Football Focuses on Fitness

A simple Google search of “Harvard’s first football team” returns images of a collection of 13 rather ordinary looking college-aged men. If the inaugural 1873 team managed to transport itself to the 21st century and walked through the Yard, it would be a surprise if anyone managed to identify the members as football players from among the throngs of students and tourists.

Today, members of any collegiate football team are highly-trained athletic specimens. They are fine-tuned to do their specific job on the field, whether that be plugging up the gaps in the line or sprinting downfield to beat the secondary and make leaping catches.

Of course, hours upon hours of work in the gym are necessary to become physically dominant enough to compete in Division I football. To assure that the the Crimson football team is in the best possible shape it can be, coach Tim Murphy enlists James Frazier, Harvard’s Director of Strength and Conditioning.

Frazier’s work with the team over the offseason is designed to enhance the Crimson’s competitive advantage over its opponents, and the players clearly appreciate the dedication he brings to making them the best they can be.

“I respect the man a lot,” said senior defensive tackle Doug Webb. “He’s got a great staff alongside him. When you have little running backs and wide receivers squatting X-amount of weight, you know it’s pretty impressive.”

At Harvard, the vast majority of drills and lifts have a clear football-related focus. There is also a definite emphasis on injury prevention, which Webb calls “prehab.” Beginning the rehab process before injuries even occur and taking care of the extreme strains on the players’ bodies throughout the season goes a long way toward keeping everyone as healthy and in-shape as possible.

The main philosophy Frazier, Murphy, and the rest of the staff have on offseason workouts is using a diverse array of workouts to get the players accustomed to the grueling 10-week fall schedule. Speed training, lifting, and conditioning are all components of the weekly programs.

Although there is a great variation between the body type of an offensive lineman and a cornerback, for example, Frazier and his staff generally view all the players on the roster as football players. Training maturity is the biggest factor in the difference between different players’ workouts, as players will naturally progress through a series of four programs, one for each of their four years in Cambridge.

While the Crimson may not boast the same extravagant facilities as many top FBS schools, the Palmer Dixon Strength and Conditioning Center gets the job done for Harvard.

“Palmer Dixon, I absolutely love it,” Webb said. “I love how there’s a lot of room in there. I can get in there, get a good workout in, and call it a day.”

The strength and conditioning center across the river in Allston has a 24,000 square foot weight room and training facility, which the football team utilizes for team lifts both in-season and over the offseason.

“We have some of the best strength and conditioning facilities in the entire Ivy League,” Frazier claimed. “Harvard has done a great job in terms of supporting us, giving us the personnel and the people that we need.”

To incentivize going above and beyond during offseason workouts, Frazier and his staff recognize some of the top performers with “hard worker” awards. This offseason, senior defensive tackle Miles McCollum was the summer MVP, while sophomore wide receiver Justice Shelton-Mosley, junior safety Tobe Ezeokoli, sophomore cornerback Wesley Ogsbury, and senior offensive lineman Max Rich also made significant strides.

Even during the spring semester and during the eight weeks of training leading up to camp, the team holds early-morning lifts. The main motivation behind scheduling the sessions practically at the crack of dawn is building camaraderie and character.

“When you’re walking across that bridge at zero dark thirty and the wind chill is minus seven degrees, you’re going to have to be really committed,” Murphy said. “It strengthens the resolve of the kids who are really into reaching their potential.”

Personal fortitude and team bonding are two important by-products of early lifts; these intangibles translate to the field in tangible ways.

With the Crimson likely facing pressure from Ivy foes Penn and Dartmouth for the Ancient Eight championship, any slight edge will be instrumental to Harvard’s success or downfall this season. However, Harvard football’s offseason training under the direction of Frazier should prove to be much more impactful than just a slight edge.

–Staff writer Jack Stockless can be reached at jack.stockless@thecrimson.com.