Aug. 18, 2009
Fordham Football 2009 Strength & Conditioning Results
Bronx, N.Y. - Most people think of the summer as a relaxing time for college students, allowing the undergraduates time off to recharge their batteries prior to a new year. Not so for the 79 members of the Fordham University football squad who participated in the summer strength and conditioning program.
Among the 79 players participating in the summer conditioning program were 24 of the 26 incoming freshmen. These student-athletes would run at either 6:00 or 7:15 a.m. and then lift in the Walsh Training Center in groups between noon and 4:00 p.m. four days a week. Definitely not your typical summer break.
Prior to the opening of the 2009 Fordham University football camp, the Rams underwent strength and conditioning testing under the direction of head strength and conditioning coach Ted Perlak. And the results were record-breaking as ten school marks fell during the testing period, led by senior Andrew Tyshovnytsky and sophomore Nick Womack, who each set two.
"These results are sign of the tremendous commitment from the football staff and players to the conditioning program," said Perlak. "To have 30 of the 79 players who participated earn Elite, Super or Iron Ram status shows the dedication these guys had to the program."
Tyshovnytsky, an offensive lineman, set school marks in the bench press, with a press of 525 pounds, and the hang clean for lineman, cleaning 370 pounds. Womack, a linebacker, was responsible for new records in the 40-yard dash for semi-skilled players with a time of 4.45 seconds and the pro shuttle with a time of 4.06 seconds.
In the weight room, additional records were set by senior James Crockett and juniors Andre Delaire, Bryson Wilson and Namdi Onyeabor. Crocket set a new mark in the hang clean for skill players, cleaning 335 pounds, while Delaire set the hang clean record for semi-skilled players with a clean of 370 pounds. Wilson and Onyeabor each squatted 600 pounds in the back squat competition, tying for a new school record for skill players.
On the field, senior Michael Shackelford set a new record for skill players in the "L" drill with a time of 6.38 seconds while junior Adnan Vandyck and freshman Matthew Sconiers each completed the Pro Shuttle in a school-record time for linemen of 4.31 seconds.
Besides the school records, the team improved tremendously in the hang clean, back squat and bench press. The Rams averaged 283 pounds in the hang clean, up from 265 last year, while 22 players cleaned over 300 pounds, an increase from 13 last summer. The squad averaged 454 pounds in the back squat, an increase of nine pounds from last year, with 19 squatting over 500 pounds, up from 14 last summer. In the bench press, the average shot up to 307 pounds from 298 last year with eleven benching over 350 pounds.
On the field, 25 players turned in a time of 4.69 seconds or faster in the 40-yard dash
At the end of testing, points were assigned to each activity with honors going to those who achieved certain scores. Those scoring above a 682 were named to the Elite Ram list while those who scored between 617 and 665 points were placed on the Super Ram list and those tallying between 554 and 610 points earned Iron Ram status.
Four players earned Elite Rams ranking: seniors Darzell Wright and Tyshovnytsky and juniors Isa Abdul El-Quddus and Stephen Skelton, while ten earned Super Ram accolades: seniors Jason Caldwell, Kelvin Colbert, Crockett, and John Skelton; juniors Delaire, Clifton Stuckey and Vandyck and sophomores Jamir Livingston, Brad Pierre and Womack. Achieving Iron Ram honors were seniors Robby Reis, Quasand Lewis, Asa Lucas, David Mendez, William Quan and Darryl Robinson; juniors Xavier Martin and Wilson; sophomore Isaiah Leake, Thomas Lloyd, Andy Okonkwo and Darryl Whiting; and freshmen Zachery Crosby, Langston Lacroix, Brendan Melanophy and Sconiers.
By position, the running backs led the way with six of the seven backs who participated earning Iron (five) or Super Ram (1) honors.
Fordham will open the 2009 season on Saturday, September 5th, when the Rams travel to Kingston, R.I., to face the University of Rhode Island at 1:00 p.m. Season tickets are now available on the Fordham Athletic Website at www.fordhamsports.com.
