When Bill O'Brien brought in Craig Fitzgerald from South Carolina to take over Penn State's strength and conditioning program (making thousands of Gamecock fans very, very sad), it was a given that the S&C program would be massively overhauled.
Step One: clear PSU's weight room of nearly all former equipment to make room for Olympic-style free weights.
Step Two: 5:30 A.M. METAL.
Penn State's Predawn Workout (via mxbscout)
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE WARRIOR COMBAT DRILLS.
Afterward, Craig Fitzgerald was made available to the media, during which he was much more specific with his methods (and to his credit, vaguely complimentary to the previous S&C staff):
2 recs | 40 comments
Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SweepTheLeg - February 17, 2012
Access level is great
SweepTheLeg - February 17, 2012
It really is
Its refreshing, its exciting, and its about freaking time.
Recruits want to be able to see the coaches, the exercises, and all of this stuff outside of the structured visits. This can only help.
coop247 - February 18, 2012
I love how there are guys out there in hats and long sleeves/pants
And Fitz is in shorts and a t-shirt. And he isn’t even the one really busting his ass.
Nittany_Ryan - February 17, 2012
I saw that
And was immediately fearful of him, since you can clearly tell he is one bad MoFo.
AriesGD - February 17, 2012
I think I'm in love.
Peter Gray - February 18, 2012
The Tug video needs to be added in here too.
TheSwish - February 17, 2012
Just watched the full interview
and I really like this guy. Not just as a coach. He just seems like a guy I’d like to sit down and get drunk with.
Nittany_Ryan - February 17, 2012
hell yeah
I love how hoarse his voice gets. these dudes are gonna be total badasses if they buy into this.
NuclearLion - February 17, 2012
Can someone help me out?
I was always under the impression that the off-season workouts were “voluntary”, and that coaches couldn’t participate.
Does Fitzgerald get to because he’s S&C? Do I just not understand what can and can’t be done in the off-season?
Help a brother out.
Tailgate Shogun - February 17, 2012
These weren't voluntary.
Chris Grovich - February 17, 2012
So I still need help here
Regardless of whether they were voluntary or “voluntary”, what’s allowed vs. not allowed in terms of having coaches present when practices have not officially started?
Lawyas?
Tailgate Shogun - February 17, 2012
I thought hbeach
Stated, that there is a sanctioned winter workout period, where the coaches are there and running things and not voluntary (as Chris alluded to), then later there are periods of voluntary stuff. If hbeach is around, he can clearly state this better than me.
AriesGD - February 17, 2012
pretty much what you said
hbeach08 - February 20, 2012
Feel the power of the metal!!!! \m/
I detected some Ozzy, Metallica, and Static X in there. And the AC/DC gave me flashbacks to my HS football locker room from 20-odd years ago. Personally, I would have replaced the Godsmack and Disturbed with something better, though. Pantera’s “Vulgar Display of Power” is a great album to work out to, for example. So many musical lessons I could teach these kids…
icavalera - February 17, 2012
Not sure about you
but this makes me want to run through a brick wall.
kflintosh - February 17, 2012
I love the attitude.
When motivation is lacking from the players, you know he’ll keep them fired up. That internal fire is going to be contagious and get this team ready to whoop some ass.
Succss With Honor Always - February 18, 2012
Couldn't agree more
Plus, all-around badassery tends to rub off on others. And Fitz is nothing is not a certified badass.
LAPSU - February 18, 2012
"..nothing *if not a certified badass"
Balls
LAPSU - February 18, 2012
What I really like about Fitz...he seems smart and knows a ton about functional strength.
Can’t believe the access of the new staff so far
SweepTheLeg - February 18, 2012
Sure beats the Kremlin attitude of the old coaching staff.
Chris Grovich - February 18, 2012
I guess...
if I gave a shit about off season workouts I’d feel the same.
pennst92 - February 18, 2012
I like seeing these.
misdreavus79 - February 18, 2012
You say that now
ckmneon - February 19, 2012
I commented to friends
Fitzgerald is going to have these guys ready for war come September.
PSUBarge - February 18, 2012 via iPhone app
I watch this stuff and it's hard for me to believe that this is Penn State
…just so weird with all the player/coach/practice access
Artiefufkin10 - February 18, 2012 via mobile
Rob Bolden's transition to defensive tackle is proceeding on schedule.
Low man wins, baby.
Salt - February 18, 2012
lol
SweepTheLeg - February 18, 2012
I cant believe this doesnt have more recs.
The Heel - March 3, 2012
I thought he was more than
“vaguely” complimentary about the previous staff. Craig noted they have “an excellent work ethic” and specifically attributed the players’ attitude and willingness to learn to the previous coaches.
I accept there is a new regime, but having watched Penn State football for so long I am glad there is continuity, not throwing the baby out with the bath water.
PSU_Lions_84 - February 18, 2012
Dear Coach Fitzgerald:
Show us your abs
letsgopsu - February 18, 2012
And you called me gross for liking Fergie's outfit on twitter.
Pot, kettle. Kettle, pot. ;)
psuwxman - February 18, 2012
That's different
that outfit was hideous (the outfit, not her). Orange and black, seriously?
letsgopsu - February 18, 2012
Our S&C Coach sounds hot....
Row73Fan - February 18, 2012
I haven't suited up since I was 17
and this has me ready to put on pads and beat the livin’ crap out of someone.
And I was a QB.
VoiceOfTheNavigators - February 18, 2012
I may be setting myself up to get bludgeoned here, but
is it too early to think about moving on and looking forward?
I sense, just from watching those videos and what I’ve been hearing, there is an intensity there that has been lacking for a while. While this recruiting class may not have finished that well, I think there is enough talent in the cupboard to get us through next year.
Believe me, I’m not trying to discount Joe’s legacy and the previous staff, but I think the last couple of years we were really stale and predictable. Joe and Co. had been so successful for so long, not just on the field, but in the community, that they had built up a bank of good will where 9-3, 8-4 seasons were acceptable because of all the contributions away from the field. At this point, BOB’s staff only has one thing to focus on: football (obviously, the academics that go with the team, but hey, WE ARE…). I think the desire to succeed, the hunger, and the drive to prove themselves are going to give us something new and exciting, something we’ve been lacking for quite some time.
And as far as recruiting goes, let’s see after we whip Urban Meyer’s ass in Happy Valley in October!
Ab4PSU - February 18, 2012
I think Joe would totally approve
I was one of the people who accepted the 9-3 seasons, I know we were lucky to have Joe and it would not last forever. It was more than a fair trade for me.
As long as academics and community service continue to be a priority, along with winning, it is more than OK to get excited about the new attitude that will come with a new leader.
letsgopsu - February 18, 2012
JoePa, if still with us, would be a huge BoB cheerleader
He had to of known that when he was finally not the coach anymore, whomever took over was going to hav a tough time, regardless the situation. Taking over after a legend is gone, is never an easy task no matter what, since everyone would be saying “well he would have done things differently…” etc. I just wished JoePa could have been around 1 more year, to give as much public support to BoB and become a hige cheerleader for him so that the transition would have been easier for the new staff. But so is life. I am excited for the new football season, but I am every year, since it is Penn State, and win of lose I love Penn State.
AriesGD - February 19, 2012
LOVE!
jtothep - February 20, 2012
Think Cael sees this video and is taking notes?
jrock4 - February 20, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Black Shoe Diaries to post a comment.