‘Locked In’ – IU Football Keeps Pushing Under Wellman

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Welcome to a testosterone-driven Cream & Crimson moment.

Indiana football Hoosiers gather inside Mellencamp Pavilion for a team tug-of-war challenge and stakes are high.

It's about competing and bragging rights and strengthening the bonds that have made LEO (Love Each Other) so much a part of this program.

Oh, and having some fun, because even amidst the grind and sweat and strain of building to a better future -- that's saying something considering how good the recent past has been -- you've got to take time to play.

So it's offensive lineman Matthew Bedford against defensive lineman Sio Nofoagatoto'a, tight end Ryan Barnes against defensive lineman Jonathan King and receiver Javon Swinton against defensive back Josh Sanguinetti.

Teammates line up to cheer them on. In the background is music you'd never hear at, say, a dance recital, but that isn't the point.

Mano a Mano is.

When it's over, captured for the world to see via video and social media outreach, the defense claims the 2-1 advantage.

In the middle of it all is Aaron Wellman, IU's assistant athletic director for football performance, who pushes, motivates and plans to help take these guys where they want to go, and perhaps a little bit more.

"We have the ability," he says via Zoom press conference availability, "to give our athletes exactly what they need. Ultimately, we want them to be better players because they are in our strength program, not just a better lifter or stronger."

For the Hoosiers, who have been at it since the middle of January, the clock is ticking and Wellman isn't messing around. That's not his nature, for one thing. It's not his job, for another.

"I tell our players all the time that we do not have the luxury of wasting time and wasting a day," he says. "We have to be locked in every day that we come in."

When you're responsible for boosting the strength, speed and fitness of a hundred-plus players so that this program on the rise reaches championship heights, you make the most of every moment, pandemic be darned.

"All we can do is push forward," he says. "We have spring ball in two weeks. Every day is so valuable."

Wellman was hired away from the NFL's New York Giants last spring to make this Cream & Crimson push. Excellence, you see, waits on no one.

"We have had a great four weeks," he says, "but we have to get a lot done in the next couple weeks."

Wellman's approach starts by evaluating players, and then making individualized programs for each of them. It means tapping into strength-building terminology only a strength coach can appreciate.

"We identify the limiters to performance," he says. "That is how we operate. What are your deficiencies? What are the greatest limiters to performance, speed, strength and power? Isometric strength, eccentric strength, whatever that is, we identify it very quickly."

Wellman says he took a couple of January weeks to address those issues. He points to the defensive line room, which currently has 13 players.

"They are of varying ages, abilities and levels of development," Wellman says. "They all need somewhat of an individualized approach based on several factors. That is the basis of our program.

"Although, strength, power and speed underpin a lot of abilities that are necessary for the positional demands, we spend a lot of timing trying to drill down the unique differences in our players."

In other words, turn a player's weaknesses into strengths.

"I locked arms with the athletes, because I want to know how they're feeling," Wellman says. "We're going to prescribe a program that we think is absolutely appropriate and is the best program for that athlete, whether it's a running program, a mobility program or strength program.

"However, I also want to know how that athlete feels when he goes to the field. This group of exercises we're doing will make you more proficient at your position demands."

Wellman arrived last spring just as the pandemic was shutting down everything for a couple of months. Workouts had to be done remotely depending on what each player had available.

Wellman says he learned a lot during that time, including the fact more can be accomplished in a shorter time, thus reducing wear and tear, and the possibility of injury.

Did he fall behind the progress he wanted to make? The answer, as it turns out, is yes and no.

"I think I have always felt behind. I have been doing this for 25 years and I do not think there is a year that I have not felt behind. I always feel like we are playing catch up because the goals we have for our players mentally, physically and physiologically are always lofty."

That's exactly what head coach Tom Allen wants to hear.

IU is coming off a season for the ages, a 6-2 record, wins over Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin, a near miss against Ohio State and an Outback Bowl opportunity.

But it hasn't won a bowl since 1991, hasn't won a Big Ten title since 1967.

Allen insists that will change. Wellman is driven to help facilitate that change.

"The training program," he says, "will help you do your skill at a higher level."

Indiana University Athletics

‘Locked In’ – IU Football Keeps Pushing Under Wellman

Players Mentioned

Ryan Barnes

Matthew Bedford

Jonathan King

Sio Nofoagatoto'a

Josh Sanguinetti

Javon Swinton

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