Bear Bryant had the heat and humidity of Junction. Vince Lombardi took his Green Bay Packers to St. Norbert’s College as a way to build unity as they prepared for the upcoming season.

New UTSA coach Frank Wilson isn’t stripping aside the creature comforts for his players over the next few weeks at the University Oaks Apartments. The Roadrunners will have cable television, a swimming pool, air conditioning and most of the other amenities college students expect.

But during training camp, the Roadrunners will be eating, sleeping and breathing football as Wilson borrows from those coaching icons. Wilson is hoping to foster competition and grow cohesion among his players as they work toward the Sept. 3 opener against Alabama State at the Alamodome.

“Actually, it’s kind of exciting,” senior running back Jarveon Williams said. “We’ve never had an experience like a real training camp or moving in with teammates to bond and stay here with each other until camp is over. I’m looking forward to it and I think it will make us better as a team.”

Senior wide receiver JaBryce Taylor was a similar unifying experience earlier in his college career playing under June Jones at SMU.

“I did this during my freshman year and it really brought our team together,” Taylor said. “You need this as a team, this bonding. And when we come out this year and dominate as a team, the little things are the key factor of a successful season.”

Wilson’s excitement was understandable, considering Thursday was the first time he had overseen team reporting day as a college head coach. The new coach admitted he couldn’t sleep Wednesday night and was in his office well before sunrise to prepare for the arrival of his players.

“I’ve been anticipating this day for a long time,” said Wilson, who worked six years as Les Miles’ running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at LSU before accepting the UTSA job Jan. 15.

Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of activities to get his team ready for the upcoming season.

“I thought it would never get here,” Wilson said. “And yet, it seemed like it just popped up on us at warp speed. The veterans are here and the freshmen are here. It’s that day. The day.”

All 104 players who were expected did report by Thursday’s deadline. Under NCAA rules, UTSA can add one more player to the camp roster.

The Roadrunners begin practice Friday afternoon with 14 starters back from a team that went 3-9 last season.

But before they hit the practice fields, players were briefed Thursday afternoon by UTSA president Ricardo Romo and athletic director Lynn Hickey. It’s the start of the sixth season in the program’s history. Wilson is UTSA’s second head coach. He replaced program architect Larry Coker.

The change hasn’t been that traumatic for the players, who quickly bought into Wilson’s ideas during spring practice. The idea of grouping together to prepare for the season has been widely lauded.

“It’s refreshing,” said senior safety Michael Egwuagu, who has never experienced a training camp during his career. “It embodies the new regime and the Frank Wilson era. It will add chemistry for me and my teammates and allow our program to be much more tightly knit. I’m excited for it.”

Quarterback Dalton Sturm and wide receiver Kerry Thomas Jr. are rooming together at University Oaks for the next few weeks. It’s not much different for either as they live together during the school year too.

Sturm, who started the final seven games of the season last year as a sophomore, is involved in the most notable position battle during camp against graduate transfer Jared Johnson.

Sturm has a slight edge only because of his familiarity with the offense. Johnson did not work with the team in the spring, but is expected to display the skills that helped him earn Southland Conference Player of the Year honors last season at Sam Houston State.

Both quarterbacks will have the opportunity to learn under new offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo starting at Friday’s first practice.

“We had about a week off and the whole time, I was itching to get back and continue to learn new things about the offense,” Sturm said. “We’re making huge strides and continuing where we left off in the spring.”

Williams, the first 1,000-yard back in the history of the school, said he can detect a difference among his teammates approaching his final college season.

“I’m excited,” Williams said. “I think everybody else is excited, too.

“If you go around the team and feel the aura around everybody, we’re ready to get on the field and embark on this journey under the new coaches. Everybody has bought in and is ready to rock and roll.”

tgriffin@express-news.net

Twitter: @TimGriffinBig12