While the change in Georgia’s strength and conditioning program has gained the most attention, some changes on the nutrition side have been pretty drastic too.
Players are now asked to show staff members what they’re eating for each of their three daily meals. That either means in person or, if they’re somewhere off campus or away from a coach, taking a photo and sending it for approval.
Yes, approval. Only after a staff member – either Joe Tereshinski or one of his assistants – gives the OK on a meal can the player dig in.
“If they don’t like what you have on your plate, you kind of just have to throw it away and go get something a little healthy,” receiver Tavarres King said on Thursday.
And if they don’t report three meals a day, they hear about it. It’s similar to when the staff does class attendance checks.
“Exactly. Exactly like that,” King said.
Cornerback Brandon Boykin said the nutrition changes are already having an affect.
“Oh yeah big time. I’ve felt it myself. I just feel like I can go a lot longer,” Boykin said. “My endurance is a lot longer in the workouts, and I don’t feel tired. And a lot of that has to do with what you eat.”
I’ll have a bit more on the nutrition in a later story, probably for Friday.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
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18 comments:
While I appreciate what the players are saying - every winter we've heard about how hard the workouts are, etc. and yet it hasn't shown up on the field. I'll wait until this fall to see the real results.
Wow, some pretty big changes there. Kudos
@Anon: That's true, but at least in this story there is a factual, concrete example of something that has changed.
The old "we are working harder" stuff was vague.
Having to get your meals approved in advance, even by sending photos over a phone, is a VERY significant change - probably for the better.
Is IHOP part of the nutrition program? Because I saw five players eating there last Saturday. All you can eat pancakes! What a deal!
I wonder if this won't start causing a whole separate set of issues. What if the player is at Subway and gets a meatball sandwich, sends the pic to the coach and is told he can't eat that.
The player has to spend MORE money (of which they earn 0) on a turkey sandwich?
I know people are going to say they'll only do that once, or they'll keep having to spend more money, but this seems slightly ridiculous. Championships are helped by nutrition but attitudes are ruined by micromanaging. I dunno, maybe I'm over reacting.
I think Ben read my mind. Having to take a picture of your food before you eat it is ridiculous. What happens when they go home and Mom makes fried pork chops? What happens when someone snaps a picture of his gal"s salad and then eats a Varsity Hot Dog? If I was a recruit reading all this malarkey, I would look elsewhere. Can't these kids play winning football and have some fun in their life?
Rather than belittle and denigrating the fact that out coaches are trying to make a difference in these guys lives, why don't we educate ourselves on what they are doing? I've been using a "flash" diet since mid January and have lost 20 lbs without exercise at all. If these guys are working out, they're shedding fat and building muscle. Learn more about Flash diets here
I can personally vouch for this type of accountability nutrition system. My brother, a friend, and I have lost a combined 70 pounds since Jan 1 doing much of the same thing.
I like what Joe T is doing over there.
This sucks. Bring back Van Halanger.
Nutrition is underrated as to how it helps you physically. Hopefully, they'll play better and learn lessons about eating that they will practice the rest of their lives. Fans should demand healthier food at Sanford. Heck, the whole country should be eating healthier, it's ridiculous that we are the most obese country in the world.
Unfortunately some of our players just don't know what kind of difference a bowl of oatmeal vs. fruity pebbles can make on the field and in the weight room. Bodies are made in the kitchen. Although what Joe T is demanding is pretty wild, it will work.
Think about it people if Joe T can make it harder on the guys to eat junk food maybe they will just give up and come to the training table. There may just be a method to his madness.
I'm sure the coaches are trying to get the players to change their way of thinking. Eventually the players will make better choices on their own.
Also, we don't know what is considered an unacceptable meal and what isn't. Everybody is assuming they are only permitted to eat twigs, nuts, and berries.
There's actually a system. Twigs and nuts Mon-Fri. Throughout the week, if you deliver all 3 meal pictures, you get a star for that day. 5 stars = a berry good weekend, if you catch my drift. ;)
This may be more about educating than micromanaging.
First, you guys seem to assume that this is going to continue non-stop. I highly doubt it is: taking pictures of their meals is just a way to train the athletes to make good nutritional decisions, and I'm sure they'll cut it back once the habit has been established. Maybe they'll have to do it again if they get busted at McD's, but I sincerely doubt it's something that will be full time: you'd have to devote staff to that.
Second, I'm sure the nutritionist has already gone over what each athlete should eat and what they should avoid. While there may be some edge cases where the guys are forced to guess if a meal is acceptable or not, I'm sure it will be the rare exception, not the rule.
Come on, use your brains-- the staff is trained and educated to handle these situations, but you guys seem to think that they just grabbed some guy off the street and had him just slap something together...
Taking bets -- who gets the first "cheeseburger" suspension?
I did use my head...this is a dumb idea.
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