Nose Guard, Boston College
is the most dominating player I've ever coached." Jack Bicknell Head Football Coach, Boston College.
Mike Ruth Benches 580 Pounds! I guess anybody would smile with that kind of Max.
Nose Guard Boston College By Dr. Greg Shepard One Saturday in October I sat down to watch Penn State and Boston College play football. Everybody kept talking about Doug Flutiethe eventual Heisman Trophy winner. All of a sudden, the cameras flashed on Mike Ruth and I thought, "What a Stallion!" Then the announcer stated that Mike Ruth could bench press 550 pounds. Incidentally, Iget real tired of people saying how much an athlete can bench press rather than what he can do on his other lifts. I also thought to myself, "So he can bench but can he play." I decided to concentrate on Mike and form my own opinion. I jumped right out of my chair on the very next play.
Mike Ruth charged from his nose guard position with such a vicious violence that the hair stood up on the back of my neck. Then with an explosive swipe of his massive arm, he swatted his opponent on the helmet and flattened him. The QB sack was his! From that moment on I became an instant Mike Ruth fan. That next Monday morning, I couldn't wait to call Boston College. I talked with Wes Emmert, their strength coach. He was also a Mike Ruth fan. Coach Emmert confided, "Mike is probably the most intense person I've ever met" He further stated, "Almost every game, Mike has to fight a double or triple team. He will be considered for the Lombardi Trophy for the nation's best lineman.
Mike Ruth is very straight He doesn't drink, smoke or do drugs. He very rarely loses his temper. He fires up the team by example. I remember one time he almost lost his temper but he didn't He would consider that a human weakness." Now my curiosity was really perked. I couldn't wait to talk to Mike. Boston College defensive coach Orfio Collilouri states, "The techniques we use at nose guard can only be executed by Mike Ruth's overall strength. The nose guard has got to physically dominate the center and no one does it better than Mike." He has been named "Player of the Week" twice, made the ECAC 1 st team, All East 1 st team and Honorable Mention A11- American.
Mike Ruth attended Methacton High School and Junior High in Pennsylvania. His high school coach was George Marinkov. In high school Mike was team captain, made 3rd team All-State and was team captain on the Pennsylvania AJIStar team. Now, it was time to talk to Mike Ruth himself. Mike was very sincere during our interview and it was quickly evident that there was something very special about Mike, certainly a lot more than a big football player being able to knock someone else on their behind. His total conditioning time takes about 2 hours; 5 days per week. His running and agility are done in organized workouts 3 times per week.
Although Mike admits he doesn't like to run very much, "My motivation to start lifting was so I wouldn't get pushed around." Then I asked "Mike, what's your major?" His answer was most startling! ''I'm a theology major" stated Mike. This was amazing. Why theology? Why not business? I queried. Mike explained, "Making money to me is boring; not exciting at all. However, theology offers something better. How God relates to man is Continued on Page 15 MIKE RUTH many major college scholarship offers but I chose Boston College which has the top theology department in the nation. That was the major factor."
Then thinking maybe all Boston College athletes go there for religion I asked Mike about that and he responded with a chuckle, "No, I'm the only football player majoring in theology. I believe you really can't do anything without God so to keep that special relationship going I majored in theology. Basically I study all religions but my main emphasis is in Catholicism." Mike attends Mass 3-4 times a week. Mike, are you ever intimidated on the football field? I asked. "Not really," Mike said, "What's the toughest person compared to God. I need to master myself through His commandments. I just go out and play with good clean intensity. If I don't play hard, I've let myself down.
I play like every play is my last. I certainly don't want to go out a loser." I turned back to Wes Emmert and asked "Any final comments?" "Yes, Coach Shepard, Mike Ruth is a rare diamond," he stated quite seriously. Then with a twinkle in his voice Coach Emmert laughed, "But he tells the worst jokes in the world." We wish to thank Mike Ruth for the great example that he is and continued success to he and Coach Emmert on their "Quest for Greatness."
Intensity and Concentration are part of Mike Ruth's greatest assets.
MIKE RUTH PROGRESS CHART YEAR HT. WT. SQUAT BENCH D. LIFT V.J.
8th 9th 10th 11th 12th FR SOPH.
X5.3 X 5.1 X 4.95 X 5.06 251/2 4.8 28 X 32 OTHER MARKS: 440 Incline, 960 Hip Sled, 5.9% Body Fat Ruth, who is double and triple teamed every play; is sure to turn his All-American status into a Lombardi Trophy candidate this season.
SPECIAL UPDATE This article appeared in the January 1985 BFS Journal. Since then, Mike Ruth has continued to improve, his bench moved up another 40 pounds to 580. Sports Illustrated featured Mike in a great article. In the first game nationally televised this season, Ruth was awesome and helped his cause for post-season honors considerably. '-------' 15 All-State H.S. Level All- American H.S. Level College- Pro Level Wodd Standard Linemen - Shot Put Discus Hammer THE BFS HEIGHT - WEIGHT CHART HIGH SCHOOL LINEMEN SHOT PUT - DISCUS HIGH SCHOOL TE-LB'5-FB'S BASKETBALL BIG MEN 5'8" 180 5'9" -185 5'10" - 190 5'11"- 198 6'0" 206 6'1" - 215 6'2" - 224 6'3" 233 6'4" 242 6'5" 251 6'6"
- 260 5'8" 175 5'9" 180 5'10" 185 5'11" 192 6'0" -199 6'1" 207 6'2" 215 6'3" 223 6'4" 231 6'5" 239 6'6" 247 6'7" 255 6'8" - 263 COLLEGE-PRO LINEMAN SHOT PUT-DISC US-HAMMER 6'0" 220 6'1" - 230 6'2" - 240 6'3" 250 6'4" 260 6'5" 270 6'6" 280 6'7" 290 6'8" - 300 A 6'4" college lineman at the college strength level should be able to run a 4.7 forty weighing 260 Ibs. HIGH SCHOOL 40 - 5.0 COLLEGE PRO 40 -4.7 6'0" 6'1" 6'2" 6'3" 6'4" 6'5" 6'6" 6'7" 6'8" 6'9" 6'10" 6'11" 210 218 227 235 244 252 261 269 278 286 295 303 TO" 312 HIGH SCHOOL 40 - 4.8 COLLEGE PRO 40 - 4.6 HIGH SCHOOL RUNNING BACKS JAVELIN-BB CATCHERS-DECATHALON 5'8" 170 5'9" 175 5'10" 180 5'11"
187 6'0"-195 6'1" 202 6'2" - 210 6'3" 217 6'4" 225 6'5" 232 6'6" 240 COLLEGE-PRO RUNNING BACKS JAVELIN-BB CATCHERS-DECATHALON 5'10" 5'11" 6'0" 6'1" 6'2" 6'3" 6'4" 6'5" 6'6" 6'7" 6'8" - 185 192 200 207 215 222 230 237 245 253 260 HICH SCHOOL 40 - 4.6 COLLEGE PRO 40 - 4.5 5'8" 5'9" 5'10" 5'11" 6'0" 6'1" 6'2" 6'3" 6'4" 6'5" 6'6" - 165 170 175 181 187 193 199 205 211 217 223 5'10" 5'11" 6'0" 6'1" 6'2" 6'3" 6'4" 6'5" 6'6" 6'7" 6'8" 175 182 190 198 205 213 220 228 235 242 250 HIGH SCHOOL 40 - 4.5 COLLEGE PRO 40 - 4.5
From BFS Magazine — November/December 1985. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
