From the Orlando Sentinel on the Gators offseason work:
From the gym dead lifts to the deadly heat of summer, team leaders such as Tebow and linebacker Brandon Spikes must provide the piercing daily reminders that a championship repeat starts with the grunt work.
The summer is a time of mental preparation for the grind of two-a-days in August while sculpting the bodies of players who either need to bulk up or slim down.
This veteran team — complete with almost an entire two-deep on defense returning — won't be surprised about the difficult workouts. But accountability is the most popular theme these days as strength coach Mickey Marotti punishes piles on players for starting early on sprints or skimping on bench reps.
Tebow is thinking beyond meticulous coaches by working overtime.
"We'll go out there and press in the summer, without coaches there, and just work," Tebow said. "The most important thing is keeping that edge, wanting to win, fight and dominate teams. I think we'll keep that with the senior leadership we have."
More mental training helps suppress the chances of injuries, Meyer said, but it's not about doing long division. Players must concentrate on moving on from the celebration of a title.
"That was good, great, No. 1, two championships [in three years] — that's over," Marotti said. "Just because there are 11 starters coming back, that doesn't mean anything. They still have to perform."
Having leadership helps. Marotti said Tebow and Spikes have been vocal through the first month of training. The seniors can impart wisdom when Marotti gets tired of hearing his own voice.
"It's kind of every strength coach at this level's dream to have guys like that," Marotti said. "I told one of my assistants the other day; I tapped him and said 'This is how it's supposed to be.' I didn't say a word. They were coaching them up themselves."I don't have to have the face juice of jumping up and down and getting on somebody to get them motivated."
