By Bill Hanefeld, SID Intern
July 16, 2004
While most college students spend the summer months relaxing away from campus, many of the Bluffton football players have been spending their afternoons training for the upcoming season. Coming off of two seasons in which the total wins were five, strength coach Denny Phillips and defensive line coach Andy Bentley devised a program to improve functional strength and agility which can be parlayed to movements used on the football field.
In the afternoon each day a contingent of football players make their way into the weight room to begin their daily workout regimen. Three days a week the team lifts weights while plyometric training takes place on Tuesday and Thursday. The players training program also includes three days of running drills each week.
Although conditions at the Bluffton complex are hot and humid, they have not managed to keep the young men from pushing forward in an attempt to improve upon their 2-8, 2003 record. The team believes that through hard work and perseverance they will be able to succeed on the field during the upcoming season. With each drop of sweat the possibility of success seems to become more of a reality.
"Members of the team were encouraged to train with teammates, whether it was at home or on campus this summer. The attitude that the players left with in May is sustaining their efforts in training this summer," said head coach Greg Brooks.
The best motivator of the new training program has been the players themselves. From the beginning the upperclassmen have worked hard to keep each other involved in workouts and mentor incoming freshman who have also been working out with the team. The team decided that defeat is unacceptable as they have gone beyond the typical off-season workouts. Coach Brooks is hopeful that the hard work will translate to an improved football program this fall.
As the summer comes to a close, the remainder of the football team will report to Bluffton University on August 15. Those players who have worked hard this summer will be ready for the challenges that lay ahead. The team will be led by a group of coaches who were all members of the 2003 staff as a sense of community has been formed under second year head coach Greg Brooks.