Matt Balis Resigns as Notre Dame Director of Football Performance

[JamIrish]

Under Amour probably put this hire in their new contract with ND. They needed someone else to take the blame for all future ND injuries. In all seriousness, I'm in wait and see mode with this hire.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I honestly don't even think the strength coach is very important anymore. I'm starting to lean towards MF is on the right track. With all the science to back whatever you want and all the money that they get at ND I'm thinking even my fat ass couldn't screw that up

 

[notredomer23]

I’m just glad Freeman went with someone in his network

 

[NDRock]

I honestly don't even think the strength coach is very important anymore. I'm starting to lean towards MF is on the right track. With all the science to back whatever you want and all the money that they get at ND I'm thinking even my fat ass couldn't screw that up

I think the big part is they’re the ones with the players during the offseason when coaches are only allowed limited contact. That’s my understanding anyway.

 

[arrowryan]

I’m just glad Freeman went with someone in his network

*Hires from inside his network*: tYpIcAl BuDdY hIrE!!

*Hires from outside his network*: FUCKING TERRIBLE HIRE!

 

[Giddyup]

So this guy sucks? Sounds like he’s never led a high level football team.

 

[Henges24]

I honestly don't even think the strength coach is very important anymore. I'm starting to lean towards MF is on the right track. With all the science to back whatever you want and all the money that they get at ND I'm thinking even my fat ass couldn't screw that up

Don’t disagree. But think there is a culture that is set in the weight room.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

My hot take is that there is no reason the guy who is ultimately in charge of S&C needs to be the person working directly with the team as the culture and tone setter.

The new Matt Balis might be two people instead of one.

 

[SoIll]

Regardless of philosophies.

The strength coach is with the players more than the coaches are in the off-season. That coach is to instill a culture of toughness and togetherness amongst the team. No one better than Balis for that. It wasn’t all about “strength” with him.

Sounds like this cat is all about science. Which maybe fine, but sure hope he’s badass mf like Matt was.

 

[Bluto]

Regardless of philosophies.

The strength coach is with the players more than the coaches are in the off-season. That coach is to instill a culture of toughness and togetherness amongst the team. No one better than Balis for that. It wasn’t all about “strength” with him.

Sounds like this cat is all about science. Which maybe fine, but sure hope he’s badass mf like Matt was.

Maybe he should have a “Reaper Uncensored” speaking series for the team?

 

[BoredIrish]

My hot take is that there is no reason the guy who is ultimately in charge of S&C needs to be the person working directly with the team as the culture and tone setter.

The new Matt Balis might be two people instead of one.

Yup. Seems like the new guy is a corporation. Vertical integration with combine training.

MF can sell this to recruits as the guy who can get you to the league.

 

[Grahambo]

Haven’t injuries across all of football increased the last number of years? General question; not directed at the hire.

Hour long interview with him from the summer:

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/loren-landow-nfl-podcast/

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Apparently that injury trend has carried over into this season.

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www.denverpost.com

Careful now, everyone's already cast their vote. This might make them look silly.

Having just read the news and looking up Landow's resume, he has all the potential to be a big hit. I want to see him in the winter workout videos and I'd love to see someone from the beat do an interview with him; ask some broad, high-level questions that give us an indication of his plan.

I've come to expect IE to be way over-reactionary for everything and...

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Maybe he should have a “Reaper Uncensored” speaking series for the team?

Session #1 “Scotch and Sodomy”

 

[IrishLax]

So this guy sucks? Sounds like he’s never led a high level football team.

I think the reasonable take right now is that no one knows if he will be good because he's never done the job before.

 

[MacIrish75]

If Landow really wants to build a culture of toughness at ND, there’s no doubt that when hiring his top assistant SC, his first call will be to Reaper.

 

[fightingirish26]

If Landow really wants to build a culture of toughness at ND, there’s no doubt that when hiring his top assistant SC, his first call will be to Reaper.

NDFB if Reaper was the S&C coach

 

[Grahambo]

I think the reasonable take right now is that no one knows if he will be good because he's never done the job before.

This is pretty much where I’m at with this. Being respected and being good at a D1 program are two different things. One could argue the Broncos sucked at roster building and gave him shit to work with. Could also argue he’s learned a lot from 5 years in the NFL. On the other hand, half the team will tear ligaments next season.

Who knows.

 

[Bluto]

If Landow really wants to build a culture of toughness at ND, there’s no doubt that when hiring his top assistant SC, his first call will be to Reaper.

He doesn’t have a phone…

 

[Calabrese's People]

FINALLY !!!!! Finally, someone who shares my science-based views on S&C. JAB EM UP !!!

 

[GATTACA!]

If Landow really wants to build a culture of toughness at ND, there’s no doubt that when hiring his top assistant SC, his first call will be to Reaper.

Reaper is gonna get a whole bay of these bad boys installed in the ND weight room.

 

[Giddyup]

I don’t like this guy after watching his vid. He uses too many big words and sounds funny. Not what we need. Need to emphasis squats.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Reaper is gonna get a whole bay of these bad boys installed in the ND weight room.

I'm still amazed and disturbed by the 'again and again' at the end of that rant.

 

[Irish#1]

The difference in needs between those athletes and collegiate football players is about as stark as you can get.

This is a Weis-level hire. It's that bad.

Maybe, but given that he’s worked with football players and Olympic athletes shows he understands they each have unique needs. There’s no way he’s using the same program for everyone.

 

[Calabrese's People]

Read: How Strength Coaches Run Modern Football
Act: Hire someone with no frame of reference or experience in creating collegiate-level toughness & culture.
Do: F*CK!

 

[NDWarrior]

I did say I wish he would use more of a process and go outside his network and he did just that here, but I wish he had done that for a new OC hire, but we know he's committed to GP so hopefully there's a plan (and a new, different strategy) for '24 with all this O talent.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

Still trying to figure out how I feel about this hire, but my early lean is incredibly hesitant.

Credentials to talk on the matter: one of my passions is pretending to be a halfway decent powerlifter. I’m an every day joe who has leveraged daily undulating periodization to get to a 350lb bench, 400+ squat, 500+ deadlift. Nothing extraordinary, but I do enjoy reading up on the literature, both lifting and sports performance.

His stuff definitely seems new age. He describes himself as a Muscle Technique Activation Specialist, whatever that means. Looking through his content, I see a lot of fluff - sure, S&C coaches arent necessarily going to give up their secret sauce, but usually you get a strong sense of what they’re all about from say their IG (look up aaron feld, for example).

I don’t think this is what a football team needs. As others have said in this thread, what’s needed is primarily just compound movements with focused recovery and nutrition. Nothing fancy.

Hope I’m wrong

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

View attachment 3055111
FINALLY !!!!! Finally, someone who shares my science-based views on S&C. JAB EM UP !!!

Bring the deer antler spray!

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I prefer my S&C coach to be a meathead.
This guy is pretty mellow. Hopefully he takes it up a few notches when they're training.

 

[Giddyup]

He was S & C under Vic Fangio. They usually had good defenses but sucked on offense.