OT: New Head Coach Willie Taggart is making quite an impression at Oregon already

Submitted by Fieldy'sNuts on

Multiple Oregon players hospitalized following team conditioning workouts

Three Oregon players were hospitalized as a result of strength and conditioning workouts on campus last week following the team's holiday break, according to Andrew Greif of The Oregonian.

The three players, offensive linemen Doug Brenner and Sam Poutasi, and tight end Cam McCormick, remain in fair condition at the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center following their hospitalization, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Ducks head coach Willie Taggart visited the players in hospital before leaving on a recruiting trip.

According to Greif, players were put through a series of workouts described by multiple sources as resembling military basic training, with one particular workout including up to an hour of non-stop pushups and up-downs. Players were reported to have "passed out" during the sessions.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/multiple-oregon-players-hospitalized-following-team-conditioning-workouts/ar-AAlVD1P?OCID=ansmsnnews11

 

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1VaBlue1

January 17th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^

I once did a 540 in  cart trying to avoid the green.  The daily 10AM shower on St Thomas (USVI) made everything damp, and I came over a hill to the see the green about 30 feet in front of us.  I turned to avoid it, and spun around 1.5 times before stopping just shy of the green.  Ahh yes, the USVI are a great place to be drunk on a golf course...

Joined: 01/31/2016

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Fieldy'sNuts

January 17th, 2017 at 10:56 AM ^

Irele Oderinde joined the Ducks in January 2017 as football's head strength and conditioning coach, coming to Oregon from South Florida along with head coach Willie Taggart.

Oderinde spent the previous three years as the Director of Athletic Performance for South Florida athletics, overseeing the strength and conditioning programs for all 19 USF programs and designing a year-round training program for the Bulls’ football team.

http://www.goducks.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1526&path=football

 

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Braylon_Edward…

January 17th, 2017 at 10:59 AM ^

FWIW, I have a friend who works with the USF football team. He said their workouts were never that hard. In fact, they probably could've been a lot worse. Sounds like a new staff making an impression + Oregon players not being in shape (remember, they didn't make a bowl. Players had to condition on their own). Taggart is no drill Sargent. Even went to see the players in the hospital. Very interesting story - doubt much will come from it.

Joined: 07/27/2014

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Rabbit21

January 17th, 2017 at 11:17 AM ^

That was the question I was going to ask, it seems unusual that the issue would just all of a sudden crop up at a new school.  

Not sure I like this, having gone through military training I can attest that an hour long session of pushups and up-downs is no joke, and I also wasn't expected to do anything like that on day one and I certainly wasn't expected to perform at that level right after winter break.

I get the whole, "set a new tone" thing, but that seems like overkill.

Joined: 11/12/2009

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Bigku22

January 17th, 2017 at 12:14 PM ^

I was just about to ask this. I watch a ton of college football and saw USF play multiple times. There were games defensively they looked downright lazy and uninterested. They also ranked 120th out of 128 in total defense. I know conditioning doesn't equal great defense and USF plays high tempo but it never struck me as a team who was being put through a military style program. Taggart also seems to be more of a players coach. Unless the new regime has really changed their ways, seems like more coincidental.

Joined: 05/23/2013

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Braylon_Edward…

January 17th, 2017 at 1:10 PM ^

Taggart's big problem at USF was hiring his buddies, not the best candidate. Our DC had no business running a defense at this level, not yet at least. He's a nice guy, good recruiter, but not at all qualified for the position he was in. I think that is why the Bulls were so bad on defense. Not necessarily a toughness/conditioning thing. There are some real players on that defense. But yes, there's a general truth to what you brought up.

Joined: 07/27/2014

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Bigku22

January 17th, 2017 at 1:21 PM ^

Thanks, great info. And absolutely agree that defense had some real athletes/players on it and had no business being ranked down the likes of Cal, Oregon, Texas Tech and the worst in the country. Thought Taggart did a great job of recruiting, loading up the roster with those type of athletes at USF was impressive. Hopefully he's learned from his defensive mistakes, should be a great hire for Oregon.

Joined: 05/23/2013

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LSAClassOf2000

January 17th, 2017 at 11:16 AM ^

Yes, but only on Tuesdays and Fridays, and then only between the months of March and June depending on the daily rotation of shoes as determined by whoever is in bed with their Regional Brand Strategy folks. If the cafeteria in the football building is emphasizing a corn-heavy selection of sides, add Wednesday to this list. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

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MLaw06

January 17th, 2017 at 10:53 AM ^

First of all, Taggart doesn't lead winter trainings.  That's on S&C coaches.  Also these are voluntary exercises.

That being said, they'll need to work w/ their trainers better in knowing the guys.  Also I assume after a year with DC Brady Hoke, they are probably all out of shape.

Joined: 02/29/2012

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ElBictors

January 17th, 2017 at 3:17 PM ^

They have to be voluntary and as we found out in Ann Arbor, you can't have grad assistants or others from the staff observing or interacting at all.

But yeah, there's Voluntary and then there's "voluntary."  IDK, Oregon was said to be in fantastic conditioning under Kelly and their hyperfast Offense.

Guessing with coaching change and a down year comes complacency

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Kevin13

January 17th, 2017 at 11:20 AM ^

the workouts but he talks to the strength coach and gives him direction on what he wants with these players. I am guessing he told the S&C coach he isn't happy with what he saw on film and with these players in person and said turn up these workouts and make them as hard as you can as I need some changes right away.

Also the workouts are not voluntary. These guys are in mandatory winter conditioning. Nothing is voluntary at this level and if players think it is, playing time becomes voluntary also.....

Joined: 01/26/2016

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Night_King

January 17th, 2017 at 10:54 AM ^

He's been doing a phenomenal job with his staff hires and flipping some good recruits, but this is crazy. Hopefully it doesn't happen again. I'm all for hard work and very competitive practicing, but it's January, the staff needs to dial it back. 

Joined: 03/02/2016

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Lakeyale13

January 17th, 2017 at 10:53 AM ^

Nothing endears parents of players to a new coach like causing their kids to be hospitalized.  I remember when this happened at I think Iowa a couple of years ago.  Kids had to do 100 reps of 225 on squats.  Something like that if my memory serves me correctly.

Joined: 11/16/2014

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maizenbluenc

January 17th, 2017 at 10:57 AM ^

To do a lot of pull-ups. Think about lifting 300 lbs repeatedly with very long arms. Makes me think of the 6 minute mile run "Throw a Bucket of Cold Water" section in Bo's Lasting Lessons.

Joined: 07/21/2009

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Sopwith

January 17th, 2017 at 10:59 AM ^

Rhabdomylosis is serious business and you don't bounce back right away. You could have kidney damage that takes weeks if not months to recover from-- the S&C coach is probably looking at a suspension if he's lucky. 

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