University of North Carolina Athletics
A Q&A With Coach Jeff Connors: Part I
December 18, 2001 | Football
By: Joe Bray
TarHeelBlue: What is the foundation of your program?
Coach Connors: "My strength & conditioning program is based upon discipline, accountability, work ethic and positive spirit. These values are the foundation of our program.
"I expect it of myself, my staff and my players every single day.
"These are the values that will pay off for us in the long run."
TarHeelBlue: How much have your past experiences shaped what you've done here at Carolina?
Coach Connors: "I think that everyone brings their past experiences into their approach, and I think that people are somewhat familiar with mine. I have an extensive background coaching and training wrestlers at both the high school and collegiate level. I played collegiate football in a 'meat grinder' program, one that made it to a national championship game in its division. I've worked for football coaches who had subtle differences in their approaches which therefore affected my training approach. I have spent the majority of my career in programs where mental toughness became our primary weapon.
"I've stated many times that football players don't even begin to experience the amount of stress that a wrestler must endure in a tournament and through the total grind of a season. I've seen it first hand, and I've physically experienced it. That's why I have very little sympathy for a player that complains about having to go 70 snaps in a football game.
"If the average play lasts six seconds, that player just put in a whopping seven minutes of intermittent explosive activity. He was given rest between snaps, extended rests between series, and a 20-minute halftime.
"Coincidentally, seven minutes is the same duration as a collegiate wrestling match. The difference is that there is no scheduled rest during the match, and the wrestler might have to repeat this effort five or six times during the course of the same day to win a tournament.
"Some might say that we're talking apples and oranges here. But, what I'm referring to is what the body and mind should be able to withstand. I'm talking about a relentless, disciplined, no-excuse mentality. I'm talking about a high level of anaerobic conditioning that enables you to maintain a confident mental state. Players need to be prepared for the ultimate challenge at all times.
"Now, with regard to our running program, both in-season and off-season, I've only known one system. It is to grind and grind until you reside on the precipice of what seems to be a very popular buzz word in strength and conditioning - 'overtraining.'
"In my opinion, this can be a dangerous excuse for a poor work ethic and resulting lack of control of your team. On the other hand, it must be something that we are aware of for the sake of recovery and safety."
TarHeelBlue: How does the head coach's approach to practice affect your program?
Coach Connors: "I've seen three general approaches to in-season preparation. The first is the one I've been most accustomed to from grade school on. This is the coach who frequently practices in full pads, keeps the duration of the practice long, and then wants to run hard at the end of practice.
"In 1991 I worked with Bill Lewis. He had a grinding approach. We had long, two-a-day practices in full pads, and I ran the team hard after the last practice. Game weeks were very similar. In addition to the running, the whole team lifted at 6 a.m.
"We were 11-1 that year, won the Peach Bowl in comeback fashion and were ranked 9th in the country. I remember right after Christmas, when the players reported to the bowl, we ran 10 x 300s the first day. Lewis went on to be national Coach of the Year, then accepted the head coaching position at Georgia Tech. His system didn't make it there.
"Another type of approach would be a de-emphasis on practicing in full pads and even more emphasis on conditioning. Practices might be shorter in duration and limited to 'thud' contact, trying to stay on your feet to avoid injury. After practice, the running would be high in both volume and intensity. This approach was employed to a large extent under Coach Logan at East Carolina.
"The strength and conditioning coach needs to know how to balance the conditioning demands with the demands of the practice itself. We always ran hard because we seldom practiced in full gear and seldom took each other to the ground. There was an emphasis on tempo rather than duration.
"The system that I developed was very demanding. It included both short and longer forms of anaerobic conditioning. There were considerations as to intensity, frequency and duration in the total approach."
TarHeelBlue: What about the system we have here at Carolina?
Coach Connors: "I think that our system at UNC would fit into a third category, and I think it continues to develop because of the input of the widely experienced coaching staff, and the fact that the program is obviously young.
"I would say that as a staff, there is agreement that we should be more recovery conscious in our conditioning because of the type of practices we have. We frequently practice in full pads and place emphasis on some of the tougher football drills. Because we were very thin in a few areas, some of our position groups would get a very high number of reps. There is usually a lot of concern toward maintaining 'fresh legs.'
"Because of our total approach and the influence of the staff, I've reduced my in-season conditioning system by almost 50 percent when you consider our total weekly yardage.
"I like our approach in practice because I think it forces players to get tougher in specific game situations. Our Tuesday conditioning is the same as it has always been in my system. We run 848 yards at a high level. I have to say that this team runs as well as any I've been around. The feedback that I got from observing the team run was close to 100 percent favorable.
"My job is to be an extension of John Bunting's methodology, and I always work hard to accomplish that, just as I've done with all the coaches I've worked with in the past."
TarHeelBlue: There were several tragedies involving both professional and student-athletes last summer. What effect does this have on your summer program?
Coach Connors: "With the number of deaths last summer, I don't know who out there will be able to say they out-ran the other guys in the summer. I think the NCAA will probably lay down some common standards to which every one will have to adhere.
"It's a tough situation for strength and conditioning coaches. We have to look at all the conditional problems that athletes might have and try to keep things safe.
"At the same time, we must find an edge over the competition. I almost feel like I should hire a cardiologist and a lawyer to accompany me on every workout this summer.
"Our main concern will be safety."
Part II, Thursday, Dec. 20: Connors will take a look back at the Tar Heels' 2001 season.
