Buckeyes working toward competitive excellence – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/16/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 16, 2012
Marotti Interview | Sabino Interview | Simon Interview
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State football Buckeyes are in their fifth week of training under the expert and watchful eye of assistant director of football sports performance Mickey Marotti and his staff that includes former Buckeye greats Jeff Uhlenhake and Anthony Schlegel and new strength and conditioning assistants Rick Court and Kenny Parker.
And so far, the coaches like what they see from the players in terms of effort and dedication and drive to get better, and the players like how they are feeling…physically and mentally.
“It’s week five, the guys are training really hard, they’re buying in to what we’re feeding them,” Marotti, who is in his 26th year as a strength and conditioning coach, said.
“At the ended the day we go home and we’re exhausted but it’s a great feeling,” senior linebacker Etienne Sabino said.
“I think the whole team is motivated,” senior defensive lineman John Simon, a team captain last year, said. “We’ve been getting after it every day, and there’s no letup. That’s what you like to see as an older guy in this program. Seeing younger guys compete just as hard as the older guys. I think we’re doing a nice job.”
Simon’s use of the term compete is appropriate, as head coach Urban Meyer has mandated “competitive excellence” in everything the players do. That includes lifting weights and conditioning drills, eating habits, academic effort and, of course, winning games.”
“The response has been great,” said Marotti. “Everything they do now is competitive. Coach talks about the program being transparent; all the players know who beat who or who lost to who; who pushed the sled the fastest; [did] the most chin-ups. It’s all about competing on a daily basis.
“Obviously, we want them faster, we want them quicker, we want them leaner, we want them meaner, we want them stronger, we want them more explosive…those are givens.”
Spring ball starts March 28. Can hardly wait!
Click on the attached video to hear more from Coach Mickey Marotti, Etienne Sabino and John Simon.
