Strength coach pushing UF players
GAINESVILLE — Nick Savage has a tough task.
In 2017, 26 Gators football players dealt with lingering injuries following the Orange and Blue game.
This year, the responsibility of the players’ health falls largely on Savage as he navigates his first year as Florida’s strength and conditioning coach.
Savage joins UF’s staff after spending the past two seasons working for UF coach Dan Mullen while they were both at Mississippi State. After Florida endured those 26 injuries and many more that followed during the season, Savage said preparing and protecting his players is his priority.
“I want to create a safe — orthopedically safe — and sound environment for the guys,” he said after Saturday’s practice. “We want to promote development, both physical and mental development.”
Part of that development is a training regimen that has quickly become infamous among Florida players. Savage started his Gators tenure by doing something most players didn’t expect. He took the team on a run around the campus.
“We were like, ‘Wait, what?’ ” defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson said.
Along with the 2.7 mile run on Day 1 of his conditioning program that he called a team building exercise, Savage also conducted circuit training along the way. He described different spots where players would do sit-ups, push-ups and squats.
“As we’ve progressed through, obviously it’s not pedal down all the way from Day 1,” Savage said. “You’ve got to kind of take your steps and build them up. Once that pedal got cranked down, it was a real eyeopener.”
After the run, Savage gave each player a test of physical strength, stamina and agility. The players seem to appreciate it so far, helping them to measure their progress on a personal level.
“Seeing the results has allowed guys to know what we’re doing is for a reason,” receiver Josh Hammond said.
While Savage’s program has been a grueling one, it has also earned the players’ commitment. In the week before spring break, the players went through the same test again. Quarterback Feleipe Franks said the change was noticeable thanks to muscle gained and fat lost.