Hey t-gang, sorry for my recent absence from the forum. Just been a bit engulfed in my training and studies. Anyway on with the point: who watched the OK/UNC game? the sheer athletecism of some of these guys MY AGE is incredible. UNC’s Julius Peppers is 6’6 285lbs runs a 4.4 40 and benched 225 for 26 reps!! I really would love to have insight into these guy’s training regimens and nutrition. Anyone else?
Hey…don’t forget that Peppers is also on the UNC BASKETBALL team! From what I understand, training and nutrition have come a LONG way (especially on the Division 1 Level) from the days of “eat anything…but just a lot of it” and of haphazard training. It really has become a science in itself, with full time people devoted to training and nutrition (there was a nice (but short)segment yesterday on The University of Nebraska and their Sports Training). Yes…there are some “genetic freaks” and juice is used BUT the majority; the VAST majority of these guys simply work hard and have the benefit of some of the most up-to-date training and nutrition advice in the world. (On a side note: anybody catching the HBO special on the Raven’s training camp? Looks like a few of those coaches have had one too many Big Macs and fries since their playing days!)
Peppers is quitting the basketball team. He wants to concentrate on football to move up in the draft. He’s destined to be a high pick anyway, but it sounds like he’s a man with a goal. Man, what an athlete! What is it with UNC? They’ve had Jordan, L.T. and now Peppers.
Back when I was on some recruiting visits, I remember some pretty interesting things. The coolest is that some of these teams are actually up-to-date in terms of their supplementation and nutrition. Nebraska has been using creatine for years. Way before most of the other NCAA teams. They also monitor the player’s nutrition rather closely. That is, while they are in their presence. Some teams are better than others. I remember when I had visited Iowa State, the strength coach told me that the player’s were using HMB, BCAA’s, and creatine. HMB was cool back then though. lol Plus the usual post workout protein and carb combos. Nebraska has a very convenient system. There is a small room off to the side of the weight room where athletes go to get their post workout supplementation. There are two huge (mixing machine venders) full of liquid. One is full of a drink mainly consisting of simple carbs, somewhat akin to gatorade. The other is a protein mix. The athletes drink the two after training and then go into a huge drawer with little compartments. In these, there are numbers assigned. You simply find your number and pull out a tiny drawer and there is a 5-10 gram cup of creatine for you, depending on your body weight. They even had bars for both before working out and for snacking during the day. Although, I have to admit they weren’t designed very well. Anyhow, this was almost three years ago. I remember a family friend, Fred Pollack who started at left offensive tackle during their last championship. They did a great job with him. Granted he’s a freak but I was still impressed. He was 310 pounds at 10% body fat and ran a 40 in 4.9 seconds (electronic). He used no drugs whatsoever. Although he did tell me that usage certainly did go on with others.
They live in an optimum world for training: Plenty of rest, plenty of food, Team supplied legal supps., massages, etc…Not that Peppers is, but many are juicing also.
The one truly unfortunate thing of the nutritional element is that the NCAA has clamped down on teams supplying numerous supplements such as creatine and glutamine. Most of these young men have to be responsible for this themselves personally now. In faith,
Coach Davies
actually mufasa, the days of “eat anything…but just a lot of it” are still here, go over to elitefts, Dave says just about everyone does at WSB he said.
I’ve enjoyed watching the Ravens training camp on HBO wednesday nights. For those that have missed it there’s still 2 more episodes left. I’m really pulling for that guy Kenny (Jackson is it?)…the linebacker…I really hope he’s able to make that team.
Yea…I’m pulling for Kenny too. Seems like a “real” guy who has worked hard just to get the opportunity to play. No big contracts…no obscence signing bonuses…walk on…the proverbial “underdog”…
26 reps is not that hot. My buddy saw Cory Everson do 18 when she visited the local Golds’ Gym. I wish I could run a 4.4 forty though.
oops, two Rafaels, i’ll just be the non-capitalized version. anyway, yeah, i’d like to see more bits during the games, half-time shows, about the strength programs of the schools. when i lived in lincoln, some of the players would come into the Gold’s where i worked out. i saw Joel Mackavicka doing plyometric squats with over 400 lbs. like it was nothing.
on a side note,i recently decided to change my workouts quite a bit when i realized that there are a bunch of linebackers out there about my size but infinitely stronger than me.