FOOTBALL: Another Day, Another Grueling Workout For Hogs
FAYETTEVILLE – After another grueling workout Friday morning, Arkansas tight end Andrew Davie put on a hard hat and grabbed a sledgehammer.
As his teammates cheered, Davie swung the sledgehammer repeatedly until he had smashed a brick that had been placed on Arkansas’ football practice field.
The brick was meant to represent the Florida Gators, whom the Razorbacks will play Oct. 4 in the fifth game of the 2008 season. And as Arkansas’ “Grinder of the Week,” it was Davie’s job to break it into pieces.
“That’s kind of our saying, ‘We’re going to go out and move a mountain and we’re going to move it one rock at a time,'” said Arkansas strength and conditioning coach Jason Veltkamp. “And that’s why we go break a rock with our grinder of the week each week.”
Initially unsure of what to expect, Arkansas’ players have grown accustomed to Veltkamp’s offseason workout program that’s far from traditional. The Rocky-like workouts are intended to build camaraderie, challenge players and toughen them up for close games next season.
During Friday’s workout – which was open to the media – Arkansas’ offensive linemen, defensive linemen and tight ends took part in a series of exercises that caused some to vomit on the sidelines.
nwaonline.com
6/27/08
