Decade
The 1990s.
524 articles
The program spreads: state champions, clinics, and the Be an Eleven creed. 524 BFS Magazine articles were published during the The 1990s, capturing how the BFS Total Program was taught and applied across 1990–1999.
Recurring themes include Football, Squat, Speed, and Power Clean. Coaches and writers featured here include Dr. Greg Shepard, Greg Shepard, and Kim Goss. Every story is free — read it online or open the original magazine layout as a PDF.
ROSSVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Coach Wright embraced the BFS Program and went to work on his athletes. Wright recalls, we began to meet at 6:15 each morning for our workout prior to school. We had almost 100% participation each workout day. An excellent work ethic was formed and the Rebels were getting poise
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PRODUCT REVIEW: BFS Safety Squat
The BFS Safety Squat is a product I heard about but never really thought about using. When I received the Safety Squat to test and review, I realized it is something I should have purchased for my weightroom a long time ago. The Safety Squat is an electronic device to help lifter
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UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
When the Western Athletic Conference expanded from 10 to 16 teams three years ago, making it the largest conference in the nation, everyone agreed it would be a positive step. It would mean more high school athletes would be exposed to WAC football, leading to better recruiting a
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STANDARDS FOR WOMEN
Two well known strength coaches have made their findings public. David Oliver, a former NBA strength coach, is now working as the strength and conditioning coach for the U.S. Women's Soccer Team. Meg (Ritchie) Stone, formerly the head strength coach at the University of Arizona,
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MEASURING SUCCESS: The Just Jump or Run
It is relatively easy to come up with point after point on why it is important keep accurate measurements of your athletes speed, jumping ability, etc.; however, it isnt always as easy to find the best, quickest, and most accurate ways to do all of this measuring. For the past 1
ReadPRODUCT REVIEW: The Aluma-Lite Bar
When I received the BFS Aluma-Lite Bar, I was immediately impressed with the way it looked. It was clean, and looked sturdy. The knurling felt good in my hands and the sleeves rotated smoothly; it has everything you would want in an Olympic bar. It also had features found on a re
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A NEW BREED: University of Tennessee
Let's create the perfect offensive tackle. What do we do? Make him big! Like 6-6 and 330 pounds. Make him strong! Like Bench 470, Squat 605 and Power Clean for reps over 300 pounds. Make him fast! Like run a 4.9 forty. Make him explosive! Like vertical jump 30 inches and do a sta
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BEANE THERE DOIN THAT: Shepherd College
Most of the time we don't know when history is in the making. Did Mrs. Einstein know that her drooling little baby Albert would grow into the smartest man in the world? When little George Washington started his first day at military school, could anyone envision him the father of
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IF YOU CANT GET THROUGH IT, GO OVER IT: Stady Dragila
Nearly every sport has its weirdos. Well, maybe not weirdos, but people who perhaps march to a slightly different drummer than the rest of us. In football, there are the kickers who drive their teammates nuts with elaborate pre-performance rituals and superstitions. Then there ar
ReadTHE BFS STEPS TO SUCCESS
Just plain old hard work can defeat 40% or more of your competition. The fact of the matter is hard work makes dreams come true. Most of the players on the other teams, however, are lazy and looking for a way around the hard work necessary to be successful. For years we have li
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NATIONAL RECORDS SMASHED: Washington Co. High, GA
R ick Tomberlin has it going at Washington County High School in Sandersville, Georgia. In his seven years with the Golden Hawks, Tomberlin has amassed an 85-11 record which is tops in Georgia for that period. This record includes playing for the State Championships four times an
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KEVIN DEVINE: Visits Chardon High, OH
Chris Palmer, the new head football coach for the Cleveland Browns, came from the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was the Jaguars' offensive coordinator the last two seasons. In his new role as the Brown's head coach, the 49-year-old Palmer wanted to bring one player. That player was Ke
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PIRATE POWER UNLEASHED: San Leandro HS
Dan Calcagno has had a profound impact on northern California football at San Leandro High School. In 1984 Calcagno played quarterback for San Leandro and led that team to a 10-0 season. That young undersized quarterback learned early what it takes to win as he led the state in t
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: Fall 1999
Is your school tops as far as sheer, raw talent? If not, there is a great equalizer. Many times the school with the most talent does not win. That's what makes sports exciting, challenging and rewarding. Four things could have happened when the school with the most talent loses.
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CONWAY SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL, KS
When Mark Bliss took over as the head football coach at Conway Springs High School in Conway Springs, Kansas the team had only won one game in seven years. Coach Bliss recalls, It was obvious they were lacking a solid weight program and most coaches will tell you that to be succ
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BAKER HIGH SCHOOL: Class of 2000
In the southeast corner of Montana stands a small oil town of 2,000 people. Our high school has an enrollment of 198 students. How does a small rural community develop a sports program that can overcome the obstacles of size and isolation? Five years ago four of our local high sc
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AMY CHRISTIANSEN-PALMER: American Hammer Throw Record Holder
When Amy was a freshman in high school she was approached by her friend's dad, Reed Thomas, and encouraged to come out for the track team, and try throwing. Amy decided to take his advice, since she was the reigning arm wrestling champion at Grantsville High. Shortly after joinin
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ATTRIBUTES OF A GREAT COACH
If you ask any coach why they enjoy their job so much one might quickly reply, I enjoy the unmatched feelings I get with a victory over a tough competitor. Another might say,I like the constant need to devise clever strategies or I like to see well thought out plans perfectl
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BELIEVE-FAIRNESS-SUCCESS: Riverside High School, TN
The first step toward winning is a huge one - recruit good athletes with good character, good study habits, and a willingness to suppress their own personal ambitions for the good of the team. Within many educational settings, these factors must be developed. There is a magic for
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ALLEGAN HIGH SCHOOL: All-Sport Unification
The old way of thinking was that the football team had their strength program, the track team had theirs, the wrestling team had theirs, and so on. Each team had a different program because they each needed to work on different things because they are different sports which
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE - Summer 1999
Winners Make Goal Choices and Form Positive Habits _________________ ABOUT HABIT I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper, or your heaviest burden. I will push you onward, or drag you down to failure. I am at your command. Half of the tasks you do, you may just as
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PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Miami Southridge
The 1998 Lady Spartan Track Team was a perfect 27-0, winning the Florida 6-A Girls Track State Championship. In the 90s, the Spartans won the title twice, finished 2nd six times and 3rd once. How does a track team win so much? Len Walencikowski, Miami Southridge's Strength & Con
ReadTRAINING SMART FOR YOUR SPORT
Pull the bar to you as slow as you can. Good! Take ten seconds to lower it and ten more to push it back up. How many of you have walked in to a gym to see a fitness trainer working with young athletes in this fashion? I spent last summer working with high school football players
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FOR INDIANAS ARTESIANS ITS NOT THE WATER, ITS BFS!
When Indiana's first certified strength and conditioning specialist came to Martinsville High School in 1996, the girls' golf and tennis teams paid little heed. The attitude at the time was that golfers don't need big muscles, and in tennis, speed is more important than strength.
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MICHAEL BUTLER
Adversity is something everyone has to overcome every once in a while in life. However, some people are faced with more adversity than others. Sometimes the best way to find a persons true greatness is by looking at what they overcame. Not by what they accomplished. This is a st
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REDFORD UNION PANTHERS: Mega Blue League Champions
The Redford Union Panthers had a tradition of losing. No matter how hard the coaches and players worked they just couldn't seem to win. The Panthers had never made the playoffs and ended this football season with an dismal 0-9 record. Athletic Director, Jim Gibbons, decided somet
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FIND A WAY: Jeffrie Banks
Coach Jeffery Bonner from Southern Choctaw High School in Silas, Alabama wrote me at BFS. The following are parts of this letter: For the past five years I have been reading the BFS Journal and the wonderful stories from all across the world. Here is a true story about another u
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NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEEL: Brandon Spoon
Brandon Spoon was one of the top linebackers in the nation last year and is slated to be a premier linebacker next season. He has been nominated for the Butkus (linebacker) Award twice. Last season he was a 2nd team All-ACC selection as he led the Tar Heels in tackles (78) and hi
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LESSONS TO LEARN: Estecada High School, OR
The 1998 Estacada Ranger Football team performed beyond all expectations. This is my second season as head coach at Estacada. In the two years before I got to Estacada, the team had only won 2 games. Then, in 1997, we turned it around with a 6-3 record. This years team went 9-1,
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A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS: Sabino High School, AZ
Jeff Scurran is one of the coaching giants in the history of high school football. He is one of our BFS Clinicians and last December produced another state championship team. This giant is 5-8 and weighs a hundred and practically nothing. He played high school football at North M
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BORN TO LIFT: Casey Burgener
Just about everyone lifts weights. Football players will perform Squats and Power Cleans to become better athletes. Business professionals will perform Lat Pulldowns and Leg Presses to tone their muscles and stay trim. Senior citizens will perform Lunges and biceps Curls to keep
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WOODBURRY ROYALS: Minnesota Class 5A State Champs
The cafeteria was filled with eager anticipation as the young men who would make up the 1998 Woodbury Royals football team awaited the opening of the auditorium doors. As the coaching staff made their way through the waves of royal blue and white shirts, the players quieted and t
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TIFFANY LOT: 55 Meter Hurdles World Record Holder
Tiffany Lott was born in Tucson, Arizona in 1975. She watched her older brothers participate in track and developed an interest in it herself. When she was in the 5th grade, her family moved to American Fork, Utah, where Tiffany began competing in track when she was in the 6th gr
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THE TOWEL BENCH
BFS highly recommends Towel Benches for three reasons. First, an athlete gets used to a heavier weight. Normally, ten to twenty more pounds can be used on the Towel Bench. This builds more confidence for new levels on the regular bench. Second, it brings variety into the routine.
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MARK SHULTZ: World Champion Wrestler
Thirty eight years ago, in Palo Alto, California, one of the world's greatest wrestlers came about. This man was not your ordinary person but a determined, never-say-die athlete. Like most great athletes, Schultz' life was not an easy path to walk. It was filled with disappoint
ReadWEIGHT ROOMS MUST BE SAFE ROOMS
Weight training is an essential part of any program. It is meant to inspire, increase strength, and enhance self-worth. A well run weightroom can virtually eliminate any potential problem that may occur. Safety must be paramount. You want the participants back. You dont want inj
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE - Spring 1999
Remember the Kenny Rogers song about the gambler? He sings, you never count your money til the dealins done. The same rule applies to athletics, especially football. You never start your dancin til the games all done. I saw three games last Fall where players lost focus
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MT. ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY: Vermont State Champs
Mt. St. Joseph's Academy has a total enrollment of only 200 students; only 96 of which are boys. That doesn't leave a huge selection for Coach Brian Grady to pull from for his football team but apparently that didn't matter. He was able to get an incredible 41% of those boys on h
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LSU BASEBALL
The Tigers have appeared in the College World Series seven times already this decade. They have produced 15 All-Americans and 15 draft selections in the first five rounds during this same time period. Alex Box Stadium seats seven thousand and they usually are tops in the nation i
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POWER OF THE MIND
Come on push it. Suck it up now! I think every serious athlete has heard those words muttered or even screamed by a coach during practice. Hunched over with hands on knees you desperately gasp in another breath of air trying to comfort your pounding heart that feels like it's a
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MEASURING SUCCESS
Measuring success can create so many positive actions in an athletic program. It can certainly be the catalyst in turning a losing program into a winner. Measuring success can provide incentive for a year-in and year-out dominant all-sports program. It can significantly increase
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DEVINE LEG POWER
Kevin Devine has just finished his second season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has been outstanding on the special teams and also as a reserve defensive back. Kevin had the fastest time of anyone during the NFL Combine before his rookie year. Out of about 100 watches, several
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COREY MOORE: Virginia Tech
Under the guidance of Frank Beamer, one of the nations winningest active coaches, the Hokies were ranked sixth in the nation in total defense and second in scoring defense. Leading this charge was Second Team Junior All-American Defensive End Corey Moore. Bud Foster, Techs Defe
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MEASURING SUCCESS: The Just Jump or Run
It is relatively easy to come up with point after point on why it is important keep accurate measurements of your athletes speed, jumping ability, etc.; however, it isnt always as easy to find the best, quickest, and most accurate ways to do all of this measuring. For the past 1
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COLBY HIGH SCHOOL: Wisconsin State Champs
For the Colby High Football Team, winning was viewed as a nice addition to what they really valuedpersonal growth. The Colby Hornets not only came out of the season as well tuned athletic machines carrying the Wisconsin State, Division IV, Championship Trophy, but also possessin
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BOX SQUAT? The First Thing We Do!
The Parallel Squat is perhaps the most difficult for an athlete to learn of all the core or multi-joint exercises. Even the concept of correct positioning is a difficult one for most high school athletes. Correct positioning means that the head, eyes, chest lower back, hips, knee
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ADRIEN CLARKE: Shaker Hieghts HS, OH
100% discipline, intensity and consistency in everything I do! is the answer I received from Adrien Clark of Shaker Heights High School in Ohio when I asked him how he achieved such great success. In football, Adrien has earned the honors of All-American, All-State, All-League
ReadAMY ACUFF: Mail Order High Jumper
When Amy Acuff decided to take high jumping seriously, she knew she needed a qualified coach. Amy lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, and after a few inquiries she learned the best local coach was Sue Humphrey. Of course, everything is big in Texas, so "local" turned out to be severa
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YEAR-ROUND UNIFICATION PROGRAM
The worst thing that can happen is where every sport and every coach is off doing his/her own strength and conditioning program, while concepts and philosophies are totally opposite. Sometimes, where egos are so strong between head coaches, the athletes get confused and their loy
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TAG BOZIED: University of San Francisco
Baseball America named Tag Bozied a first team All-America and a unanimous choice for West Coast Conference Player of the Year. His performance earned him an invitation to the 1999 summer camp for the USA National Baseball Team. Tag made the cut and was one of only 22 that made t
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STRENGTH, POWER AND BALANCE TRAINING
Tom Cross is the strength and conditioning coach at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. He is one of most respected strength coaches in the nation and is a frequent speaker at NSCA conventions. It was there I saw Coach Cross, Dustin Hada and Whitney demonstrate thei
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THREE UNIQUE LIFTS
The Box Squat: We do two squat workouts per week during both the off and in-season. One is a Parallel Squat workout while the other is a Squat Variation workout. Most programs also feature two squat workouts: One heavy and one medium or light. You can't physically or mentally tak
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ROB RITI: Histories Strongest Football Player
Is Rob Riti history's strongest football player? That is quite a bold statement. I have seen much in my 35 years as a strength coach. Terry Long played at East Carolina and we featured him as history's strongest player in 1983. Terry was 6-0 280 pounds and could do a front flip.
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DARWIN WALKER: Tennessee Vol
Darwin is an awesome defensive tackle at 6-3 and 300 pounds. He turned down an opportunity to turn pro so he could finish his senior year with the Vols as a team captain and finish his Civil Engineering degree. Here are Darwin's stats: Squat: 625, Bench: 550, Power Clean: 365, To
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IS BFS BEST?
Best For Pros: I believe many types of professional programs are great. Most pro-athletes could not do the full BFS program. The objectives are different. For example, should I tell Mark McGwire, Steve Young or Karl Malone that they need to Squat, Bench, and Power Clean heavy whi
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE: Winter 1999
Every coach and athlete featured in this journal has a remarkable passion for excellence. There will always be different styles and methods but nothing will ever replace the importance of passion. Give me a person with a passion for his job or sport over talent or brains anytime.
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BFS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Collin Blackburn
Collins selection was based on athletic achievement in sports, the ability to overcome obstacles, scholarship, leadership, general character and the ability to put life into its proper perspective. Collin has proven his worth in all of these areas and is most deserving of this a
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THE BFS SET-REP SYSTEM
The BFS Set-Rep System is the best thing you can possibly do for your athletes. It blows every other system away. It is amazing every high school, junior college, Division II and III and NAIA school are not on the BFS system. If you are working with advanced Division I athletes o
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COACHING MADE EASY
Every athlete and coach would find it a blessing in their weightroom and on the field if they implemented the Six BFS Absolutes in exactly the same way. When using different terminology, it breeds confusion. For example, don't say make your chest big, say spread the chest. Be
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A NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN CREED
America has come a long way in understanding that everyone is created equal in regards to race, color or creed. However, we must also recognize two things. First, we still have a long way to go and second, all people, regardless of race, color or creed must strive to do the best
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OAKLAND A'S: It's a Whole New Ballgame
When Bob Alejo landed a job as a strength coach for UCLA in 1984, he was on top of the world. A former Olympic weightlifter and collegiate baseball player, Alejo figured this chance to coach at one of the top U.S. schools had make his life as good as it gets. But years later, whe
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: How High Do You Want to Rise?
We are all given two precious gifts in life. One is the freedom to choose. The other is an unspecified time in which to make these choices. How we choose determines our success and happiness. We can choose to be successful. We can choose to be happy. How high we rise is not a mat
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AS BASIC AS BLACK & WHITE
The phrase "quality is better than quantity" certainly rings true for a little school in Ash Fork Arizona. With only a student population of 56, Ash Fork High School was able to beat the odds. Back in the fall of 1995 Ash Fork High School's weight lifting/physical education progr
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LIGHTWEIGHT TRAINING EQUIPMENT
Like the Nehru collars and striped stovepipe polyester pants of the 60s, there are some things us old folks remember but just don't like to talk about. For coaches, a period they'd like to forget is when weight training was frowned upon. Hard as it might be to believe today, ther
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FROM GOOD TO GREAT
Rob Castleman has dedicated his life to the learning and mastering of the field of sport-specific strength and conditioning. He coaches football in Oregon, plays on a Semi-Pro team, works as a strength and conditioning coach/personal trainer and is currently a counselor for at ri
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UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING: A Thrower's Paradise
Like most coaches, Larry Judge loves to be part of a team and aspires to head a premiere program that other schools will pattern their own programs after. Also like many coaches, there is a special passion in his heart for his own sport of choice, throwing. Today, as the new trac
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BFS SAIPAN CLINIC
Valrick Welch, has been trying to get a BFS clinic on his island of Saipan for years. He finally succeeded last May. I brought my youngest son, Mark, age 11, along for the ride. Saipan is the capital of the commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands and enjoys the stability of the
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FAST TIMES AT WHITNALL HIGH
With 29-year-old Jana Novotna winning this year's Wimbledon and 34-year-old Michael Jordan being, well, Michael Jordan, many young athletes are confident that they too will enjoy long careers. But in the sport of women's swimming, being competitive beyond the teenage years is the
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CREATINE
Editors Note: Bigger Faster Stronger has officially stopped endorsing and selling Creatine (Please read page 38). However, we will continue publishing information on creatine both pro and con. Dr. Joe Brownholtz has some valid points that may be useful to both coach and athlete.
ReadCARBO LOADING - IS IT OVERRATED?
I believe the training principle of Carbo Loading is overrated. With all our improved tracks, running shoes and training methods, we are running distance races slower than ever. Almost all of our American distance records were set 15 to 30 years ago. (See the table on American hi
ReadNO MORE CREATINE
At our annual BFS Clinic Convention, creatine was discussed at length. A decision was made to stop selling and/or endorsing the use of creatine, especially at the junior high and high school level. We realize many coaches probably allow their athletes to take creatine because BFS
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HUSKIES GET BIGGER, FASTER, STRONGER
Jeff Scurran did a BFS Clinic at South Hills High School in California. They sent us an article from their school newspaper written by Brent Estrada. The following is part of that article: The schools implementation of BFS began when varsity football coach, Steve Bogan, gave the
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JOSH BRYANT: Everything he does is for football
Last May, Josh Bryant decided to enter the U.S. Bench Press Open. He had an idea that he was strong, but exactly how strong he didn't even comprehend. Josh competed in the 220-242 pound class for the 16-17-year-olds. What he accomplished astounded all who witnessed the event. He
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STRETCHING FOR SPEED
A stretching program should never be used solely for a warm-up for other activities. It is an exercise regimen itself like lifting and running. A stretching program should be done to increase flexibility and range of motion. It must be worked daily both in the off-season and the
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THE GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF LOUISVILLE
It took high school football coach Tony Stanford almost 16 years to settle on the perfect job: coaching at a school with talented athletes in a community as passionate about the game as he is. He could have done this quite a bit sooner, except for that old "grass is always greene
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GETTING AN EARLY START
During the month of May, a copy of the 1998 summer edition of the BFS Journal was circulating around Bloomington South High School in Bloomington Indiana. It featured the BFS Football All-American Team. "I was proud," said sophomore, Robbie Shirley, " to find that the Panthers we
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AMY ACUFF: Mail Order High Jumper
When Amy Acuff decided to take high jumping seriously, she knew she needed a qualified coach. Amy lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, and after a few inquiries she learned the best local coach was Sue Humphrey. Of course, everything is big in Texas, so "local" turned out to be severa
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: Fall 1998
Unification of all athletic strength programs and physical education weight training programs will give any school a big edge. Unification is the first item on our BFS Clinic agenda. We believe in training all athletes involved in power sports in virtually the same way. We do not
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BARRY RIVERS FROM MUNFORD HIGH SCHOOL
Barry Rivers is the center piece on our defensive squad, a major contributor in our offensive backfield, and our leader in the weight room. Barry has phenomenal strength. His combined total is 1840 pounds in 4 lifts (Bench, Parallel Squat, Power Clean, and Dead Lift). Barry is 6
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MASSILON EXTREME POWER
To give you the full picture of how our power lifting team has evolved, I must go back to the summer of 1985. Our school had just hired a new head football coach. His name was John Maronto. When John came to Massillon, the school weight room consisted completely of exercise machi
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HEARTS OF CHAMPIONS: Texas City Stingarees
Rusty Dowling, head football coach at Texas City High School, believes that the style of football his team plays is one reason a lot of cardiologists move to Texas. "We've made a habit of coming from behind and winningabout six times in the past two years." Even though they've b
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COMMITTED TO A DREAM: Northfield High School--Minnesota 4A State Football C
The Northfield, Minnesota Class 4A Raider football team had some unfinished business in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome last fall. They wanted one thing, a state football championship. Since 1993, they had ventured to the Metrodome five times. One of those times they lost in the
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THE BFS TIGER NUTRITION PROGRAM
The BFS Tiger Nutrition Program has evolved to what it is today after months of intensive research, practical use and feedback from hundreds of people. The results have been stunning. Success stories are pouring into our offices on a daily basis. The Tiger Nutrition Program works
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THE START
Kevin Devine, the NFLs fastest player, demonstrates his explosive start. He is an up and coming star for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kevin uses the BFS start method, which we have recommended for years. This start will give anyone an advantage. Kevin enthusiastically advises, thi
ReadMEASURING BODY FAT
Body fat measurements are far more important than body weight. It is more indicative of athletic fitness and general health than simply seeing how much you weigh. Most coaches realize this but lack a reliable and/or convenient way to measure body fat. The general public needs mor
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DEVINE POWER
Paul Devine, Kevins father, was at BYU when I was their strength coach from 1971 to 1973. Paul was a powerful running back. He was impressive. I had him appear in the original Bigger Faster Stronger movie which I produced in 1972. Paul demonstrated the Dead Lift and was shown po
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Peak Performance
Editors Note: We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. Fred Hatfield share some of his insightful In conjunction with a base Amino Acid formula, you might want to consider some additional supplements: training ideas on achieving peak athletic performance without drugs. Dr. Hatfield
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WOMEN'S SPORTS AT FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL
When Franklin High School, in North Carolina moved up from the 2A to 3A division in 1986, the schools athletic teams struggled to compete with larger schools. Slowly, the FHS programs built up and some even flourished, despite Franklin High being one of the smallest 3A schools i
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MASSILLON, OHIO: Where the Pennies Were Buried
The stadium is part of the Washington Massillon High School on-campus sports complex. It seats 18,000 people and it is where the six divisions of Ohio High School State Championships are played. Those 8th graders in 1993 from Liberty Center who attended their state final game in
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PENNIES IN THE END ZONE
Rex Lingruen is the head football coach at Liberty Center High School in Liberty Center, Ohio, a Division 5 school with approximately 400 students. Their football team is often referred to in local newspapers as The Sons of Liberty, because many of the players are second and th
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TROJANS BRING HOME THIRD TITLE OF THE 90'S
Homedale capped the perfect season with a balanced attack and featured the Player of the Year and three other first team All-Staters. 1996 was a different story. Homedale went 2-6 and only briefly threatened to even make the playoffs. In addition to a years experience, one of th
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SHE'S STILL GOING EVEN AFTER THE GOLD
Plyometric drills and pulling a sled around the track are tough work. That's why Chryste Gaines likes them. And that attitude is why she has an Olympic gold medal sitting on her shelf, next to her four-year pre-med degree from Stanford University. Sometimes, it's hard to tell whi
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THEY KEEP WINNING, AND WINNING AND . . .
The matchup for the 1998 Class AA High School Football Championships in Georgia was a classic. The gridiron warriors in this annual showdown came from Washington County, which won the title last year and was ranked #1 all season, and Carrollton High School, which was ranked #2 al
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SHOCK IT TO ME WITH PLYOMETRICS
Who is the greatest of all time? In boxing circles Mohammed Ali claims he is, but could he knock out Holyfield? What about Larry Holmes? Could his jabs and ring experience overcome the brutal power of a Mike Tyson uppercut? These debates about boxing can never be resolved, but
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DRUG TESTING IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS: All for One and One for All?
A school in central Arkansas implemented a new drug testing policy as a result of action taken by the local school board. The new policy has yet to be tested by constituents of the district. Many of the athletes are commenting on the fact that none of the other organizations, or
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COMBATING DRUGS, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, GANGS & GUNS
I. I am worth my highest goal. I deserve success. I will walk, talk, think, act like the successful person I want to be. Write your worthy goals down on paper. Keep them in front of you at school and at home. Everyone deserves success. But, who is responsible for your greatness?
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THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT FAT: Part II
Let us review the real scientific nitty gritty. If you eat high levels of carbohydrates, like a pop and donut, your insulin level will skyrocket in an attempt to lower blood sugar levels. The insulin will find the fat in the donut and take it to your fat cells. Once the fat is in
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THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, DAD
When Steve Cole was a freshman he had some doubts about playing football, but they were fleeting. Hed been picked on most of his life for being short, and was used to standing up for himself. Besides, he had the support and encouragement of his dad, mom and step-dad. The doubts
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MONARCHS REMAIN KINGS
Dont even think about inferring that the Methodist Monarchs, a Division 3 football team in North Carolina, are a bunch of delicate butterflies. The Monarchs are kings, and the lion is their mighty mascot. Those who question the teams sovereign position have only to look at the
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"WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETE"
Points. Totals. Stats. Numbers are what count in sports, especially in the decathlon. But on the day Dan OBrien was born, the stats on this future world record decathlete didnt look so promising. Matter of fact, they were pretty bleak. Dan was born in 1966 to a Finnish mother a
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THE HEX BAR
WHAT IS THE HEX BAR AND THE HIGH HEX BAR? The Hex Bar is a modified bar designed for a bio-mechanically correct execution of the Dead Lift. Some use a Trap Bar which is similar in function. The Hex Bar is 45 pounds and constructed of cold rolled steal bent into a hexagonal shape,
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SOUTHERN MISS's ADALIUS THOMAS
Charlie Dudley, Southern Mississippi's strength coach, loves Adalius Thomas who is emerging as a top pro prospect as a defensive end. Adalius is a strength coach's dream, said Coach Dudley. Here is why Coach Dudley feels this way about Adalius or A.D. as he is known by his frie
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FROM SLOW TO FAST: From a 5.7 forty to a 4.6
I've been a coach for twenty-five years. I started on the Bigger Faster Stronger Program in the early 80's after sponsoring a very successful clinic with Greg Shepard. The BFS program not only changed my life, but has played a key role in shaping the future of my son Conrad. Whil
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TRUE PARALLEL
True Parallel Squats among athletes are a rarity. I do not see many, no matter where I go or what level of athlete I am observing. Athletes, in general, do their Parallel Squats above parallel. Sometimes they are six to eight inches high and both coach and athlete will swear they
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BOX SQUAT ADVANTAGES
In the BFS Program, true Parallel Squats are done once a week as are Box Squats. They are done all year round, both in-season and off-season. Other Squat Variations such as Front Squats can be done instead of Box Squats; however, the Squat variation of choice is the Box Squat esp
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PREDICTION COMES TRUE!
We have all witnessed baseball's most extraordinary year with the home run hitting of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Two year's ago in our 1996 BFS Winter Edition I wrote an in-depth article on baseball as to why a record number of home runs were hit and made a big deal with the ph
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BASEBALL POWER: Miami Dade Community College
The Miami-Dade Baseball team was good, but exactly how good was yet to be proved. Coach Steve Hertz and his team had it in their hearts that they were the best and they were out to prove it. Coach Hertz is a man well acquainted with the smell of victory. He is a coach that produc
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KEVIN FAULK: Heisman Trophy Candidate
Kevin Faulk entered the 1998 football season at LSU with some big time credentials. He has been a pre-season All-American for the last two years and has received numerous SEC awards and all-conference teams in addition to being named National Player of the Week for his 1997 effor
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OHIO UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
In 1994, the Bobcats were the 107th ranked Division I-A team and were winless. A change was needed. Jim Grobe was hired as the new football coach. Grobe came from the Air Force Academy where he was the Falcon's linebacker coach. He has also been a head coach at Liberty High Schoo
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JUST JUMP TO CLEAN
I see some Division I strength coaches struggling with new athletes entering into their program trying to teach the clean. It may take them two to four weeks to teach what can be learned in 15 minutes. Through clinics, I have learned that nothing even comes close to the Just Jump
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THE TOWEL BENCH
BFS highly recommends Towel Benches for three reasons. First, an athlete gets used to a heavier weight. Normally, ten to twenty more pounds can be used on the Towel Bench. This builds more confidence for new levels on the regular bench. Second, it brings variety into the routine.
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JAY HUMPHREY: Outland Trophy Candidate
Jay Humphrey is into his third year as a starter for the Longhorns of the University of Texas. He is an Outland Trophy candidate and made some pre-season All-America teams. Jay is a big player, very big. He is 6-7 307 pounds and plays offensive tackle. At first glance, it would s
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DAVID HARVEY-BOWEN: 1998 BFS Athlete of the Year
David Harvey-Bowen of Churchville Chili High School just outside of Rochester, New York is the 1998 Bigger Faster Stronger Athlete of the Year. He becomes the 19th recipient of our most prestigious award. Selection is based on athletic achievement in sports, the ability to overco
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DALLAS COWBOYS: Five Time Superbowl Champions
My first stop at the Dallas Cowboy Complex was the Media Relations department to get a media guide, photos and other information for this article. I was told that practice was at 11:00 AM but nobody is ever allowed on the practice field. Next, I went through the Cowboy locker roo
ReadBFS STOPS CREATINE
We realize many coaches probably allow their athletes to take creatine because BFS has endorsed its use in the past. We feel a deep responsibility for that trust. We also would never consider corporate profits to influence our decision. We have always put the welfare of the athle
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: Winter 1998
President Clinton remarked that a little boy had recently come up to him and said, When I grow up, I want to be just like you. Clinton responded, I hope I can regain the trust of you mothers out there that you also will want your sons to grow up like me. I have a twelve year
ReadNATIONAL POWER ZANESVILLE BLUE DEVIL BASKETBALL
Dear Dr. Shepard, I really enjoyed your visit to Zanesville High School. We were really impressed with your ability to teach and enthusiasm for improving athletic performance. We are doing the Power Snatches and Jerk Presses that you showed us. Our players think they are great. O
ReadWESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
Two years ago Westminster Christian High School in Southwest Miami had a Bigger Faster Stronger clinic put on by BFS clinician, Len Walencikowski. The next spring Westminster Christian finished with a sparkling 36-win undefeated National Championship season and their coach Rich H
ReadBASEBALL STRENGTH TRAINING THE LAST FRONTIER
We call baseball the last frontier of strength training among men's major team sports. The first sport to catch on to the importance of weight training and to really learn the secret was Track and Field, specifically the throwers. They learned "the secret" in the 1960's. A decade
ReadPOPLAR BLUFF GIRLS EXCEL
Editor's Note: Jim Brown trains between 125 and 150 varsity girl athletes daily at Poplar Bluff High School in Missouri. They all do the entire BFS Program. Coach Brown has done a magnificent job. The performance of his girls may stand alone in the nation as far as strength devel
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