The Michigan State Spartans, ranked #25 in the AP Top 25 Poll came into Ohio Stadium with one thought in mind. Knock off the #4 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. MSU Coach Mark Dantonio knows how it can be done. He and his MSU squad had done it before and certainly believed it could be done again. And, with only a three point deficit after the first quarter, Michigan State, with their much vaunted and respected defense, had to feel that they could keep things tight. Then, Ohio State stumbled on capitalizing on turnovers. Third down conversions didn't gel. Michigan State played their patented tough-as-nails Spartan "D". However, the Spartan offense struggled to get a foothold against a Buckeye defense that is extremely stingy in their own right. In fact, OSU defensive line coach Larry Johnson has been cranking out a ton of talent lately. Past stars Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa Sam Hubbard, and now Chase Young are all members or former members of Johnson's "rushmen" crew. If you can't find ways to score on these guys, it's just a matter of time before the Ohio State offense, loaded with the speed and size that can strike at almost anytime, will put up enough points to win the contest. Following the game, Buckeye Head Coach Ryan Day presented the Buckeyes' head strength and conditioning Coach Mickey Marotti with the game ball stating that "he's the guy this whole thing is built upon. He's the backbone.... the blood that runs through this whole program. And to say that we're tough, it's because of him and his strength staff and all the work that they put in with these (Buckeyes)". Congratulations to Coach Mick on this honor!
Asst. A.D. for Football Sports Performance Mickey Marotti was awarded the game from Head Football Coach Ryan Day.
Dr Ted Lambrinides (L) sharing a conversation with Coach Dan Wirth in the Sports Science Lab at The University of Tennessee. It's remarkable to see the upgrades that have occurred here in Knoxville.
Online strength and conditioning software plays a very significant role with the University of Tennessee Vols strength training program. With the exceptional number of athletes at this Southeastern Conference (SEC) school, the online software is conducive to managing an infinite number of trainees. Discover more about this TEAMBUILDR platform that offers coaches & trainers the opportunity to put training programs online in our exclusive ASAP PODCAST with Coach Dan Wirth.
ASAP PODCAST with Tennessee Director of Olympic Sports Performance
Ohio State Basketball Director of Strength & Conditioning: Coach Quadrian Banks Coach "Q" is responsible for directing the basketball performance training game plan and works directly with Ohio State Basketball Coach Chris Holtmann They're in their third year together and the blueprint is very goal oriented: prepare the Buckeye basketball program for the demands of an upper echelon, college basketball schedule. With a season timetable that includes the likes of Michigan State, West Virginia, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Villanova, North Carolina, Maryland, and the Big Ten foes, Coach Banks has been energizing this squad for what promises to be action packed challenges! Ohio State Basketball players are reminded everyday of the tradition that has transpired here in Columbus. John Havliicek, Jerry Lucas, Clark Kellogg, Jim Jackson, Herb Williams, Michael Redd, Mike Conley. BOOM. The Schottenstein Center hallways are filled with memorabilia of a storied college basketball program and the present day stars can't help but take note as they head to their daily workout and practice sessions.
A wild Friday night in Cincinnati last week as the #18 University of Central Florida Knights were in town. This was your basic slug fest from the opening kickoff till that final 'fourth and inches' play. The Bearcats' star running back Michael Warren II had somehow been stopped short of the first down marker. The chain gang was summoned for a measurement and once again, the officiating crew did not indicate that Cincinnati had gained the first down needed to drain the clock's sixty-two remaining seconds. With the ball on the UCF 47 yd line, Fickell turned the game over to his offensive lineman, a well conditioned bunch that Head Strength Coach Brady Collins trained by squatting and dragging sleds all summer. An offensive line that had, earlier this season, tested itself against some of the toughest defensive lineman in the country.... Coach didn't waiver. First Down Bearcats. This would become Fickell's signature win as Cincinnati coach:
ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power was on hand in East Lansing, Michigan as the Arizona State Sun Devils departed desert temperatures near 110 degrees in Tempe. It was a wise schedule move as the weather at Spartan Stadium was as they say, picture perfect!
TOUCH DOWN
A very young Arizona State football squad...including freshman QB Jayden Daniels, took one away from the Spartans in East Lansing on this twisting, stretching and reaching 4th quarter touchdown while holding Michigan State to 7 points. The Spartans seemed to dominate the stat sheet in practically every category. Of course, statistics don't really mean everything on gameday. The scoreboard is the only thing that matters. This low scoring affair game did have a strange finish: Michigan State kicked a game tying field goal to send this game to overtime. However, after reviewing the play, MSU was found to have 12 players in their field goal formation.The penalty backed the Spartans up for a 47 yard attempt, which missed.... but wait! The Sun Devils hurdled the Michigan State line, a clear rule infraction and should have been a 15 yard penalty, this time in favor of the Spartans and would spot the ball on the ASU 14 yard line with an un-timed down. However, this is not a reviewable play. Game over. Arizona State Sun Devils 10
Ohio State flexed their muscles a bit at Ohio Stadium as they played host to the Cincinnati Bearcats. and with that, the Buckeyes' Asst AD for Football Sports Performance, Coach Mickey Marotti, definitely had to be pleased with what's been #developedhere in Columbus. Interestingly, Mickey Marotti was Cincinnati’s strength and conditioning coach for nearly nine years, from 1990-98. and Brady Collins, Cincinnati's Director of Football Performance, worked for Coach Mick as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach with Ohio State Football. Head Football Coach Luke Fickell served as interim Head Football Coach for the Buckeyes. With their 42-0 win, Ohio State maintained their spot among college football's elite in the 2019 season, moving their record to 2-0. The Bearcats make their trip back to Cincinnati and prep for another in-state rival, the Miami Redhawks, a team that they've been playing since 1888.... 1888!
Cincinnati vs Ohio State Official Game Program and ASAP~All Access Credential
Ohio State Strength Staff Coach Steve Bliss & Asst Coach Ted Lambrinides were recognized with the 1979 Big Ten Championship commemoration
The venerable Ohio State Coach Woody Hayes hired Coach Steve Bliss (left) as the Buckeyes' first head strength coach. Ted Lambrinides served as assistant coach. The #1 ranked Buckeyes lost to USC in the 1980 Rose bowl 17-16 and with that their hold on that year's National Championship
ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power rolled back into Durham, North Carolina to check in with the Duke University Football strength and conditioning program and Head Strength Coach Noel Durfey. While we were there for this trip, we cornered the guy who works with the Duke quarterbacks..... Assistant Sports Performance for Football Coach Drew McDuffie. We have to think that he's been doing a great job there, he started perfecting his craft while working with the Clemson Tigers and after working tirelessly with the 6th pick overall in the 2019 NFL Draft Daniel Jones we definitely took notice!
So, check out this ASAP PODCAST with Coach Drew McDuffie (photo right). Today's podcast is brought to you bySPECATHLETIC The sports flooring with the highly acclaimed®Regupol technology.
The Cincinnati Bearcats kicked off their 2019 football campaign with a bang as they were able to use their defensive prowess to their advantage and keep the visiting UCLA Bruins at bay. The PAC-12team could have used some of their many storied players from the past, namely Troy Aikman, to change any result against the much more physical Bearcats, sporting their intimidating all black uniforms. Coach Luke Fickell has outdone the more celebrated UCLA coach Chip Kelly for a second straight year, first doing so at the Rose Bowl stadium last August. And this year's game had Cincinnati stealing the ball early, scoring, and never trailing as they rolled to the 24-14 victory at their packed Nippert Stadium.ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power has been eyeing this team for over two years and see it evolving into the kind if team that can cause headaches for anyone. With their type of Defense, which flies around with an attitude, and their Run-Pass-Option Offensive scheme, they can hang around with any team out there. The defense held UCLA to just 62 yards rushing and just 262 yards total for the game. The offense is steered by the perceptive Desmond Ridder a shifty 215 pound runner and thrower who reads the upfront moves of a solid group of offensive lineman. Incidentally, Ridder lost his voice sometime in the first half. (So, that wasn't him singing "Hotel California" as the teams trotted off the field.) But, the heart and soul of the Cincinnati offense is their turbulent running back, Michael Warren II, the perfect combination of brute, angry power with the speed of a cyclone.
The Bruins won't be looking to schedule the Bearcats anytime in the near future. They caught the red eye back to L.A...... Cincinnati starts packing for a trip to Columbus for their next event vs Ohio State.
When I first met Dan Wirth in 1994, he was the Director of Strength & Conditioning at The University of Arizona. Dan was the head strength coach for the Wildcats football team under head football coach Dick Tomey, the school's all-time winningest coach. Think Desert Swarm..... Tedy Bruschi .... Chuck Cecil. Coach Wirth assisted me with some football strength program design while I was coaching at Ohio's largest enrollment high school, Cincinnati Oak Hills. I visited Tucson several times and was always able to pick up some fresh ideas to tweak my program back in Cincy. Plus, I got to meet legendary basketball coach Lute Olson the day after their national championship parade..... sitting in his office talking hoops with the winning coach!
Coach Dan Wirth(right)with Sports Science Expert Dr.Ted Lambrinides
Anyway, fast forward twenty-five years and Dan Wirth is still at it. But, now in Knoxville at The University of Tennessee. There's no desert there, but there's Rocky Top, Smokey, checkerboards and lots of bright orange! Coach Wirth is the Director of Olympic Sports Performance for the Tennessee Vols and his newly rebuilt headquarters is amazing! Rows of brilliant Sorinex racks and supplemental equipment, training recovery devices, Pitsharks, The Bear, a slick Teambuildr Online Software system. They have the whole package and the former Iowa Hawkeye linebacker couldn't be happier!
Checkout this complete video tour with Coach Dan Wirth at
The University of Tennessee: Olympic Sports Training
ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power is now into our Big Ten swing and to kick it off, we headed straight to East Lansing, Michigan where Coach Ken Mannie and his well seasoned strength staff were directing the Spartans deep into the Michigan State 4th Quarter Program. It was one of those invisible mornings where champions are built! We captured a ton of content.... but here's a sampler to keep you quelled for a bit until our main feature hits!
Talk about a swarm of Yellow Jackets! This Georgia Tech Football squad was on the go as head strength Coach Lew Caralla certainly had things stirred up. This particular workout that sport science researcher and NFL player tracking specialist Dr. Ted Lambrinides and I witnessed consisted of some team building activities, some very well executed squat sets, some single-arm dumbbell bench presses. There was also a pretty serious bar hang competition going on. The strength training facility is located within the football home of the Yellow Jackets, Bobby Dodd Stadium. The scoreboard flashed a message, but nobody was there to see it. However, just a short walk through the tunnel and it was a complete contrast to the action inside the weightroom. We entered the Hugh Spruill Strength Training Center at 5:44 a.m. as the strength staff made preparations for the workout. A few minutes later... the action. And here's more pics of the training!
Georgia Tech's fabled Bobby Dodd Stadium 5:42 a.m. June 19 2019
We made a venture to Oxford, Mississippi and checked out the Rebels in action as they worked a speed and agility session under Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Paul Jackson. The workout took place in their impressive indoor facility conveniently located right next to their football strength training complex. Open a door and you're on the field! Here's a few pics
Where's Dr. Ted Lambrinides?.... in Oxford Mississippi at The University of Mississippi: Ole Miss He's with Ole Miss Rebels Coach Paul Jackson discussing sports science. Jackson came to Oxford after spending 2011 at Southern Miss, where he oversaw the strength and conditioning for the entire USM athletics department with direct responsibility over football. In his one season there, the football team had its best record in history at 12-2 and captured the Conference USA championship. Jackson arrived in Hattiesburg after serving in 2010 as the Director of Athletic Conditioning for Football at Miami (Ohio). In his lone season, he helped the Redhawks to the 2010 MAC championship and a victory in the 2011 GoDaddy.Com Bowl, becoming the first team in NCAA history to go from double-digit losses to double-digit wins in one year (1-11 in 2009 to 10-4 in 2010). From 2007-10, Jackson served as an assistant strength coach at LSU, working directly with the Tigers football and volleyball teams. During his time in Baton Rouge, Jackson won an SEC and national championship with the football team as well as three consecutive SEC Western Division and one SEC championship with the volleyball team. While working for the Tigers, Jackson worked under and was mentored by strength and conditioning legend Tommy Moffitt.