The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/998636
THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 41 "From a training standpoint, it's tapping into their lower body," he said. "Usually, there's a lot of room to be tapped into. The largest muscles in the body are in the legs … and then their pulling movements — the upper back, the lower back. "The backsides of their bodies are untapped when they come in from high school or other institutions. From a development standpoint, we start there." The results were stunning. Defensive co- ordinator Don Brown marveled at the newly chiseled bodies, noting junior linebacker Khaleke Hudson was "like one big muscle from head to toe." Junior defensive end Rashan Gary also benefited. "He's the best," Gary said of Herbert. "I can't even describe it. Since he's been here, he changed the mindset to us just coming in every day ready to work and ready to push each other to be the best we can. "Having a guy that's constantly on your back, that constantly wants greatness for you … it's great having a person like that pushing you along." Another Member Of The Family 'Coach Herb' has become part of the family, Gary added, noting that his hiring has already paid dividends in morale. And while some question how much difference a strength and conditioning coach can make, those who have worked under one (or many) insist a good one can be priceless. Former Michigan offensive lineman Doug Skene won five Big Ten Championship rings and two Rose Bowl titles at Michigan, and he played for Bill Parcells in the NFL with New England. He saw firsthand the effect one man could have on a program. "The strength and conditioning coach is the backbone of any successful football program," Skene said. "[Former Michigan strength coach] Mike Gittleson was one of the major contributing factors to three decades of cham- pionship football in Ann Arbor. "A lot of people questioned his techniques and his system of high intensity training … it was the science at the time, and it was grueling. You can say what you want about it, but we were strong. Our guys may not have tested in the 225-pound NFL-style Olympic lift as well, but we were a strong football team. We had no problems moving people for the better part of three decades. Our offensive line dominated people and moved people at will." It also prepared them for fourth quarters, which was winning time against a number of the better opponents on the schedule. "Strength and conditioning wasn't an issue," Skene stated. "When you run that kind of pro- gram, taken to the brink of muscle failure and your body is reacting with vomit and you're passing out, it builds a mental toughness for when you get on a hot football field in Septem- ber or a tight football game late in November. "You're so mentally strong. You know you've been through the ringer already, and the game is actually easier than the workouts." Several of this year's Wolverines spoke sim- ilarly of Herbert's tactics, noting practices had become easier as a result. They felt bigger and faster, and it was noticeable. Another key, Herbert said, is creating an environment in which the players want to give the coaches their best. "That brings out the best in you, and ulti- mately you bring out the best in one another in an environment you can thrive in — energetic and focused," he said. "It's an environment that you love to be in. "When you're talking to the guys and coach- ing and communicating with them, they un- derstand you're truly there to help them get to where they want to be. When they understand that you understand, that's powerful. When you can bridge that gap with the experiences you've had as a player and coach, it makes it a lot easier to facilitate that relationship." The enthusiasm and the camaraderie that's built on a football team is often constructed in the summertime around the strength coach, Skene noted. This year's group entered the off- season with a great foundation and high hopes that Herbert would have them well prepared for the fall. "Coach Herbert looks like an enthusiastic guy, and it looks and sounds like these players have responded to him," Skene said. "That can not be undervalued. It is a big, big deal if your strength coach has got a connection with the team." By all accounts, it's already there and only getting stronger. ❏ Making Gains Michigan first-year strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert has earned his reputation as one of the nation's best, and he's getting the most out of his players. Many of them praised him this spring for help- ing reshape their bodies. "There's more energy in the weight room," junior viper linebacker Khaleke Hudson said during spring ball. "Everyone is happy to work out and just to be there — it's a different feeling in there now. "Personally, I feel stronger and faster. I also know more about my body now, like how I should be eating right, sleeping well and train- ing the right way." Hudson now weighs a self-reported 215 pounds, up from 205 last season. "Coach Herbert has us doing a lot of upper body stuff and new workouts we'd never even seen before," Hudson said. "We all want to out- lift each other and do more reps than the other guy. There's a competition in there, and it's bringing out the best in all of us." Some have stood out, Herbert said. "There are different guys that have different strengths," he said. "I think top to bottom if we were going to do 25 different things, I would have to say [sophomore fullback] Ben Mason is in there. There are some pound-for-pound guys … [junior end] Carlo Kemp is in there. [Ju- nior end] Rashan [Gary] is one of those guys. [Sophomore center] Cesar Ruiz is pretty well balanced. … "[Sophomore linebacker] Josh Ross is another guy who does some pretty freaky things. Fortu- nately, there are enough guys who have some pretty special capabilities. It just depends on what you look at from an evaluation stand- point." The ultimate evaluation, of course, is how they perform when it counts, and the gains they made this spring translated well onto the practice field. They're all anxious to get to the fall and see how it helps in terms of wins and losses. — Chris Balas "Having a guy that's constantly on your back, that constantly wants greatness for you … it's great having a person like that pushing you along." JUNIOR DEFENSIVE END RASHAN GARY ON HERBERT Oosterbaan Field House is home to a new 32,000-square-foot weight room for the football team. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS