Upper Limit Success Story
By Michael Boyle Strength and Conditioning Coach Greg Shepard loves to find and meet what he terms “Upper-Limit” athletes, those athletes that have paid the price and reached the highest level of potential. Bill Brooks, currently a starting wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, stands as one of those great success stories. The story of Bill Brooks reads like a fairy tale. That's because it is. The rise from all around high school athlete, to Division I-AA star, to an NFL starter in his first year is nearly too good to be true. Bill is a modern day testament to the old school theory that commitment and dedication will take you where you want to go.
In his career at Boston University, Bill became the yardstick by which all past and present athletes devotion to self-improvement is measured. Let’s back up a bit and tell you who Bill Brooks is. He will be entering his third season as a starter for the Indianapolis Colts, but don’t be ashamed if you haven't heard his name. Playing 1-AA football in college and now suiting up for a team in the central part of the United States, Bill has never been the subject of extensive media attention.
Massachusetts. basketball, with his ticket to a college scholarship coming As even the untrained eye can see, Bill developed at an on the football field. Thought to be just a step slow for a amazing, rate and has continued to improve his strength Division 1-A receiver, Bill accepted a scholarship at and speed while in the NFL.
Division 1-AA Boston University. The Terriers, in the midst There are no secrets to what has made Bill Brooks a of winning or sharing the Yankee Conference title five success. He simply did whatever was necessary to times in six years, can thank all of Division One improve. At this point, it is important to state that Bill has Universities for underestimating this young athlete's future never used anabolic steroids in his training. What he did development. do was train harder and more intelligently that most Bill arrived at Boston University with almost no athletes would be willing.
Bill spent four years dedicating background in strength training and a 4.85 time in the forty himself to becoming a great football player and an even yard dash. However, he began to develop immediately. better person. Together with teammate Calvin Hall, a free Brooks moved into the starting lineup in the second half of agent signee with Dallas in 1986, Bill spent 2-3 hours per his first collegiate game and did not leave for four years.
Among the numerous records he set, Bill holds the marks flexibility. year round basis working on speed, strength, and for the most career receptions (228), career yards (3,579), At this point, it would be tremendous if we could and career touchdown catches (32). In addition, he was a outline the specifics of the program that led to this Second Team AP All-America his senior year. development but, the program changed as Brooks’ needs To Bill's true credit, none of these football statistics tell changed. What remained constant was the commitment to the real story of his road to the NFL. The effort that Bill finding new and better ways to gain strength and speed.
Brooks put in off the field is the real reason he is a starter Bill’s desire to learn and excel actually caused his coaches for the Colts today. The strength and conditioning program to become better as they searched out new and better that Bill began at the start of his freshman year yielded unprecedented results. See the comparison of Brook's overspeed training, and running technique drills. physical condition from his freshman to his senior year on page 13. 12 The following outline illustrates the types of training regimens that Bill Brooks used over his 5 years training at Boston University:
Strength Development — the basic lifts, Squat, Bench, Press, Incline; done in a periodization format Power Development — Hang Cleans, Plyometrics Speed Development — Interval Training, Sprint There are no secrets to the rise to the Upper-Limit. The dedication—dedicate yourself to training, not just for weeks or months, but years. Seek out quality coaching. Eat Training, Running Technique Drills, Overspeed process, in theory, is simple but, far from easy. It’s right and don’t miss workouts. There are no short cuts, just a long hard road that could take one from high school star to NFL star.
Unfortunately, many get sidetracked along this road by any number of distractions. Bill Brooks, however, never became sidetracked. He simply became better.
“As you climb the mountain, the true Upper-Limit athlete never finds the top.” Greg Shepard THE ELE EIS CLEAN Fully Illustrated Booklet Only $4.95 by Bruno Pauleletto Tennessee Strength Coach N.S.C.A. Coach of the Year 3
From BFS Magazine — Winter 1989. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
