CC: 2010 San Diego State Football Strength & Conditioning Video
For whatever reason, this morning I felt compelled to do more research on Brady Hoke and the football program he's implemented at SDSU in his time there.
Originally, I was trying to find highlights of the 2010 season, but somehow I managed to run across a video montage of San Diego State's Football Strength & Conditioning program on YouTube.
You can watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5TftXReVoQ
Now, I am no certified expert, but as someone who trains for and competes in a variety of sports, I see a TON to like in this video, such as:
- Lots of free weights - hits large "mirror" muscles and small stabilizers
- Some Olympic lifts and compound movements - develops full body strength, power, AND coordinated movement
- Functional training - takes the strength and power from lifting and APPLIES it to simulated football movements before the first snap
- Sled work - also builds on any lower body weight training work, helps athletes near their maximum potential in terms of speed and quickness
- Ropes & towels used as grips - develops hand, wrist, and forearm strength
- Kettlebells - helps develop dynamic power, also assists with coordination
- Sandbags - shifting, irregular shape develops coordination, strength, and the ability to latch onto an opposing player
I really liked the mix of supportive and competitive tasks the players dealt with. That always promotes team unity.
I also dug the quote from who I assume is Aaron Wellman, the
Football Strength & Conditioning coach for SDSU. Note that he has worked with Brady Hoke since 2004.
You don't have a right to hurt...
You don't have a right to be tired...
All you have...is the right to play your ASS off...every DAY!
That's your RIGHT!
Mr. Wellman's bio and CV is available here:
http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wellman_aaron00.html
Wellman spent his collegiate career at Indiana and his professional stops are Indiana, Michigan State, Ball State, and SDSU. I'm sure he likes it out in SD, but he would probably be very interested in heading to Michigan if Hoke turns out to be the guy.
Okay, so I've posted all of this, and many people who've read to this point are thinking, "Great, but what does this mean for Michigan?"
Based on my research, I believe that Michigan Football's Strength & Conditioning situation is in good shape if Hoke is hired as the head coach. To me, the video posted above is clear evidence that Hoke and Wellman understand how to run a modern, effective football S&C program. I state this because everything I've heard and read indicates that Barwis has been using similar methods in Ann Arbor.
Thus, if Hoke turns out to be the guy I believe that he will understand and approve of Barwis' methods, ultimately retaining him. If Hoke declines to retain Barwis, based on the video above, I believe that Mr. Wellman is capable of continuing and building on Barwis' work conditioning Michigan football players.
Nowhere do I see evidence that Hoke will take us back to the days of Gittleson and PIZZA!
January 8th, 2011 at 2:38 PM ^
Hoke is good. Not sure DB would do it knowing how PO'd so many alums and fans would be. Definitely not the HR he is looking for.
January 8th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^
You took the words right out of my mouth with the Gittleson and Pizza comment.
January 8th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^
Obviously, Barwis has been all the rage but...that video is awesome. Love the Ennio Morricone music.
Nice find. Maybe Hoke's hiring wouldn't represent the End of Days, as I've felt all week.
January 8th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
...the point I was going for.
Hoke will not be the Apocalypse when it comes to S&C, and if the guy is serious about running to the airport in his boxers to get here, maybe DB should give him a shot at living his dream.
That's a story I could definitely get behind...
January 8th, 2011 at 2:43 PM ^
That is one of the best quotes I've ever heard. Over the last day [ http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/brady-hoke-not-jim-harbaugh-is-perfect-coach-for-michigan-wolverines-010711 ] I've become sold on Hoke and this video just reinforces it.
"Those who stay will be champions"
January 8th, 2011 at 2:43 PM ^
Brady Hoke makes his players do exercise? Awesome. That totally means we should ignore his losing record as a head coach and hand him the keys to one of the top programs in college football history.
January 8th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^
But you are starting to sound like RR haters after the 5-0 start. "Well that is positive, but lets not give him any credit b/c he still has an overall losing record". I'm not advocating Hoke for the position, but I don't see how a losing record relates to the merits of this post, in terms of S&C if Hoke is hired.
January 8th, 2011 at 2:52 PM ^
we are stellar right now. People are falling all over themselves to come deal with our completely rational diehard fan base. The way we ran the last guy out of town basically before he ever coached a game, I am sure that we have TONS of options. IMO, better to hire a guy who LOVES Michigan than some hot coaching name who doesn't get the situation here.
Purple stuff must have the biggest book of smart-ass comebacks in the world.. although I must admit they are funny..... (place smart-ass comeback below)
January 8th, 2011 at 3:20 PM ^
At SDSU, Hoke is 13-12 overall, however, that doesn't tell the whole story of his two years there. Since 1998, SDSU's last bowl game, they have averaged around 4 wins/season with their best season during that time frame, and prior to Hoke, being a 6-6 campaign in 2003. They were a MWC doormat until this year, where they finished third behind only TCU and Utah, and their four losses were by a combined 14 points. They beat a ranked(at the time) AirForce team that had played OU to a three point game at OU.
At Ball State, Hoke was 34-38 with a 27-20 conference record. His last two years at BSU saw his record at 19-7(Hoke didn't coach BSU's 2008 bowl game) and two bowls. During BSU's 12-2 2008 season, they beat a good Navy team, stomped Indiana, scored 40+ points 6 times and 30+ points 11 times.
His overall record as HC needs to be taken in context, rather than as a whole, considering the programs he took over.
January 8th, 2011 at 3:30 PM ^
He had one good season at BSU out of six and the program was not in a position for sustained success.
Everyone who follows SDSU closely knows Chuck Long did a very nice job rebuilding that program only to get canned after 3 years before he could see his guys mature. Hoke simply benefitted from the natural progress that occurs when a talented returning QB gets to his junior season. He would orchestrate the same "turnaround" here and after that there is nothing in his resume to indicate he can lead Michigan to sustained success.
There are dozens of coaches with stronger resumes that we could get. We should not settle just because one guy supposedly "gets it" simply because he was an assistant coach at Michigan 8 years ago.
Dave Brandon refused to take the last three years "in context" with a proven head coach. He can't fire Rodriguez because the record wasn't good enough only to hire Hoke and make excuses on his behalf.
January 8th, 2011 at 2:46 PM ^
Mike Barwis will NOT be retained. The new head coach will bring in their own guy. The Barwis "love" is and has been out of control. He is not the top of the line s & c coach. He's decent but he is not the best in the business. There are WAY too many injuries to important individuals, especially running backs. If Brady Hoke comes to Michigan then Wellmann comes with him. If Les Miles comes to Michigan then Tommy Moffitt comes to Michigan.
January 8th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
If you check out his bio pic you'll find that he has the requisite crazy eyes.
Either way, I feel that vid is strong evidence that he knows what he is doing.
Other positive items on his CV are that he has trained athletes in other sports, such as ice hockey, and he has developed nutrition programs for athletes.
January 8th, 2011 at 3:00 PM ^
Why does it matter that he's trained athletes in other sports?
January 8th, 2011 at 3:30 PM ^
...my understanding is that Barwis is well-liked by many of the non-football sports at Michigan, and if he does move on I think it would be helpful that the next head S&C guy has some experience outside football.
I also think that experience with other sports demonstrates a certain level of open-mindedness and flexibility. That could be helpful because good ideas that start out as part of hockey conditioning might be adaptable to the football conditioning regime.
I don't think it's helpful when people are locked into, "the one TRUE conditioning method!" Good ideas show up in all kinds of unlikely places.
That's why I feel Wellman's experience with other sports are a net positive. Not huge, but still net positives.
January 8th, 2011 at 3:49 PM ^
I just wanted to know your reasoning but there is an entire other strength staff that trains the other teams and they are not going anywhere. Actually, I would go out on a limb and say they're better than Barwis and his staff. They're mostly guys that came from the US Olympic training center in Colorado Springs.
January 8th, 2011 at 5:07 PM ^
Thanks for the useful info, I had no awareness the other sports teams had folks of that caliber available. It sounds like you're a lot closer to Ann Arbor and the Athletic Department than I am.
I'm not in love with Hoke as a candidate, but I was trying to show that he doesn't necessarily equal complete doom on the S&C front.
January 8th, 2011 at 3:00 PM ^
Why does it matter that he's trained athletes in other sports?
January 8th, 2011 at 3:35 PM ^
What is it with those S&C guys?
January 8th, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^
Barwis is under contract for 2 more years. He is, in fact, among the best in the business (along with Moffitt). Wellman is at least one notch below that level - please.
Miles would have the clout to insist on his own guy (Moffitt), but not Hoke. Brandon would be nuts to bring in Hoke AND step-down from a Barwis-level S & C coach.
I heard Brandon really likes Barwis and will do whatever he can to keep him and his staff at Michigan. He's got to have some continuity with the returning players also which is another reason to keep at least one major player on the staff. Don't be surprised if Fred Jackson ends up back on a Hoke-lead team - his value in recruiting is huge !
January 8th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
...enough said! Bring him in!
Seriously though, from the video, I am happy with what I see. The Barwis love affair has run way too out of control. S/C can only do so much to make the guys better on the football field anyway.
January 8th, 2011 at 7:06 PM ^
Barwis is under contract for 2 more years. He is, in fact, among the best in the business (along with Moffitt). Wellman is at least one notch below that level - please.
Miles would have the clout to insist on his own guy (Moffitt), but not Hoke. Brandon would be nuts to bring in Hoke AND step-down from a Barwis-level S & C coach.
I heard Brandon really likes Barwis and will do whatever he can to keep him and his staff at Michigan. He's got to have some continuity with the returning players also which is another reason to keep at least one major player on the staff. Don't be surprised if Fred Jackson ends up back on a Hoke-lead team - his value in recruiting is huge !
January 9th, 2011 at 3:13 AM ^
Barwis may be better than Wellman, but I am unable to distinguish that with the information available to me.
My main goal was to point out that football S&C will not be a complete and total disaster if DB does decide to hire Brady Hoke as Michigan's next head coach.