Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Hickmann, Stockstill happy with summer work
8/5/2018 4:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Things were a little different for the Middle Tennessee football team this summer.
Not only was there a change in strength and conditioning coach – Matt Hickmann was hired in January to replace Jason Spray – but the Blue Raiders also had an adjusted focus.
In years past, the summer strategy centered around conditioning. That meant running. Lots of running.
"We used to run 18 110s during conditioning on Friday, but then they didn't have anything left in the tank to throw and catch and do all that," Stockstill said. "We've cut about half of that out."
This summer, Hickmann and Stockstill's focus was on helping the players maintain strength throughout the summer. That meant cutting out some of the running that had once been a staple of summer conditioning.
"We focused a lot more this summer on position-specific training," Stockstill said. "We cut out some running, but we felt like we made up for the running we cut out on a conditioning standpoint from what they did on their own."
Despite the changes, the response from the players was exactly what the new strength coach was looking for.
"The guys came in fired up … and Day 1 we got right to work," Hickmann said. "The technical stuff that we were really hammering in the winter was brought back, and it was like we didn't miss a beat."
Not only were some things changed with how the players were working out, but Hickmann also wanted to preach more about recovery work.
He said when he arrived on campus in January, some of the players didn't know proper techniques and strategies to help their bodies recover both before and after practice.
Hickmann put an emphasis on that, and got great response.
"Guys are starting to focus on recovery more and more," he said. "It's the little things that help them take care of their bodies. A great example was a boatload of the guys were in there right before practice foam rolling and stretching, just getting loose. We've done a really good job of focusing on our bodies and making sure we're recovering properly."
Of course, lifting weights and running this summer were about more than just getting into shape.
It also gave the coaches a chance to see who their leaders are going to be this season.
"Coach Stock talked about brotherhood," Hickmann said. "Everything that we did, we wanted to pick guys up, not put them down. We really did a good job of that, and some leaders emerged out of that."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
Not only was there a change in strength and conditioning coach – Matt Hickmann was hired in January to replace Jason Spray – but the Blue Raiders also had an adjusted focus.
In years past, the summer strategy centered around conditioning. That meant running. Lots of running.
"We used to run 18 110s during conditioning on Friday, but then they didn't have anything left in the tank to throw and catch and do all that," Stockstill said. "We've cut about half of that out."
This summer, Hickmann and Stockstill's focus was on helping the players maintain strength throughout the summer. That meant cutting out some of the running that had once been a staple of summer conditioning.
"We focused a lot more this summer on position-specific training," Stockstill said. "We cut out some running, but we felt like we made up for the running we cut out on a conditioning standpoint from what they did on their own."
Despite the changes, the response from the players was exactly what the new strength coach was looking for.
"The guys came in fired up … and Day 1 we got right to work," Hickmann said. "The technical stuff that we were really hammering in the winter was brought back, and it was like we didn't miss a beat."
Not only were some things changed with how the players were working out, but Hickmann also wanted to preach more about recovery work.
He said when he arrived on campus in January, some of the players didn't know proper techniques and strategies to help their bodies recover both before and after practice.
Hickmann put an emphasis on that, and got great response.
"Guys are starting to focus on recovery more and more," he said. "It's the little things that help them take care of their bodies. A great example was a boatload of the guys were in there right before practice foam rolling and stretching, just getting loose. We've done a really good job of focusing on our bodies and making sure we're recovering properly."
Of course, lifting weights and running this summer were about more than just getting into shape.
It also gave the coaches a chance to see who their leaders are going to be this season.
"Coach Stock talked about brotherhood," Hickmann said. "Everything that we did, we wanted to pick guys up, not put them down. We really did a good job of that, and some leaders emerged out of that."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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