ATHLETIC STRENGTH AND POWER

NAVY Football at CINCINNATI BEARCATS

There was no stopping the Cincinnati Bearcats last Saturday against the Navy Midshipmen. Once again, the UC redshirt freshman star quarterback Desmond Ridder put on a show as he worked the RPO Run/Pass Option to perfection. Likewise, Navy had no answer for Cincinnati's defensive front, which was more like a wall and contained Navy, a run oriented team to only a few yards over 100 yards rushing. Similarly, there was no answer through the air as they could only complete 3 passes against a Bearcat secondary that wasn't giving up any ground. Obviously, Coach Luke Fickell, a former collegiate defensive star himself (Ohio State '93-'97), was able relax a bit after the contest, especially since Navy had rushed for over 600 yards in the previous (2017) meeting. New Defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman was very pleased with the 42-0 shut-out as the Cincinnati Bearcats improved their record to 8-1  The Cincinnati Bearcats are one of the huge surprise teams in all of college football. They're presently ranked #23 in the  Coaches Poll and cruising toward showdowns with USF and #11 University of Central Florida.  Stay tuned!

Pics from Navy at Cincinnati with videos from Head Strength Coach Brady Collins'

BEARCATS Strength Program

ASAP at PURDUE BOILERMAKERS at MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS Game report and Photo/Video Shoot

MSU Spartans Quarterback Rocky Lombardi

Things were looking quite good in East Lansing, Michigan last Saturday! Michigan State Head Football Coach Mark Dantonio rallied his Spartan squad that was slightly depleted by a bunch of injuries that included their star starting quarterback, Brian Lewerke.  along with a big time time wide receiver in Felton Davis. among other notables, prior to this contest against the Purdue Boilermakers. So, right before the United State Air Force Color Guard and Spartan Marching Band performed the National Anthem, I asked Spartan Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Ken Mannie about what seemed as grim prospects for the game, especially at the quarterback position. Coach Mannie, who is in his 24th season with the Spartans, personifies the utmost of unflappable of personalities. He answered my question: "Quarterbacks???? We've got three of them Eddie. We've got quarterbacks" 

And he wasn't kidding! Redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi, a 6'3" 218 pound monster with the longish bleach blonde hair trotted out onto the field and calmed all Spartan fan nerves. This dude is a multi sport athlete who, it appears, can do it all. He's a former Iowa high school wrestler who placed 2nd in the state championships there. And,he played baseball there and did track and field, too. In fact, Coach Dantonio stated in the post game presser that if you'd go out on the golf course with Rocky, he'll basically blast the ball to the green. 

Back to coach Mannie. This veteran coach knows how to prepare his teams for Saturdays in the fall. A huge point of emphasis in his storied strength and conditioning program is his "Spartan 4th Quarter Program", which is definitely a bonus in today's Big 10. Mannie's program is also the perfect complement to Coach Mark Dantonio's brilliant defensive force that's one of the stingiest in all of NCAA college football. In fact, the Spartan Defense is currently ranked #1 in FBS in rushing defense.... allowing only 77.4 yards per game.  As good as Rocky performed against the Boilermakers, Dantonio's 'D" kept Purdue in check for most of the game. Purdue was coming off a huge defeat vs Ohio State while on a four game win streak. Yet, MSU always seemed to have an answer for their opponent's explosive offense and propelled Dantonio's win streak over Purdue to eight straight wins, as he's never lost to the team during his tenure in East Lansing. It was the 699th win for Michigan State football.

By the way, if you're interested in learning more about this strength and conditioning program, mark your calendar for February 8/9th 2019 and attend their annual clinic. ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power has attended over 100 strength training clinics over the years from coast to coast. This is THE clinic and Associate Strength Coach Mike Vorkapich directs the clinic and he's got it down to a science. Sports Science. Stay tuned in to ASAP as we are one of the major promoters to this event.

PURDUE Boilermakers at Michigan State Spartans Photos

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Epic ASAP Podcast Episode

ASAP Podcast at South Carolina Football Strength with Coach Jeff Dillman

"Eighteen years of mistakes and eighteen years of asking questions has gotten me to where I am today" .... Coach Jeff Dillman

 

Coach Jeff Dillman, USC legend Marcus Lattimore and Ted Lambrinides

ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power made another visit to Columbia, South Carolina this summer to check in on the director of Football Strength & Conditioning Jeff Dillman. The first ASAP Podcast with Dillman was so popular, it called for a follow-up, so we headed over to the University of South Carolina's Brice-Williams Stadium, a towering place that's typical of the huge stadiums encountered in SEC Football. The Gamecocks' football strength training center is located at the north end, just a few yards from the palm trees and a line of Cockabooses that are a huge hit with the tailgating crowd on game day.

After a walk-thru of the strength training complex and having the opportunity to try some of the hip mobility innovations that Coach Dillman is employing, Coach Dillman and I slipped into his strength office, that serves as our makeshift recording studio to record this podcast. I was also able to snag a few pieces of bubble gum that's piled high in an official South Carolina Gamecocks bucket. We discuss that and the training that has been going on at South Carolina Football. In addition, Jeff updated us on the huge changes that are coming with the new facility. He also is very pleased with the addition of Kristin Coggin, who coach refers to as "a game changer". 

ASAP PODCAST with Coach Jeff Dillman

sponsored by Pit Shark

  

"We try to do simple, better"

Things are looking up and bigger for the Gamecocks. In just a few months, they'll be transitioning to their new facility! And, it's going to be serious! Before long, the Sorin gang will be doing a new install of their world famous Sorinex strength equipment. And look out, this is going to be the real deal set-up. Keep in mind that Bert and Richard Sorin are graduates of the University of South Carolina and were involved with Track & Field there, too.

 Pics and more from The University of South Carolina Gamecocks Football Strength program 

ASAP at Ohio University Bobcats vs Cincinnati Bearcats

Like the weather, the Cincinnati Bearcats came out almost cooled-off. The visiting Ohio Bobcats jumped out to a 14-0 1st Quarter lead. From there, things only got worse in Nippert Stadium for the Bearcats as Coach Luke Fickell and his squad found themselves in a 24-7 hole as they headed to the halftime locker room regroup session. The 'Cats needed some serious focus. Any decent drives that they could muster seemed to be countered by penalties and mistakes. And, it's at this point that a lot of teams just figure that it wasn't meant to be. Yet somehow, Fickell's Bearcat team whittled away at Ohio University's lead and finally lead in the contest. But that still wasn't enough as the Bobcats rallied one more drive right down to the one foot line of Cincinnati. The Bearcats defense then proceeded to stuff OU to a loss of yardage.... and finally winning out 34-30 with a game saving interception at the goal line. Just like that, the Cincinnati Bearcats jumped to  a 4-0 start to 2018.

 Click Here for Pics and Videos

ASAP Podcast with Ohio State's first Head Strength Coach: Steve Bliss

Woody Hayes' Head Strength Coach Steve Bliss

About forty years ago, Ohio State's legendary Head Football Coach Woody Hayes had discovered some members of his Buckeye football squad experimenting with some weight training while down in Coral Gables, Florida. Several members of the Buckeyes were hanging around, after a practice, in a weight room with some Miami Hurricanes football players while on a Sugar Bowl game team trip. The players were actually delaying the bus trip back to the team hotel. Anyway, Coach Hayes did some investigating that day and ended up getting the name of the Hurricanes' strength coordinator, Steve Bliss.   

Check out today's ASAP Podcast with Coach Steve Bliss and find out how the strength program at Ohio State was founded. Coach Bliss created a Master's Degree granting program with graduate assistant coaches to train the Buckeyes. Ted Lambrinides, Ken Mannie, Chip Morton, Rick Spielman, Julie Plank, Mike Medves, Don Moxley, Mark Asanovich and of course, Ohio State's Assistant Athletic Director for Football Sports Performance Mickey Marotti were just a few of the men and women who benefited from Steve Bliss's program!

Today's ASAP Podcast is sponsored by SPECATHLETIC. Give Kevin Cassidy a call and find out how to get Regapol floor in your training complex. 

 

   

 

ASAP at Florida Gators Football Strength Training 2018

With all of the new changes going on at Florida Gator Football, it was just a matter of time before the ASAP Road Show would make its way down to Gainesville and find out what is going on. When Head Football Coach Dan Mullen took the coaching position with this Southeastern Conference program, he needed a guy to get the Gators' that nasty bite back. The Florida Gators needed some prodding, some new direction, and someone to bring out the fierce side. Mullen didn't have to search very far! He brought the guy who'd been directing his football performance program at Mississippi State. Nick Savage, along with his impressive and highly enthusiastic staff, was hired to prepare the Gators for some big days in "The Swamp".

Our first impressions of the transformation taking place at Florida was basically..... WOW!  Things are looking real down there in that strength training complex that lies within the legendary Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Some real SEC-type athletes are making some serious physical changes and I have to think that it won't be long until the Florida Gators put themselves back into serious contention with SEC foes like the Georgia Bulldogs and South Carolina Gamecocks.

Here are a few of the pics and a few video clips from what we saw there!

         

Head Strength Coach Nick Savage and NFL player tracking analyst Ted Lambrinides discuss some innovations in research and development

  

  

 




And let's be up front about this 4 Rivers Barbecue location in Gainesville,  this place is real!  You'll have to trust me on this!

ASAP Podcast with Head Strength Coach Molly Binetti: South Carolina Gamecocks Women’s Basketball

ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power headed to Columbia, South Carolina to check in with the new University of South Carolina Womens Basketball Strength and Conditioning Coach Molly Binetti. She arrived just in time to get the summer training program off and running as the USC Gamecocks prep for their 2018-19 season. Within the South Carolina Basketball complex, Coach Binetti has her office inside the strength and conditioning center that's convenient to the team's nutrition and dining area right down the hall at Colonial Life Arena. Coach Binetti has infectious enthusiasm and is driven by a very competitive winning spirit. She knows the ultimate team goals of the program are laser focused on winning and that's why she's so fixated the details of her team's training regimen. This NCAA womens program is just a year removed from winning the collegiate National Championship. It's BIG TIME in Columbia, SC Listen in to today's podcast, sponsored by SpecAthletic and their Regapol sports flooring, and find out how Coach Molly Binetti is preparing the South Carolina Gamecocks for the coming season!

 

                   

ASAP Podcast sponsor

ASAP Podcast with University of Florida Baseball and Softball Head Strength Coach Paul Chandler

Florida Gators Baseball Strength Coach

Paul Chandler

ASAP went to the top for this ASAP Baseball Strength Training Podcast! We ventured down to The Swamp for this one. Longtime University of Florida Gator strength and conditioning Coach Paul Chandler took a few minutes and shared some valuable information on strength and conditioning for baseball with ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power. Coach Chandler's office and Florida Gator's training center is located at the University of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Find out how Coach Chandler runs his Gator Baseball and Softball training programs in this ASAP Podcast brought to you by: TEAMBUILDR

Paul Chandler is in his 10th season as the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for the baseball program and in his eighth season working with the Gator softball program at the University of Florida. His responsibilities include designing and implementing year-round strength, speed and conditioning workouts for the Gators in the Griffin/Oakley Strength and Conditioning Center. Chandler guides each student-athlete through an individual training program designed to enhance strength, as well as explosive power, speed, agility, endurance, coordination, balance, flexibility and mental toughness. 

Florida Gators Baseball Accolades

• 2017 National Champions
• Seven College World Series Appearances (2010-11-12-15-16-17-18)
• Five SEC Championships (2010-11-14-17-18)
• 14 MLB Big League Players (WVU and UF since 2010)
• 74 Total MLB Draft picks 24 All-America Selections
• 37 All-SEC Selections

ASAP at Duke Bluedevils Football Strength Podcast with S&C Coach Noel Durfey

The ASAP Road Show rolled along as we made our way back to Tobacco Road on to the incredible campus of Duke University. Of course, before we rolled onto the beautiful private college in Durham, North Carolina  ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power made a nutritional stop at The Original Q Shack. If Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Tony Smith highly suggests a restaurant, you better roll with it! This place has the whole package! Serious smoked meats with a blend of hickory and mesquite woods...... and sides that, well, you better get more than two! WOW. Pure protein at this stop!

Anyway, once inside the Blue Devils' strength training facility, and as we made our way past a long row of the Sorinex rack system, we caught up with their Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Noel Durfey, who was assessing the incoming freshman players on a battery of tests. ASAP Sports Science consultant Ted Lambrinides and Durfey discussed some of the latest research in the field and I set up the Road Show portable sound studio for today's ASAP Podcast made possible by one our great partners:

PIT SHARK Heavy Duty Strength Equipment

  

ASAP Podcast with North Carolina State Director of Strength & Conditioning for Olympic Sports

The ASAP Road Show was at it again. This time we ventured down to Raleigh, North Carolina to talk to the NCSU Director of Strength & Conditioning for Olympic Sports, Nate Brookreson. Nate was able to share a lot of information about RPE: Rate of Perceived Exertion and also about the markers that they use when analyzing performance training.

We also had a chance to conduct this podcast with Craig Turner, who is originally from Oldham, England. He holds both his BS (Hons) in science and football, as well as a PhD (an investigation into the sleeping patterns of youth soccer players during the competitive season) from Liverpool John Moores University, UK. Additionally, Craig is a certified strength & conditioning coach (NSCA), a BASES accredited sport & exercise scientist.

This ASAP Podcast is sponsored by SpecAthletic  The Sports Flooring Professionals featuring Regapol Technology

 

                

Craig Turner (L) and Nate Brookreson

ASAP at Xavier Musketeer Basketball with Strength Coach Matt Jennings

 ASAP ~Athletic Strength And Power made a trip up I-71 to the Dana Avenue exit in Cincinnati to check in on how the Xavier Musketeers spend their summer days. And, if you're searching out reasons that the Xavier Basketball team has experienced such great success over the years, one doesn't have to look much further that what is going on with the Musketeers' strength and conditioning program. This BIG EAST program that had 29 wins last season and carried a number one seed into the NCAA March Madness is directed by Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Jennings, who has the team entrenched into another summer training program. One thing is for certain. The games are played in the Cintas Center.... the sweat and behind-the-scenes hard work is taking place under Coach Jennings watchful eye in the team's strength and conditioning center.

Here are a few pics and some video clips of what we saw in this Cincinnati visit.

ASAP at Purdue Boilermaker Football Strength Training Podcast & Video with Coach Justin Lovett

 

 

 

Purdue Boilermaker Director of Football Strength & Conditioning Justin Lovett (left) discussing some of the elements of the Purdue weightroom design with coach Ted Lambrinides, an expert with the NFL player tracking technologies. 

We headed north on I-65 out of Indianapolis. After a couple of back roads, ASAP arrived on the scene in West Lafayette and the campus of Purdue University.... well known for its engineering curricula. It's a prestigious university with stringent academic standards. It's also an original member of the Big Ten Conference (though known as the Western Conference in 1896), so they've been playing football there for a long time! Recently, the Boilermakers have had a resurgence under their head coach Jeff Brohm, who has the team's and fan's attention, especially after a seven win inaugural season and a Bowl victory over the Arizona Wildcats. 

That kind of turnaround doesn't get accomplished without a serious training regimen. Enter Purdue's Director of Football Strength & Conditioning Justin Lovett. He's embraced his opportunity under Coach Brohm and has the Boilermakers going full steam ahead in their brand new football performance center.

ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power, had to check it out! The place is astounding and the training is real! I sat down in Coach Lovett's office and fired up the recorder for this ASAP Podcast (technical difficulty with the recording) and gained some insight into this up and coming Big Ten program! 

This podcast is brought to you by one of our longtime partners: TEAMBUILDR

@teambuildr

ASAP PODCAST with Coach Justin Lovett

 

 

The Pics: CLICK HERE double-click the photo for

 

the enlarged version!

ASAP Visit to Michigan State Spartans

Here's a few of our most recent Michigan State Spartans videos. More of our MSU features with Coach Ken Mannie are here

Shoulder Matrix Training: Coach Ken Mannie with Spartans' star QB Brian Lewerke

Strength & Conditioning Kettlebell Series with Coach Molli Munz

Indiana Football at Michigan State 2017.... a few looks from a Spartan Stadium GameDay