BIG RED ATHLETICS
Behind the scenes, coach and his staff keep student-athletes toned, tuned and targeted
Jeremy Golden, one of Howley's two assistant coaches, works with the women's soccer team at the Friedman Center. See larger image
The Friedman Strength and Conditioning Center in Bartels Hall is a hotbed of activity. Student-athletes zigzag past each other, navigating the maze of equipment in what looks like a well-choreographed dance in tune with the sound of iron weight plates crashing, people grunting and Kanye West blaring from the speakers.
Through the frenzy of activity walks Tom Howley, Cornell Athletics' assistant director for athletes' performance. He is a stoic figure, monitoring each student-athlete's movements and offering quiet encouragement, as well as constructive criticism.
To the outside observer, the Friedman Center may seem like a chaotic place, but in reality, it is the complete opposite. Howley and his staff of two strength coaches are a highly organized team that continually plans to make sure that Cornell's more than 1,000 student-athletes get the exact training they need to be successful. On a larger scale, Howley hopes that he and the coaches also help the student-athletes to be successful in both competition and in life.
Howley observes Bryan Walters' '10 personal workout. Walters was later signed to a free-agent NFL contract by the San Diego Chargers. See larger image
"When these students move on from Cornell, they aren't going to remember what their 40-yard dash time was or how much they bench pressed, but, hopefully, they will remember the discipline it took to achieve those things," explains Howley. "And it's in line with the university's mission to develop the whole person and help them to be their best. We're trying to give them lifelong tools they'll need to be successful, and it's great because the kids at Cornell are smart enough to make that connection."
To accomplish all he does, Howley packs a great deal into each and every day. The following is a glimpse at what a typical day, in this case a day in mid-April, looks like.
5:45 a.m. – Howley arrives at the Friedman Center. He is one of the few people in Bartels at that hour.
6-6:55 a.m. – Howley leads the football team in a pre-practice stretch at Schoellkopf Field and then observes practice to evaluate the team's training needs.
7 a.m. – Howley returns to the Friedman Center to open the doors for the day. He is greeted by a women's ice hockey player who is not able to attend the next day's team workout. As she begins the workout by herself, Howley reviews his schedule and prepares for the day's first Drift Lift, the name given to the rolling workout series followed by in-season student-athletes, who are expected to come in on their own to lift twice a week. Howley and his staff (assistants Jay Andress and Jeremy Golden) run four Drift Lift sessions a day to give student-athletes the flexibility needed not to interfere with class.
8:15 a.m. – Drift Lift begins.
8:30 a.m. – Howley kicks on some music before making a subtle correction to a men's lacrosse player's form during a hamstring stretch. "Forgot to put on the music," he says with a laugh, "and they're all freshmen, so they were scared to ask for it."
8:55 a.m. – Several student-athletes leave early for class. "Drink your muscle milk," he yells after the lacrosse player. "I don't think he'll ever be 200 pounds," he whispers, "but I'd love to see him get up to 170."
9-10 a.m. – Drift Lift ends, and Howley does his own workout.
10 a.m. – Bryan Walters '10 arrives to begin his personal workout. Walters, hoping to earn an invitation to an NFL camp this summer, has been working with Howley four times a week. He stretches on his own as Howley grabs a quick shower. (Later in April, Walters was signed to a free agent contract by the San Diego Chargers.)
10:15-10:55 a.m. – Howley puts Walters through a series of agility and speed drills. "We work with all sorts of athletes after their playing time is over. It doesn't matter if they're hoping to continue their career professionally or if they just want to transition to their post-playing days in a healthy way. We're happy to help them with whatever their goals are even though their eligibility is up."
10:55 a.m. – The volleyball coaches bring a recruit into the Ramin Room, and Howley introduces himself.
11 a.m. – Howley is introduced to an incoming freshman football player. As they part, he agrees to e-mail the player a workout he can do during the summer.
11:15 a.m. – The day's second Drift Lift begins.
11:18 a.m. – The fire alarm in Bartels Hall goes off for the second time this week. "Expect the unexpected at all times," yells Howley as he leads the group outside, where they continue their warm-up on the concrete in front of the building as spectators look on.
11:30 a.m. – A fire truck arrives to shut off the alarm, and student-athletes hustle back inside.
Noon-12:40 p.m. – Drift Lift ends and Howley eats his first lunch of the day. Because he eats breakfast at 5 a.m. and dinner around 8 p.m., he works two meals into the afternoon. As he eats, he is interrupted several times by a pair of football coaches who are beginning a new workout program, as well as the start of the third Drift Lift of the day.
12:40-1 p.m. – Howley observes Drift Lift.
1-2:10 p.m. – There is a break in the day, so Howley runs some errands before returning to his office to prepare the afternoon workout plans.
2:10 p.m. – Two women's ice hockey players arrive unexpectedly, hoping to get a workout on an off day, and Howley scrambles to put a plan together for them. "Love the commitment," he says. "It's all about responsibilities and benefits. Everyone wants the reward. When it's time to get sized for the championship ring, everyone's ready to get in line. But are you willing to take the responsibility to work when no one is watching?"
2:15-3:15 p.m. – Four men's ice hockey players participate in a voluntary workout, while the final Drift Lift of the day begins.
3:15 p.m. – The voluntary workout ends, and Howley meets with one player who would like a separate workout this summer that focuses on agility and speed.
3:20-3:40 p.m. – Howley eats his second lunch of the day as he prepares the afternoon workout for the volleyball team.
3:40-4:35 p.m. – Howley meets with a candidate for the men's basketball head coaching position.
4:45-6:15 p.m. – Howley runs the volleyball team's off-season weight training workout.
6:15-7:30 p.m. – Howley wraps up at the Friedman Center and drives to the John Collyer Boat House, where he runs a workout for the men's heavyweight rowing team.
7:30 p.m. – Howley's day is finally done. He heads home to spend time with his wife, Amanda, their daughter, Anna Corrine, and twin sons, Thomas and Jameson.