husker power: the metabolic circuit, coaches in polos, and the hardest 75 seconds of your life
“Husker Power started using Metabolic Circuit training as an advanced lifting program. This program was originally called the Survivor Circuit but created too much lactic acid. After some tweaking by Dr. Bill Kraemer, the leading NSCA researcher, the program was re-introduced to Nebraska athletes with great success.”
They say you won't know they were the glory years till after the glory years are gone.
Can you imagine the scene: Lincoln Nebraska, a football program looking to change the program’s performance, doing sets of 10-12, heavy compound exercises, in a time block of 75 seconds, strength coaches with polos and coaching shorts and flat-brimmed hats, and training harder than any other program in the country?
Here is the original Husker Power Metabolic Circuit, affectionately known as the ‘Survivor Circuit’.
Husker Power Survivor Circuit:
Station #1: Squat or Leg Press
Station #2: Bench Press or Chest Press
Station #3: Lat Pull Down or Chin Assist
Station #4: Leg Curl
Station #5: Shoulder Press
Station #6: Low Row
Station #7: Leg Extension
Station #8 Triceps Pushdown
Station #9 Arm Curl
The circuit consists of 8-10 exercises covering all major muscle groups, performed for 2-3 sets of 10 repetitions before moving on to the next exercise within an 80 to 90-second running clock.
Who would come up with such a thing? And why would they need to do this?
In truth, the only reason anyone would do this is necessity. Things change when you are tired of hearing about it and are good enough to do something about it. Nebraska football needed to get good fast. And there was only one way: through!
Is that not us? Aren’t you tired of losing to that metaphorical arch-rival? I know I am. If we are going to win the state championship this year we have to be willing to do what is necessary to win. Brutally hard work, done 3-4 times a week, for four weeks is the only way. State championships are not given, they are earned. Our arch-rival will not do this, which is our competitive advantage. We do 12 to 16 Metabolic Circuits, we beat our arch-rival, and we win state. That is the mission.
There is only one undeniable truth - hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. It's that simple. We have an uphill battle ahead. One that most are not willing to go through. But not us. There is no hack or shortcut. Every step of this journey is going to suck. If you are looking at this blog for how to optimize your experience at Allegiate, you came to the wrong place. This is your reminder that you are the product of what you repeatedly do. And if all you do is work your fucking ass off, you will be fucking awesome.
