Spending Time With the Nebraska Huskers

Winning Ways:
Spending Time With the Nebraska Huskers
Saturday, September 9, 2000

By Gregory "Graig" White
SJSports Physical Fitness Advisor

It is with great excitement that I share with you my vacation to Lincoln, Nebraska. That's right, I used the words "vacation" and "Lincoln, Nebraska" in the same sentence. I spent a week with the strength staff for the Pre-Season training of the number one football program in the country. I got to see up close and personal the guys that you will be hearing about throughout the season. The general assumption is that starting the season ranked number one means there is no place to go but down. Huskies will be challenged each week by a team who knows they are competing with a program rich with the tradition that Nebraska has created.

I spent most of my time with a young man named Brian Bailey. He's the man in charge of makings sure that the guys are ready to compete each and every time they are called upon. Bailey shares a great relationship with players present and past. He is a man of great insight and a pretty good "salesman". He talked me into going through a workout with the players. Needless to say, my ego wouldn't let me say no, but afterwards my body was saying something totally different. The information that Coach Bailey eagerly shared with me was enlightening. He took the time to explain concepts that will go a long way in my own work with athletes.

I also had the opportunity to speak with Dave Ellis, the gentleman responsible for the nutrition program at Lincoln. He turned me on to some things that I believe will eventually spread to other campuses. If any reader is interested in hearing about Dave's ideas, please feel free to contact me directly.

People who know me know that I hold the strength program at Nebraska in high regards. I make it a point to stay in close contact with those guys because they seem to have their fingers on the pulse of athletic performance enhancement. I work to bring the information back and share with you the insights and concepts that I learned while I was out there. Let me tell you, if you are into the strength and conditioning field, stop buying those how-to books and go to Nebraska. Not only will you find that the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, you will see how champions are made.

Photos by Nancy Pope

Do you have a fitness or conditioning question for Graig? Send it to gwhite@teamconditioning.com. If your question is used in an article, you will receive a free Team Conditioning Systems t-shirt.

For previous Winning Ways, visit Graig's Archives.