Things were looking quite good in East Lansing, Michigan last Saturday! Michigan State Head Football Coach Mark Dantonio rallied his Spartan squad that was slightly depleted by the injuries that included their star starting quarterback, Brian Lewerke. along with a big time time wide receiver in Felton Davis. prior to this contest against the Purdue Boilermakers. So, right before the United State Air Force Color Guard and Spartan Marching Band performed the National Anthem, I asked Spartan Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Ken Mannie about what seemed as grim prospects for the game, especially at the quarterback position. Coach Mannie, who is in his 24th season with the Spartans, personifies the utmost of unflappable of personalities. He answered my question: “Quarterbacks???? We’ve got three of them Eddie.”
And he wasn’t kidding! Redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi, a 6’3″ 218 pound monster with longish bleach blonde hair trotted out onto the field and calmed all Spartan fan nerves. This dude is a multi sport athlete who, it appears, can do it all. He’s a former Iowa high school wrestler who placed 2nd in the state championships there. He played baseball there and did track and field, too. In fact, Coach Dantonio stated in the post game presser that if you’d go out on the golf course with Rocky, he’ll basically blast the ball to the green.
Back to coach Mannie. This veteran coach knows how to prepare his teams for Saturdays in the fall. A huge point of emphasis in his storied strength and conditioning program is his “Spartan 4th Quarter Program”, which is definitely a bonus in today’s Big 10. Mannie’s program is also the perfect complement to Coach Mark Dantonio’s brilliant defensive force that’s one of the stingiest in all of NCAA college football. In fact, the Spartan Defense is currently ranked #1 in FBS in rushing defense…. allowing only 77.4 yards per game. As good as Rocky performed against the Boilermakers, Dantonio’s ‘D” kept Purdue in check for most of the game. Purdue was coming off a huge defeat vs Ohio State while on a four game win streak. Yet, MSU always seemed to have an answer for their opponent’s explosive offense and propelled Dantonio’s win streak over Purdue to eight straight wins, as he’s never lost to the team during his tenure in East Lansing. It was the 699th win for Michigan State football.
By the way, if you’re interested in learning more about this strength and conditioning program, mark your calendar for February 8/9th 2019 and attend their annual clinic. ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power has attended over 100 strength training clinics over the years from coast to coast. This is THE clinic and Associate Strength Coach Mike Vorkapich directs the clinic and he’s got it down to a science. Sports Science. Stay tuned in to ASAP as we are one of the major promoters to this event.
ASAP PODCAST with Coach Ken Mannie