sense.

He spoke of his confidence in the program’s ability to achieve. He heaped praise on many of his returners and the impact of continuity.

But perhaps the clearest explanation was the way Leggett’s players spoke of him on Friday. After being subjected to shortsighted reviews of small pockets of performance for an offseason, veterans like Tyler Krieger and Matthew Crownover offered impassioned defenses of the coach that convinced them to play for Clemson.

“I’d stand up for him right now,” Krieger said. “If you need me to say anything, I’ll tell you, because I love that man. He’s taught me a lot.”

“We trust in him,” Crownover added. “We have a good time with him. It doesn’t affect us. We know that he’s going to be back and he’s our coach. He’s the reason why we came here.”

Over time, it becomes easy for anyone to take his or her reality for granted. With Leggett’s credentials—multiple trips to Omaha, 1,300 wins, ABCA Hall of Fame inductee—having him around might have seemed like a given.

No one can prove it, but after the rumors started swirling in the wake of a 36-25 season, it makes sense to suggest the players and staff took a “circle-the-wagons” approach to the offseason. Leggett seemed threatened. A certain future seemed uncertain.

Nothing ever came of those rumors. If anything, the only repercussions for underachievement were suggested improvements, which Leggett says he and his staff completed.

Leggett seems undeterred by innuendo. He remains confident in his methods and the program’s ability to revive itself with the proper ingredients.

“I’ve always had a lot of confidence in how we handle our program and the types of kids we put out and the success we’ve had. We want to go to another level (above) where we were last year.”

While the head coach seems resolved, the players seem feisty. At least at the leadership level, they have approached the upcoming season in a fighting stance. It may be from personal ambition, or it may in defense of their coach.

Whatever the reason, a jolt of urgency has hit the Clemson baseball program—just in time for the start of a brand new opportunity to achieve.

“I feel sorry for the program,” Krieger said. “I feel like the players have kind of taken on a little bit of the responsibility to not let that happen again.”