The Bobcats and the rest of Division 1-A programs have already begun their off-season strength and conditioning programs, even though the season is still seven months away. Ohio officially began its seven-week winter program a few weeks ago, and most players had already been working out voluntarily before that.
Football Strength and Conditioning Coach Sonny Sano, a former Virginia Tech strength trainer, draws up the workouts and instructs the team through them. From afar, Sano barks out orders to the players from a mega-phone, encouraging and directing them as the sweaty athletes belt out their sets throughout the 1,000 square-foot Carin Center. The players, who come in at various times four days a week, follow obediently as they struggle for each and every repetition.
The winter program is all about building a solid amount of muscle mass before the players start practicing during the spring. The workouts consist of a low number of reps per set in order to gain muscle size.
Although Sano presides over the team, he puts faith in the oldest players to lead. -
Sano said. - no matter how you feel when you come into the weight room he'll get you in the mood to workout. The workouts will be intense
you will sweat no matter what
each and every day
senior safety Michael Mitchell said.
He expects the best everyday
no matter what
senior offensive lineman Tommy Stuck said about Sano and the intensity of the program. He's a hard-training kind of guy.
And throughout all these different, intense workouts, what's the worst exercise? -
we were better physically than any team in the (Mid-American Conference)
and even able to keep up physically with Virginia Tech for most of the game
Sano said. But you can never be content.
Carter reiterated Sano's thoughts by giving a story about the team's victory over Louisiana-Lafayette last season.
When we went down to Louisiana last season
