This is going to come off as a rant because It's 1:30 am and I just finish watching "The U" 30 for 30 for the 30,000th time so my thoughts are kind of sporadic. For that I apologize in advance.
I am just wondering what it is going to take for us to get back to the mountain top and stay there in the modern era.
Similar to how Rellyrell is passionate about athletic apparel, sneakers, branding and risk management, I am very passionate about Strength and Conditioning and Athletic Performance.
I love Miami, always have-always will, but we have not been ELITE in the S&C department since the Tommy Moffit days in the late 90's/early 2000s. Like our facilities and willingness to pay top dollar for coaches, our S&C department fell below standard. We (Shalala) got lazy and gave the football program the bare minimum when it came to actually investing $$$ in the program. REAL $$$. We had to have a former baseball player Tim Bellamy had to basically beg to become the Football program's nutritionist because get this: WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE!! Guys would grab a Muscle Milk on the way out the weight room and hope for the best I guess.
We became stagnant with Swasey, who some will argue was not as qualified as we had originally believed. He is at Colorado now, so I will be watching them closely this year. Guys like Mickey Marotti have 4 rings from 2 teams because they are ever learning. This field has evolved over the years and it can get very complex with new trends and the latest studies. I believe a guy like Aron Feld is very qualified and knows what he's doing, but I am going to be honest here.... The elite have their top guys on "special protein" and their "A" in BCAA's stands for Anabolic.
Most of the schools have no direct contact with the entities that have the SARMS, HGH, EPO, Peptides, IGF-1, etc..... you know for plausible deniability I suppose, but there are systems in place for sure. Similar to the "bag" network each (SEC) school unofficially had before NIL. I have a friend who was a former IFBB bodybuilding pro who is now a LPN and Personal Trainer who "helps" Georgia players along with a friend of his who is a doctor (who runs a TRT clinic). Remember a few years back when those Alabama players got caught for using deer antler spray? That was child's play compared to what really goes on. Especially today. So until we somehow, somewhat enter into these waters we automatically give up an advantage to these teams on our quest for a National Title.
Just to take a quick peak at what elite S&C programs consist of LEGALLY
1. We have Alabama and David Ballou showing off their new weight room that has Elite Form (tm) force generation/power output data display (from 10 years ago) to the newer hinge machines like the Back Attack which increases the posterior chain load as the movement is performed. There is also a standing chest press that emphasizes training how you play football (On one or two feet). Mind you Saban hired Ballou as the Director of Athletic Performance and Dr. Matt Rhea as the Director of Sports Science.
2. In the LSU facility tour look at how they have collagen, pre workout, tart cherry juice and creatine in a assembly line fashion for players to consume. Also notice the quick digesting calories that contain carbohydrates and proteins at the post workout section of the video. Highly regulated, Highly intentional. I WILL say that I believe we will have this and more once our football operations facility is complete.
I know this post was kind of all over the place but would like to know y'all thoughts, especially if there are any strength coaches or athletic trainers in here.
Go Canes!
