The Columbia Lions: THeir Winning Story
times through the teams and individuals I have come to McElreavy to know if I could help I would. Editor’s Note: I Coach McElreavy was polite and courteous as he University football because of Jim, Bill and Pete informed me, “Greg, our freshman team was undefeated (Photos shown above) Read the whole story. It’s a for the first time ever. We have a good group coming winning story. back. We're lifting hard and we are going to win next inspired. psychiatrists want to come help. With such a strong core of younger players, it is extremely doubtful that the Last fall, football team. Their situation became a media event.
Every week the media attention would escalate as they made a big deal out of a losing streak. Sometimes newscasters would make snide or callous remarks with humor prevailing at a shallow level. But what really made me throw my weight belt through the TV is when a microphone was thrust in front of a player after a game and was asked, “How does it feel to have just broken the nation’s longest losing streak?”
The hypocrisy of it all is when the same guy ridicules a so called jock from a national power for not graduating and screams, “Your education is the most important thing.”
As a result, | decided to contact Head Football Coach Larry McElreavy. I explained that I went to a school that had winning problems in college. My senior year was special as we had a great winning year, the first in thirteen years. My alma mater has not had a winning year since then - way back to 1963. However, winning that senior year was the greatest feeling in the world and that experience is basically why | do what I do now. losing streak will continue. So I suppose many volunteering their help might want to take credit for the future turnaround. I assured Coach McElreavy the most 1 wanted was a potential article for the BFS journal.
Coach McElreavy confided, “To turn our program around is really not a complex thing. It’s getting after a few simple things. We have to have a great strength and conditioning program. We have to recruit quality athletes. We have to make motivation to excel a top priority. We have to have a motivated hard working staff and last we have to have a commitment from the administration.
Obviously Coach McElreavy makes a lot of sense. In fact, his five simple guidelines for success aren’t all that different from the high school situation. I immediately became a fan of his. It was decided that I was to meet with his entire staff on April 11th. Columbia has a 232 year history which is older than the nation itself! It was the fifth college of the American colonies. In 1754 there were eight students. Today the numbers exceed 25,000 in all of it’s divisions.
However, the main 1 want to relive that special feeling and I have many Continued on page 7 THE COLUMBIA LIONS Continued from page 3 Engineering and Applied Science, the two main undergraduate branches, remain small, offering their 3,300 students the intimacy of a small college with easy access to the facilities and benefits of a great university. Columbia is an [vy League school and competes with Harvard, Princeton, Penn, Yale, Dartmouth, Cornell and Brown to name a few. The Ivy League commands academic respect. It’s as prestige as one can get and the vast majority of Columbia’s graduates go on to advanced studies. Columbia graduates abound in top positions in every field.
Columbia is located in Manhatten, the heart of New York City. No other city offers more in the way of theater, music, museums, or pro sports. vast hubbub of the city is a small beautiful oasis called Columbia. It seems separated but yet connected with a huge metropolis which makes Columbia unique among, our nation’s universities.
] showed up an hour early and went to the weight room. Tom Gilmore, the defensive line coach, was working out. Coach Gilmore was impressive. He was the Ivy League 1985 Player of the Year at defensive tackle at Penn. Coach Gilmore was a self made athlete. As a freshman, he weighed 190 and through a hard work combined with an incredible diet increased to a functional 255 bodyweight without steroids. He is intense but friendly and intelligent. Coach Gilmore had a 3.88 GPA at Penn so he’s a great example for his players. As we were talking, a couple of freshman players were lifting. One was having some big problems on his squat. | asked Tom if [ could help him and he said, “Sure.”
The player was squatting way high with 185 pounds. He responded quickly to the technique suggestions and 20 minutes later did a technique perfect parallel squat with 325 pounds. the other player asked if | could help Bill McGee OG: “We have never ever thrown in the him on his squat. His max was 325 pounds. Fifteen towel! That's why I’m so proud of my teammates.” minutes later it was 400 pounds. I said, “Tim that’s super in 10 minutes you could be cleaning 250 pounds.”
Tim replied, with a laugh, “I could never do that, my max is only 215.” Coach Gilmore pounced on that remark, “Didn’t you just see what happened on your squat. How can you doubt?”
“That's a lot of weight,” Tim said shaking his head. NowI took this personal. “Tim,” I challenged, “My meeting is in 10 minutes but give me 100% and we'll get 250. work. intently. responded to the technique suggestions. To make a long story short in ten minutes, Tim Power Cleaned 251 pounds! You should have seen his eyes. It’s what makes coaching worthwhile. I had loads of fun and was well rewarded for my time. Then, Coach Gilmore and | for the meeting, The entire staff was present. I was impressed. This is Constructed in 1984, the Lawrence A. Wein Stadium at very unusual at the college level. My job as I perceived it Baker Field holds 17,000 spectators.
It’s a remarkable was to go over what they should be doing to WIN. edifice perched on the northern tip of Manhatten Island.
They desperately needed a new weight room. They COLUMBIA'S WINNING STORY Continued from page 7 already knew that. Their brand new weight room is scheduled for completion by August 15, 1988. I recommended that they get awesome heavy duty free weight equipment in school colors. This would develop pride and enthusiasm. They agreed.
They also needed a new strength coach. They wanted some hiring guidelines. I responded, “There are basically two kinds of strength coaches. Those in white coats that prescribe a workout and then sit in their ofÏce and a coach who is a motivating rah-rah hands on type of person. At Columbia, it’s a must to have the second type. Do not depend entirely upon recommendations, NSCA certification, powerlifting trophies or philosophy. Narrow the field of candidates down to three to five. Have them come to the weight room and take a couple of athletes through a big squat and clean workout. In 15 Coach Shepard with Defensive Line Coach Tom Gilmore minutes, you'll know.
You'll separate the cream from the BS ina hurry. They agreed. Next, we talked about the basic program:
1.
You must use free weights for the main source of power and strength.
2. The main lifts are the Squat, Clean and Bench. You must vary your sets and reps.
3.
You must keep accurate records of all lifting, running, jumping etc.
. You must work on Flexibility every day.
. You must work on Speed twice per week. . You must work on Plyometrics twice per week. . You must work on Technique twice per week.
. You must work on Agility consistently.
. Good Nutrition is a must.
10. Proper Rest isa must. 11. Intensity, the all out variety, is a must.
12. Great Spotting which includes coaching, judging, and being a teammate is a must. Coach Shepard with Pete, Bill and Jim. The Ring —- The Dream!
Going for it. That’s what matters.
We spent two hours discussing each phase listed above. I stressed the importance of each position coach knowing what his kids were doing. Pat them on the back when improvements are made. I suggested to Coach McElreavy to encourage or provide a way that as many kids as possible stay around during the summer.
In the Ivy League it’s tough and hasn’t been done nearly as extensively as major Division I schools. Nonetheless, the advantages were noted. As | was about to leave, three lineman came to Dave Barton’s ofÏce. Coach Barton is the Offensive Line Coach. I was introduced and then asked Coach Barton, “How ‘bout if I interview these three guys?” It was agreed. It turned out to be one of the most inspiring interviews I’ve ever done. [ came to inspire but these three inspired me. Hence, we have “Columbia’s Winning Story.” These three special guys are Jim Taylor, Bill McGee and Pete Davis. All three will be seniors next fall and await their final year of football.
Jim is a Center and is giving it their all next fall.
COLUMBIA'S WINNING STORY Continued from page 10 6'0" 235 pounds. He squats 475, Benches 370 and Cleans what we have learned in football at Columbia is 255 while running a 5.2 forty. Bill is an Offensive Guard extremely positive. Everyone who’s on this team will be and is 5' 9" 225. He squats 525, Benches 420 and Cleans successful because we've gotten beat 20 times. That's 20 250 while running a 5.1 forty. Pete Davis plays Tackle slaps in the face. The important thing is that we have and is 6’ 3" 255 pounds. Pete squats 475, Benches 310, kept coming back. We will keep coming back and trying 250 and runs the forty in 4.9 seconds.
My first question was not how do you feel about the losing streak but rather what are you doing now to win. They responded,”We have a goal and dream about winning our first game. We think more about our weight and strength than last year. We’re more conscious of everything. We are concentrating more on technique and paying more attention Te isn’t so much can we win, but when we win!” necessary in producing a win.” “Do people think negative? Is there a defeatist attitude?” Came the next question. Jim, a 3.0 political science major, afÏrmed a positive position as the other two nodded unitedly, “Everyone has accepted the challenge. It isn’t so much can we win but when we win.”
Bill McGee, also a political science major, with emotion added, “When we had four games left last season, we could have thrown in the towel. But, we didn’t. [ was proud of our guys.” What about next fall? Bill continued positively, “I think of winning all our games. the championship. shouldn’t plan on losing. If we said, to be 6 - 4 would be great, means, in reality, we would be saying losing four games is part of that goal. I want to go into each game with the goal of winning.” Pete Davis, with a determined look, revealed, “We talk about the “RING.” We've talked about it since we “We will always keep coming back and trying even harder. That's why we're going to be successful in life.”
came in as freshman.” The “RING” symbolizes supremacy in the Ivy League.
I turned my attention to Bill and inquired, “But didn’t you come to Columbia primarily for the education?” I was surprised at his answer. “I came to Columbia to play the highest division of football for me as possible,” Bill asserted. “But what about the Columbia education?” I asked in a somewhat pressing tone. Again, the answer surprised me. Bill looked me square in the eye, “I take my classes seriously but I do think about football all the time. I currently have a 3.5 GPA. I have to have a 2.2 to stay on the team but to get over a 3.0 I have a different motivation. That motivation is my parents. I want them to be proud of me. They both work their butt off for me.
Icouldn’t -1 wouldn’t let them down.”
“J always want to be able to look myself in the mirror and be able to say that I’d given my best.”
After drawing a deep breath, | viewed Bill with admiration and a slight lump came to my throat. I whispered, “Man, I hope all the losing that has been experienced doesn’t affect your chances of being successful in life.” They unitedly stated with unique poise a poignant response which deserves an audience comprised of every athlete and coach in this nation, “The carryover of OLD MILL WT. TRAINING Continued from page 19 THE COLUMBIA LION Continued from page 13 also the Cross Country Captain. She’s been on varsity even harder. That’s why we are going to be successful in track since ninth grade and anchored the 3200 meter life.”
State Champion Relay Team.
The lump grew. I resolved that if anyone called Coach Ron Evans seems to attract the best or maybe the program develops a person’s potential in many Columbia a bunch of losers I would physically fight them. They are winners period! areas. In all probability, it is perhaps a combination of At Ivy League schools, including Columbia athletic the two. We didn’t even mention Jennifer Berg: Lifting scholarships like Division I schools are not given out. I Champ, Honor Roll Student, Cheerleader and on the wondered how these three felt about a Division I player varsity gymnastics team; or mention Christy Tarbutton: not going to class and flunking out.
All three shook their Lifting Champ, 1150 SAT Score, perfect score in math heads, “We pay for our education. Division I players with a goal to be the first girl to squat twice her body have it given to them. You're really stupid if you don’t weight. take advantage of that situation.”
We salute Old Mill High School and their admin- Iistrators for allowing a creative Upper Limit coach like unexpected. “You guys don’t have long hair, punk hair Ron Evans to develop a model for this nation to follow. cuts or earrings. You're wearing what people back in We salute the many upper limit athletes who participate Utah might wear. I drove through some amazing streets in this program with total dedication and who are great in Manhatten to get to Columbia. Drugs, hookers, bag examples for us all. ladies and people eating out of garbage cans on street corners. New York City had it all: Highs and lows. Can you get caught up in the fast lane with such easy access?”
“Yes you can,” came the response. “A lot of kids get caught up in the big city. But the three of us believe in Editor’s Note: The following was written in the | God and try to maintain good Christian values. All three Old Mill School Paper by Power Club member of us are Catholic. We also believe we have obligations Beth Ketchum. Beth weighs 112 and squats 175, | Benches 115, Dead Lifts 265 and Cleans 135. to do the right thing because of our parents.”
Bill added, “Drugs are also a waste. When you regulate yourself, you tend to do better in all things. We do better in school during football. Anyway, you can’t As [ entered school October 30, the excitement be the best when you're whacked out on drugs. I know was in the air. | was already looking forward to the for some people peer pressure is a big thing, but we day ahead. But, | was not thinking about our associate with good people. We all hang out with each Homecoming Pep Rally or the football game like the other so for us peer pressure is no problem. We like other students. I would not be in school for that. being around people that bring us up.”
This year I had given up my pep rally along Pete and Jim nodded in agreement. with three other girls for a trip to Ocean City. Along As our interview drew to a close, I asked one final with Mr. Evans, we were heading for a Maryland question and chuckled, “What do you want to be when Athletic, Physical, Health, Recreation and Dance you grow up?”
Convention Demonstration.
Jim smiled but replied seriously, “I want to be happy On the way to the ocean, we talked about our and have a nice family.” lifts and spotting as well as our plans for the Bill responded, “1 haven't given it a lot of serious evening. thought but money is no big thing. I’ve never had it. I Once we reached the time of our demonstration, too want to be happy and have a nice family.” we set up our weights and began stretching as “The same for me,” Pete echoed, “My parents have coaches and students found their seats. The entire been great. I'd take care of them. they're older. I always demonstration took about 25 minutes.
want to be able to look myself in the mirror and be able We scared some people with the amount of to say that I'd given my best.” weights. One man offered to carry them in for us.
Jim is from Chicago and Bill is from Queens while Many were afraid one of us were going to get hurt.
Pete is from California. They met at Columbia. All three We laughed about the people we stunned with are political science majors and have 3.0 GPA’s or higher. our lifts. They could not understand or believe how They are Upper Limit thinkers. Their responses were as many students at Old Mill, including girls, lift powerful as a church sermon, as eloquent as a leading weights outside of class. statesman and sagely profound. My heart will be with We all went home that night with a great feeling Columbia Blue Lion Football this fall rooting for a because we know everyone walked away that day dedicated group of inspiring coaches and athletes. with a different view of weight lifting.
Some who saw us were stunned but all were impressed.
Columbia University: A great place to go to school A great place to play football.
From BFS Magazine — May/June 1988. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
