Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Football Report, August 4
August 04, 2013 | Cowboy Football
Aug. 4, 2013
STILLWATER - The Oklahoma State football team donned shoulder pads at practice for the first time Sunday morning. After the approximately two-hour session on the grass fields adjacent to Gallagher-Iba Arena, strength and conditioning coach Rob Glass talked about OSU's summer program. His comments:
On the philosophy behind Oklahoma State football's summer workout program:
"The biggest thing that's different from other times of the year is that it's important to get them in great condition. We spend a little more time on position-specific drills that correlate to what they're going to be asked to do where they are in position to be successful during camp and during the season. We do a lot of speed training, so one big priority is making sure they're in great condition when we start camp. A lot of times we find that guys aren't in good condition and then they are not in good position to receive the information from the coaches when they're being coached because they're not fit. It's a situation where if they're in great shape, then they can move at a faster pace during camp."
On if he views himself as one of the lead figures in the program during the summer:
"I don't know about that. For us, it's a year-round process. We shift gears depending on what the emphasis is at that time."
On how players become leaders during the summer:
"It's a mixed bag. You hope that everyone is highly motivated, but a lot of times you'll have situations where for the younger guys, it's a little bit of a grind and they need the older guys to lead the way for them and show them the tempo, the intensity level and what's expected. Usually when you have a team that has great leadership at the top and those guys tell the other guys what they need to get done, then it usually translates into a pretty good year."
On how much the mental aspect plays into dealing with discomfort in the weight room:
"Football is a physical sport and as the season wears on, a lot of guys have to learn to play with bumps and bruises. Trying to develop mental toughness is a key component of what we do. We have different situations that we create within the summer and winter program to enhance that. As the season wears on, lots of guys don't feel good. Guys who are mentally tough to still operate at a high level - that's what you're looking for."
Regarding upperclassmen who stood out to him for their leadership this summer:
"Shaun Lewis has always been really good for us in that respect. He's a guy that every day comes to work and trains at a high level in the weight room. Kendall Hunter was like that years ago. We've got a number of guys really. Offensively, Jeremy Smith did a tremendous job this year as well. It's really hard to pinpoint one guy because there are so many guys that do a really good job for us. That's one reason why we've had success, because we have a large number of guys who football is very important to and they're very goal-oriented and they really want to have a lot of success."
On any players who have really stood out to him in their development during his 18 years at Oklahoma State:
"That's a tough question. There have been a lot of guys and a lot of years. A lot of times, the linemen come in and put on 60 pounds. Those are guys that you really notice the transformation of their bodies. But even a guy like Tracy Moore. The kids give him a hard time because he was a heavier, softer kid when he got here. There have been a lot of guys. It's hard to pinpoint just two or three."
