Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/864798
8 PRESEASON 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Matt Balis will enter his first season at the helm of Notre Dame's strength and conditioning pro- gram in 2017 after spending the previous three years at Connecticut (2014-16). Before his stint in Storrs, Balis spent five sea- sons (2009-13) under Mississippi State head coach and former Irish assistant Dan Mullen. He also spent 2003-06 under former Irish assistant Urban Meyer at Utah (2003-04) and Florida (2005-06). He headed the Utah strength program in 2004 after serving 2003 as an assistant and followed Meyer to Florida as an assistant to the director of strength and conditioning. BGI: What is your program's philosophy? Balis: "Really it starts with the head coach's mission, which is to compete every day, mental and physical toughness, and then our traits — attitude, grit, attention to detail, laser focus. All of those different attributes we have to attack in the weight room, and I call it a mental and phys- ical toughness program. It all starts with that. "All the different move- ments we utilize you have to go hard in them. No matter what you do, if you don't attack and train with purpose and the mindset that you're getting better, it doesn't work." BGI: How do you implement physical toughness on and off the field in the weight room? Are they separate or do you approach them the same way? Balis: "You have to be able to maintain your focus and composure, body language, the abil- ity to continue to attack the reps with the same effort. Everyone fatigues at some point and you try to lower that fatigue and handle more fatigue. "So mentally you can focus longer and really increase that mental toughness." BGI: What do you do from a science standpoint with your program? Balis: "There are different words we use called overload and periodization. Explosive training, velocity and power, so these are just terms that explain how we're training to elicit protein synthesis. We're trying to build muscle, trying to increase the central nervous system's ability to move weight fast. We believe if we can increase our speed, we can increase our speed on the field with change of direction and those type of things. "When you talk about the scientific nature of it: recovery. How do you implement the program and things you do to get the right recovery, so the guys continue to get stronger and more explosive." BGI: Is there a difference in approach from summer workouts to when you get into the game weeks? Balis: "The mindset doesn't change and the mentality doesn't change. We will control the load they are doing based on practice and game reps, but you can't get too far away from what you believe in." BGI: How do you think the team has embraced the program? Balis: "They've embraced training, work ethic, and the mental and physical toughness. The team will not always fire on all cylinders. It's not normal to think that. "What they've embraced is sometimes other guys have to pick up. Sometimes you have to pick up for me and I have to pick up for you. I think that is part of what makes this team special." — Corey Bodden Five Questions With … NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE MATT BALIS The Georgia Game Will Set The Tone By Bryan Driskell From a big picture standpoint, a win over USC or Stanford could be argued as the most important for Notre Dame. Anytime the Irish beat a rival, espe- cially a Stanford program that has owned the recent matchups, it is a big deal. With just the 2017 season in mind, there is little doubt that Georgia will have the biggest impact on Notre Dame's fortunes — on and off the field. Head coach Brian Kelly has orchestrated a pro- gram overhaul after the team went 4-8 last fall. The changes at the coordinator level and in the strength program have instilled a strong sense of belief in the players. In order to take that confidence to the next level, the team must achieve some early on-field success. A victory over Georgia would do for this program what the 2012 win over Stanford did for that team and the 2014 bowl victory over LSU did for the 2015 unit. A talented squad that plays with supreme confidence will be hard to beat. A win over Georgia will have a positive impact on how the Irish go into matchups against USC, Miami (Fla.) and Stanford from a mindset standpoint. Notre Dame's staff is also looking to finish off the 2018 recruiting class on a strong note. The class was ranked No. 8 nationally by Rivals as of Aug. 21, and an excellent season could give the Irish a chance at a truly elite class. No win will have a bigger impact on that than one over the Bulldogs. The Irish Need A Win At Stanford In Finale By Lou Somogyi When it comes to setting a desperately needed positive tone, there is no arguing that a Sept. 9 triumph against Georgia would be an ideal tonic to help rinse out the bitter residue of 2016. A loss to the Bulldogs would evoke plenty of negativity and ill will. Georgia this year is what the Michigan game used to be in terms of a bellwether for the season. Yet in 2014, Notre Dame crushed the Wolver- ines 31-0 en route to a 6-0 start and national title talk. All that good feeling was negated by a 1-4 November. Over the last four seasons, the Irish are 7-10 in November. Even when Notre Dame was 3-1 in November 2015, it sputtered versus 3-9 Wake Forest and 3-9 Boston College, knocking the Irish down the College Football Playoff rankings prior to losing at Stanford. Ah yes, Stanford. The program that is 6-2 versus Notre Dame since 2009 despite higher academic standing and far less football glory from the past. It is the school that has averaged 11 wins per season the last seven, or since Brian Kelly has been at Notre Dame. They are the "program" Notre Dame should be. A loss at Stanford and it would be a Notre Dame record fifth straight defeat in the regular-season finale, with all the honors done at Stanford and USC. Another defeat there would revive past travails of closing on a sour note. Starting well is imperative, but finishing strong is even more significant to cultivate season-ending momentum and optimism about the future. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH VICTORY WOULD BEST HELP NOTRE DAME IN 2017? KIRBY SMART DAVID SHAW Balis calls his approach a "mental and physical toughness program," and focuses on developing traits such as attitude, grit, attention to detail and laser focus. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN