The Savage Treatment

[GatorTom85]

Having watched this team develop for a little over half a season, I think it is clear that perhaps the most important part of this resurgence is the arrival of Nick Savage (who has one of the best names for a strength and conditioning coach ever)! The reasons I think this are as follows:

1) Team Identity - He has helped fuel the team's unification by making them understand the importance of a truly team first attitude. Things like the rope drill and having individual and/or team related versions of the constant competitions in all aspects of training has helped to both build individual grit while also helping gel the team across and within position groups.

2) Constitution - Part of the reason the team has been so successful turning things around this season is that they clearly still have juice in the 4th quarter. Part of that is some wise rotation patterns but part of it is also having so much more in the gas tank when it gets late in games especially in position groups that are somewhat short handed like LBs. It was especially gratifying to see the LB corps step up after the defensive player of the week from the week before (Joseph) and one of the top LB backups were both ejected before the 2nd half.

3) Recovery - It has been very interesting to watch how the players have responded to the inevitable dings that come with this game. The last 2 coaches seemed to have had a rash of injuries at times which would remove players from the lineup for considerable periods. Though admittedly some of that is attributable to the luck of the game, it has been really amazing how many times guys are knocked out of the game, go to the locker room for evaluation and treatment, and then show up again later on the field. Again, I recognize some of this is just good fortune (which we are kind of due after last year and Muschamp's 2nd to last year!) but I think the level of strength and fitness these guys have achieved is also a big contributor because they are able to both absorb and dish out a great deal more punishment than in years past. Mullen clearly adopted the Urban Meyer approach to this area and I can see why.

4) Spirit - This is the area that is most pleasantly unexpected for a strength coach especially one who has a reputation of being so savage :) . When the fracas occurred last week it was Savage and his team who was attributed with using that as a means of firing them up. It was also Savage that escorted off Joseph when he was ejected and he seemed to be also using that incident as a means to inspire other team members while he was doing it. Most everyone on the team has also been quoted numerous times praising Savage for being instrumental in bringing everyone together.

Overall, I think one of Mullen's most important contributions to this turn around has been bringing in Savage and empowering him to not only clean up the conditioning train wreck left behind by the last staff, but also to use Savage's position as the one coach with the most time and influence on every player as a basis for installing his new team culture in every facet of what they've done in that area. That is one big reason that I think getting a 9 year SEC veteran coach was an underrated factor in most of our evaluations of the various 'shiny thing' coaching candidates considered for taking over this team. I for one am happily willing to admit that I am glad he is proving us all wrong.

 

[GatorMan5K]

Spirit this is the area that is most pleasantly unexpected for a strength coach especially one who has a reputation of being so savage :) .

Ahhhh see what you did there

 

[GatorJB]

Solid post. I think bringing Savage with him has been the best and most positively impactful decision Dan Mullen has made so far. These guys are completely different players from last year.

 

[GatorTom85]

Solid post. I think bringing Savage with him has been the best and most positively impactful decision Dan Mullen has made so far. These guys are completely different players from last year.

I agree! They are both physically and, more importantly, mentally tougher.

 

[Marine1]

Very well stated.

 

[g8tr72]

I am amazed at the increased physicality of this team, and their ability to remain relatively healthy.

Kudos to Savage.

 

[Frozen Gator]

The big guys push, the receivers block well. When we get pushed we push back harder, haven't seen that in a few years!

 

[NOLAGATOR]

Or no more hands on the hips and heads down in the 4th QTR?

 

[GR8 2B]

Or the hand on the hips and heads down in the 4th QTR?

Exactly. I was taught that, when you see the other team doing that, go for the throat. And, never, ever, do that yourself, unless you want to let the other team know you're gassed.

 

[itsgr82bag8r]

Or no more hands on the hips and heads down in the 4th QTR?

That happens when you stop serving pb&j’s and Little Debbie snack cakes in the training room.

 

[SGG]

I also don’t find it much of a coincidence that Savage is the guy who was escorting Joseph to the locker room post-ejection, and that he didn’t freak out when Vosean was incredibly upset.

He’s also one of the first to greet the players when they come off the field after an offensive or defensive series.

 

[AuggieDosta]

Does anybody remember all the ACL, MCL injuries we had throughout the year 2 or 3 years ago? Happened in Spring trng, Fall camp, weekly practices and games. Epidemic levels.

I'm so glad to not see those anymore.

 

[GatorTom85]

I think saying Savage's contributions to date are 'close to what should be expected' is a bit of a stretch given that Savage has only actually been engaged with the team for about 9 months so expecting the unmotivated marshmallows he inherited to be able to bond together and totally push people around in that space of time is pretty unrealistic. Given how far they were behind where they should have been for a Division 1 SEC school, the fact that they are already holding their own after that short a time is actually pretty impressive.

I also think calling him old school in his approach is not backed up by the evidence given all the player comments about him and his staff to date. I think, if anything, he and Mullen have crafted an approach to the entirety of the strength and conditioning program that makes it a competitive differentiator for the program. Using S & C as a cultural catalyst is not really an old school approach especially when needing to cater to millennials.

I do agree that the training needed across a long season is a balancing challenge, but after having successfully executed this plan for multiple years at MSU, I doubt that one year's rash of injuries in his time there is a good indicator of his ability to manage a team through a season given the overall success during his tenure. Injuries sometimes really are just the result of bad fortune

 

[GatorTom85]

I was actually commenting on your statement that we should be pushing people around by pointing out it was probably a little soon for that given where they started but it sure is nice to see them at least holding their own. It seems we actually agree on that.

I get what you mean now about old school and I think I agree in terms of the core techniques being used. I was more commenting on the overall package of the program in general which I see having more personal impacts to the players beyond the weight room. As far as the scientific approach comments, I don't have any information at all about that so I can't really comment other than to say I hope they can establish a more direct connection with Shands over time so that a more integrated approach can be developed with our medical science school.

Based on the fact that the MSU injuries that year were largely focused on one position group and the fact that they still were able to overcome that to the point of a winning record and getting to a bowl, I would tend to think it was largely unlucky breaks more than an overall trend.

I appreciate your commentary since you are clearly more knowledgeable about this area than I am overall (I am actually a pretty unmotivated marshmallow myself! :) ). I definitely mistook some of your comments as being more critical than intended and I appreciate the clarification. I guess time will tell, but it seems overall we agree that the momentum they've established in the S&C area is a major impetus for the overall momentum they've established across the board. Hopefully that trend will continue throughout this year and beyond!

 

[Durfish]

That happens when you stop serving pb&j’s and Little Debbie snack cakes in the training room.

Don't throw shade at Little Debbie. Those things are golden!

 

[Swamp Donkey]

 

[Buckman2000]

Wish I could give this a million likes! All I have to say is, pay that man whatever to keep him here

 

[maheo30]

Is Ethan White still alive? I’m worried about all 390 pounds of that boy.