Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/180984
eatery has, apparently, seen a sharp decrease in patronage by the Nittany Lions in the past few years. Jones said recently that he reluctantly gave it up, and he hasn't been the only one. "I'm not gonna lie, there was a connection for me, too, especially when I first got up here," safety Stephen ObengAgyapong said, his words tinged with melancholy. QUICK STEP "Wings Over is real good. " Obeng-Agyapong has Dr. Kristine Clark, Penn changed his diet as State's director of sports nutrition, has helped edpart of the Nittany ucate players about making Lions' ongoing efforts healthy decisions. She has to enhance players' been meeting with them overall health. on an individual basis to ensure that they know what they should be eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition to improving players' dietary choices, the coaches and support staff have worked to make sure they are getting enough sleep. Eight to 10 hours is optimum, given the physical and mental demands that players face during the typical Tim Owen day. Offensive lineman Miles Dieffenbach maybe they will. We talk to them all the and punt returner Jesse Della Valle said time about what they're eating. " O'Brien's efforts are making a difference, they get between eight and 10 hours of as Nittany Lion players say they have been sleep per night, like many of their teampaying closer attention to their diets, mates. Said Dieffenbach, "I definitely love to sleeping habits and general health. For example, senior defensive tackle DaQuan sleep. I'm usually getting anywhere from Jones lost 20 pounds in the off-season, nine to 10 hours a night, and then if it's while wideout Matt Zanellato gained 10 a good day, I'll get an hour nap before pounds and tackle Garry Gilliam gained practice." The overall approach has proven suc30 to aid his transition from tight end to cessful in many ways, especially for the the offensive line. In a college town where the home-de- veteran Nittany Lion players who have livery options are seemingly endless – made the biggest weight gains and losses. free fries and extra-large soda included – Reinforced by the likes of O'Brien, strength it's easy to succumb to temptation. Said trainer Craig Fitzgerald and team trainer Zanellato, "Sometimes it's hard to turn Tim Bream, the message has seemingly away from the cheaper menu. There are sunk in. "When you get up in front of that some times where it's hard trying to maintain that nutrition, but it's just an overall team," O'Brien said, "you're talking to them about, a lot of times, everything commitment. " For some players, committing to the but football: 'This is what's important: team's nutrition program has meant break- Breakfast. Lunch. Having a good dinner. ing up with State College's cheap-eats Getting enough sleep. Budgeting your favorite, Wings Over Happy Valley. Often time.' But, you know, it's hard for college I referred to simply as Wings Over, the local kids."