Air Force Academy
also threw the Shot 52-10 during his When Adam Edwards was in the last year of high school. chance to succeed in athletics. Mr. record in 1991-92 with 4,770 yards. ing. between tackles and behind Adam.
BFS Clinician Bob Rowbotham accepted the call and has done four clinics for their area of North Carolina, courtesy of Mr. Edwards. Coach Rowbotham stayed with the Edward’s family and remembers, “They were an incredible family. Very special. Mr. Edwards bought enough equipment to do the BFS program in their garage. He also purchased our Plyometric Boxes and Adam did our BFS routine in the The two years Adam played center back yard. Adam was willing to missing a count because of him.” great.” graduating class of 281 students.
East North Carolina and All-State.
~ Adam (R) with his brother Aaron (L), and Coach Rowbotham (C) after a clinic in 1988 another clinic in 1992.
Adam Edwards is a quiet team leader, leading not with words but by example. Through hard work, he has elevated his performance to a point of becoming the starting center for the United States Air Force Academy Fighting Falcons football team. At 6-1 and 234 pounds, Adam is, without a doubt, one of the smallest starting centers for any Division I program in the nation. However, what he lacks in size he makes up for in strength and, more importantly, power. Adam attacked his off-season workouts prior to his senior season, and showed solid gains in strength in each of the big three lifts emphasized at the Air Force Academy: The Clean, Squat and Bench.
In addition, Adam also vertically jumped 32 inches and was electronically timed in the 40yard dash at 4.99 during testing prior to the 1995 football season. Adam made big strength gains during this last off-season. was impressive, Adam achieved these gains by having 100 percent attendance during off-season conditioning. achieved through hard work in the weight room.
Jack Braley: U.S. Air Force Academy Strength Coach Adam has jumped into a 59-1/2” box from a stand would be in that mold. He’s smart, aggressive and works hard on the field. He is an excellent blocker on the line and downfield.”
Coach Davis was also impressed because Air Force Head Coach Fisher DeBerry, after watching game films, roster.
Adam never got involved in negative activities in high school. Peer pressure was never a problem.
Adam confided, “A lot of kids drank. [had a reputation in high school of not drinking. At parties, they left me alone. I had no drinks in high school and in college I had one glass of wine one time. I didn’t like it. | thought it tasted nasty. “There were drugs at our high school, but I was so separated from it that I never saw a drug. Ijust didn’t associate with the people who did. Here at the Air Force Academy there is not a lot of drugs going on. IfI see drugs, I physically leave the area.” conditioning program at Air Force. ing alcohol) Adam worked extremely hard on Coach Rowbotham assured Mr. Edwards that the Air Force Squat and a 300 pound Power Clean.
He got so he could touch the rim on a vertical jump. Adam made the most of the opportunity his father so earnestly gave him. But, how could a 6-2 220 pound lineman make it in Division I football? The deck was stacked against him, but Adam and family still had a few aces up their sleeves.
The family endured a long, hard process to get an appointment to the Air Force Academy. Some 15,000 students apply to their congressmen, senators, the Vice President or President for admission. Only 8,000 actually receive nominations. Adam got his nomination in January of his senior year. In early April, Adam learned he was one of 1,300 nominees to receive an appointment. Mr. Edwards called our BFS easily Snatch 220 pounds!
Air Force Academy weight room. encouraged me but didn’t push.
Falconland. vinced the transition could be made. doing them since the 8th grade. grams were similar. Piece of cake.
Academy. lot of time into weights, plyometrics. letter of intent with Appalachian State but when the Air Force nomination came through, Adam made his decision. “The biggest point in Air Force’s favor,” reasoned Adam, “is they play Division I football and are in the Western Athletic Conference. You have a very secure future afterwards in the Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant. I was impressed with the coaches. I was more tioning. strong faith in my Christian beliefs. sports, school and in life. me up in hard times. dominating scores. impressed with Air Force football than the other service academies. We also have an awesome strength and conditioning facility.
For example, we have about 10 platforms for the olympic movement type lifts. I do Cleans, Snatches and Jerks.
Ilosophy. So, since I did the BFS program, I liked the Air Force approach. It was a factor in my “T didn’t get here by myself.
Adam believes the Power Clean is the best lift for football. “Oh, yes!
Many people have helped me not only physically but also spiritually.” rare gem who has proven himself. ball field.” years.
Christian and traditional values.
From BFS Magazine — Winter 1995. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
