CLEMSON – Tom Allen had three main goals for his first spring practice as Clemson’s defensive coordinator: develop confidence and belief, identify personnel, and master technique and fundamentals.

A recent documentary on this season’s spring practices, released by Clemson on it’s official YouTube page (Clemson Tigers), highlights how Allen emphasized the third goal, mastering technique and fundamentals, through a post-practice ritual designed to eliminate laziness.

In Allen’s words, he aimed to eliminate “loafs.”

The ritual?

Up-down exercises for each loaf spotted in the previous day’s film.

“It actually starts in meetings,” senior linebacker Wade Woodaz said. “In meetings we go over the film from the day before and it starts with our effort. A loaf is when you aren’t giving everything you have, someone catches the ball behind you and you don’t turn and immediately burst.

“So we’ll go over how many loafs we had as an entire defense and then, when we get out to practice, at the end of every practice we’ll circle up as a defense, the senior or leader from each position group will come to the center of the circle.”

As shown in the documentary, the leaders call out the number of loafs from their position group, and the entire defense begins the ritual. In the background, Allen’s booming voice can be heard offering words of encouragement: “We’re all in this together. You want this. Nothing can break you unless you let it.”

The players complete the up-downs for each loaf, reinforcing the importance of effort and discipline.

In his introductory press conference in January, Allen, a former head coach at Indiana and defensive coordinator at Penn State, spoke about the intensity and toughness he hopes to instill in the Tigers’ defense.

“Football is not a complicated game,” said the former Bear Bryant Coach of the Year finalist. “It’s not easy, but it’s simple and, to me, it’s about playing with the physicality and the toughness… I love guys that can run and love to hit and so we’re going to make a big deal about takeaway tackling effort. To me that’s the foundational football side of what we want defensively.”

This mindset has already taken root among Clemson defenders.

“Accountability, love, and toughness are the three big pillars for our defense that Coach Allen has brought in, and accountability is the first one,” defensive end T.J. Parker said in the documentary.  “We’re going to make sure we’re the best defense in the country, the most physical defense in the country and we are going to make and create turnovers. So one thing we have to do is get shots on-ball, make sure we don’t have loafs.”

The purpose of the up-downs isn’t to dwell on past mistakes, however. Instead, it is a reminder to look forward to the next practice, the next season, and a new era at Clemson.

“You don’t want to do more of those,” Allen said in a huddle after the up-downs. “You tag off properly, you run to the football, you finish. We cut off 22 loafs from last practice. We’re going to study the film tonight and see how much improvement we made today. Always find a way to get a little bit better.”

The practice ends with a mantra — “family.” A chorus of players chanting “family” as they break down the huddle, reinforcing Allen’s goals of belief and unity.

Clemson fans will get their first look at the fruits of this spring and summer work on Aug. 30, when the Tigers open the season against LSU at Memorial Stadium.