..:: Dream Chasing :: Niko Molina :: Becoming A Buckeye ::..

[Niko49ers]

My family and close-friends know one thing about me, they know if I set my mind on a goal, if I envision something that I wish to become or wish to accomplish, I will do everything it takes to do so. My grandparents say that I become the most determined and disciplined person that they've ever seen when I work towards something that I want. Well I have a new dream. A dream that many young kids, growing up in the state of Ohio share with me. The difference between me and those kids, I'm chasing my dream.






My dream is to play for The Ohio State Buckeye's.






Some Football Background
Played football my whole life since the 5th grade, was always a Tight-End. In pick-up games around town I was the "first pick" type of kid. I changed positions my Senior year and I was a running-back in a Wing-T offense. It was our first year running the offense so we were learning through the entire season and we didn't have the whole playbook installed until the 7th game, which was the quick-pitch being the last play, which is an extremely crucial play to the Wing-T because all of the runs are between-the-tackles except that. We finished 8-2, tying for conference runners-up and just missing the playoffs via computer points after going through two 0-10 seasons in a row.

My freshman year, I was 'looked at' by the head coach of varsity, but I was still too small and weak to become a varsity player. I was invited to all of the JV-games (privilege as a freshman) and played in some as a tight-end.

My sophomore year came by and we were under a new head-coach with a spread-offense. I was behind some Seniors for my position, but I was 3rd string. Senior-Senior-Me (Sophomore) and I got some plays. Everything was positive every time I got the ball. I beat out a Senior who was about 6'1, 220lbs at the defense-end position simply because I was faster and more disciplined. Things looked good for me.

I didn't play my Junior year. I took my junior year off to train because I wanted a break-through senior year. I followed Madcow's 5x5 program and tweaked it a little bit and worked hard and I won MVP for my football team my senior year and I was a major part in turning my high school's football program around.

Senior year came around and people were hyped for 'my return'. I'm from a small community and if there is something to talk about, it spreads quickly. So people were looking forward to having me play again. Turns out I have great games, and good games. No bad games. We go 8-2 and have a great year. During the 9th game, one of my own teammates, a fellow running back, actually, blocked a a player from the opposing team into me and I was in the middle of cutting at the same time...

...because of the awkward position I got hit in, had my ankle planted, and how I fell, I completely snapped my ankle around. I was on crutches for 2 months and I have 2 plates with 8 screws in my left ankle permanately and a long 8" scar to remind me anything can happen. At first I didn't think I was going to be back to my playing potential, but I was just overdramatic and was looking at worst-case-scenario.


Caption: Me making a cut and staying in-bounds.




Senior Year Stats (Trivia: Every one of my stats has the number 9 in it... My football number was #9)

Yards: 915
Carries: 98
Avg: 9.34
TD's: 9
Longest Run: 89yds
Games Played: 9 (was out 10th due to broken ankle)

Awards Received Senior Year (keep in mind: first time running back in a NEW offense)

2nd Team All-Conference Offense Running Back (people in area think I deserved 1st, but oh well)
Honorable Mention All-District Running Back
Player Of The Week (WOSN Radio) (Maty Mauk was in the poll and I beat him)

Senior Year Highlight Video (170lbs, new to the offense, first-time running back)
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/332275/niko-molina





What I'm Doing/Have Done So Far
I took a year break between high school and college. I graduated in May 2012 and I'm starting college this-coming year (Fall 2013). I've been training to become a better athlete, but the past few months I'm dream chasing because I want to play for the Buckeyes.

The program that I'm following is, once again just like my Junior year, is Madcow's 5x5 Intermediate routine. I have 2 different plyometrics and an agility ladder set up to be performed before I get into my lifts. I power clean 3 times a week on top of all the other lifts too. Those are my 'changes' to the program.

I'm the newest and youngest addition to a top Amateur football program in Ohio called the Lima Warriors. They win, a lot. They have a lot of connections too.






The Plan
I plan to attend a branch campus of Ohio State for 2 years and during those 2 years, I'll be playing amateur ball for the Lima Warriors and also training my ass off to become a D-1 caliber athlete/running back.

My 3rd year of college, I plan to transfer down the main campus of the Ohio State University, which we all know is in Columbus, and I will walk-on to the football team with 2 years of training and 2 years of playing amateur ball under my belt.





CURRENT Maxes

Full-Squat: 240x5
Bench: 190x5
PowerClean: 185x5
Deadlift: 250x5
40-Time: 4.65

I've got 2 years of training ahead of me. Strength, speed, explosiveness, plyometrics, etc. etc.

[Niko49ers]

Workout for Monday.

Told my grandpa and my mom about my dream and how I'm going to pursue it. They both said anything is possible.

Pre-Weights
Half-Mile Jog
Agility Ladder

Broad Jumps 5sets 2jumps
Verticle Jumps 5sets 2jumps

Weights
Powerclean
135x5
145x5
155x5

Full Squat
135x5
150x5
180x5
210x5
235x5

Bench Press
95x5
120x5
140x5
165x5
190x5

Row
80x5
100x5
120x5
140x5
165x5

Hyper Extensions (focus on glutes/hammies instead of lower-back)
15x60lbs
15x60lbs

Weighted Decline Situps
20x25lbs
20x25lbs

Post-Weights
Stretch

Notes
I still feel like I'm rowing wrong. I've never got the correct row form down. I'm thinking about disbanding the rowing movement from the program all together and replacing it with weighted pull-ups.

Glutes and hamstrings were fried after I was finished with the hypers.

[TyBaseball]

Keep going until someone (important) says to stop. That's what my hitting coach for baseball just told me as I got released from my current schools baseball program today, to try to transfer to another school. Keep going no matter what haters say, go until the head fuking coach himself says "no".

[Niko49ers]

Keep going until someone (important) says to stop. That's what my hitting coach for baseball just told me as I got released from my current schools baseball program today, to try to transfer to another school. Keep going no matter what haters say, go until the head fuking coach himself says "no".

Thanks brah! That's what I plan.


I figure with 2 years time I can be at 200lbs, 9%-10% body fat running a sub-4.5 40yard dash, probably even faster.

[BrahchoMan]

That's a good goal OP, but have you considered going to a junior college then transferring OSU? That way you can still get the education for a hell of a lot cheaper and have a shot at possibly earning a scholarship to the team or somewhere else.

[Niko49ers]

That's a good goal OP, but have you considered going to a junior college then transferring OSU? That way you can still get the education for a hell of a lot cheaper and have a shot at possibly earning a scholarship to the team or somewhere else.

Junior College?..



The OSU-Lima campus I'll be attending for the first two-years is cheaper. It's the same education I would get if I were to attend OSU-Columbus, but cheaper.

[BrahchoMan]

Junior College?..



The OSU-Lima campus I'll be attending for the first two-years is cheaper. It's the same education I would get if I were to attend OSU-Columbus, but cheaper.

I suggest JC because it gives you a much better opportunity at being recruited to either OSU or another D-1 program. You rarely hear of amateur players being recruited or accepted as walk-ons, where as there is a good list of players who transferred from JCs to D-1s.

[Niko49ers]

I suggest JC because it gives you a much better opportunity at being recruited to either OSU or another D-1 program. You rarely hear of amateur players being recruited or accepted as walk-ons, where as there is a good list of players who transferred from JCs to D-1s.

What would be some junior colleges found in Ohio?


Like, whats the difference between a junior college and a community college? I'm going to college for Physical Therapy.

[BrahchoMan]

Junior College is exactly the same as community college. I'm sure there is a list online but I couldn't tell you which ones have a football program.

[marcp10]

I will follow this journal!

As a D coord, I hate to play against the type of offense you played in (video)

[Niko49ers]

Junior College is exactly the same as community college. I'm sure there is a list online but I couldn't tell you which ones have a football program.

Ahh really? Man I'm not too sure about that lol. I'm trying to stay in my current city of Lima, Ohio because I know everyone pretty well and have grown up here. I even have a job here too. I'd have to move in order to go attend a community college. Finances are too much of a problem in my opinion. I realize I'm going to get into debt via student loans. It happens to everyone. I'll be able to pay them all off once I get into my career of being a physical therapist.

I will follow this journal!

As a D coord, I hate to play against the type of offense you played in (video)

Thanks brah!

Haha the Wing-T has a solid 6 running plays: Dive, Trap, Buck-Sweep, Belly, Criss-Cross(Counter) and Quick-Pitch. We managed to become the best we could at all of the blocking schemes and such.

I feel like we did pretty good seeing as how it was a COMPLETE new offense to what we were used to running. My Sophomore and Junior year we were running the Spread offense. It wasn't working for us because we went 0-10 both seasons. We learn the Wing-T in 2-a-days and don't even have the entire play-book installed until the 7th game, which was the quick-pitch!

The only thing I didn't like about the offense was that I couldn't improvise. There were many times where the play was broken and I wanted to reverse-field and completely make something out of nothing, but because of what my coaches had told me I had to go through with the play how it was designed.

[marcp10]

Ahh really? Man I'm not too sure about that lol. I'm trying to stay in my current city of Lima, Ohio because I know everyone pretty well and have grown up here. I even have a job here too. I'd have to move in order to go attend a community college. Finances are too much of a problem in my opinion. I realize I'm going to get into debt via student loans. It happens to everyone. I'll be able to pay them all off once I get into my career of being a physical therapist.



Thanks brah!

Haha the Wing-T has a solid 6 running plays: Dive, Trap, Buck-Sweep, Belly, Criss-Cross(Counter) and Quick-Pitch. We managed to become the best we could at all of the blocking schemes and such.

I feel like we did pretty good seeing as how it was a COMPLETE new offense to what we were used to running. My Sophomore and Junior year we were running the Spread offense. It wasn't working for us because we went 0-10 both seasons. We learn the Wing-T in 2-a-days and don't even have the entire play-book installed until the 7th game, which was the quick-pitch!

The only thing I didn't like about the offense was that I couldn't improvise. There were many times where the play was broken and I wanted to reverse-field and completely make something out of nothing, but because of what my coaches had told me I had to go through with the play how it was designed.

Agree it's a perfect formation if you don't have strong players compared to the other teams. I used the double wing offense in a youth league (canada 12 players but with american rules). Other teams had no clue how to play against that formation. Some called it no skill football, I called it basic simple football.

[Niko49ers]

Agree it's a perfect formation if you don't have strong players compared to the other teams. I used the double wing offense in a youth league (canada 12 players but with american rules). Other teams had no clue how to play against that formation. Some called it no skill football, I called it basic simple football.

Yeah the coaches weren't sure what offense to use with us. Turned out the Wing-T worked out perfect! We have great athletes, just had to figure out where to put them and how to play them. The only team that actually stopped our offense was the #1 ranked team in the state.

Haha but yeah the offense is pretty effective at the high school level and lower.

Can't really use it at the college level, though. And NFL, lmao...no.

[josh120]

Nice man, I'll certainly try to follow your log. Might want to check and see if playing on that amateur team would effect your eligibility in the NCAA though.

[Niko49ers]

Nice man, I'll certainly try to follow your log. Might want to check and see if playing on that amateur team would effect your eligibility in the NCAA though.

Thanks man!


I have a friend who was playing for the amateur team and he is now playing for the Findlay Oilers, a Division II team. So I'm in the clear!

[josh120]

Thanks man!


I have a friend who was playing for the amateur team and he is now playing for the Findlay Oilers, a Division II team. So I'm in the clear!

Just thought I'd let ya know, I read that it could in another log. I'd still check and see, it could be different for D-1, just looking out for ya brah.

[edsp]

Agree it's a perfect formation if you don't have strong players compared to the other teams. I used the double wing offense in a youth league (canada 12 players but with american rules). Other teams had no clue how to play against that formation. Some called it no skill football, I called it basic simple football.

My team in the UK is currenly running a double wing/wishbone offense, pretty dull, but we just dont have the skill to run spread.
We get so much hate for running double wing here though, from the refs and other teams just cos everyone knows its quite dirty, cut block heavy football

[Gibb1991]

Goddamn, I'm following way to many logs now, but your OP was pretty sick so I gotta be in on this.

[Niko49ers]

My team in the UK is currenly running a double wing/wishbone offense, pretty dull, but we just dont have the skill to run spread.
We get so much hate for running double wing here though, from the refs and other teams just cos everyone knows its quite dirty, cut block heavy football

Haters gon' hate.

Goddamn, I'm following way to many logs now, but your OP was pretty sick so I gotta be in on this.

Haha thanks man. I'll post daily! I workout 3x a week on Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays so you can expect routines posted on those days!

[TyBaseball]

Op go to a junior college if you can, it's like community college but with actual teams, plus most the guys there are trying to play at the next level like you are. It would be easier doing this

[BrahchoMan]

Ahh really? Man I'm not too sure about that lol. I'm trying to stay in my current city of Lima, Ohio because I know everyone pretty well and have grown up here. I even have a job here too. I'd have to move in order to go attend a community college. Finances are too much of a problem in my opinion. I realize I'm going to get into debt via student loans. It happens to everyone. I'll be able to pay them all off once I get into my career of being a physical therapist.

Understandable OP, but just remember that you're going to have to be willing to sacrifice some things if you want to accomplish this goal. I'm currently playing football at a D1 and went the JC route, and I pretty much had to cut out a lot of my social life in order to train in the offseason and to keep a job going. I suggest if you want to do this that you choose between either working or socializing, because doing both will likely severely hinder your training and chances to earn a walk on spot. I also suggest you start cutting back on your marijuana habit. I'm not here to start a debate on whether it's good or bad (I quite frankly don't care if someone smokes), but you will get drug tested almost immediately after you begin working out with the team. Obviously, there are ways around it, but I suggest just taking steps to cut it out all together and safe yourself some trouble.

I'll be following your journal. I hope you follow through with your goal.

[Niko49ers]

Op go to a junior college if you can, it's like community college but with actual teams, plus most the guys there are trying to play at the next level like you are. It would be easier doing this

Recommend any from Ohio?

Understandable OP, but just remember that you're going to have to be willing to sacrifice some things if you want to accomplish this goal. I'm currently playing football at a D1 and went the JC route, and I pretty much had to cut out a lot of my social life in order to train in the offseason and to keep a job going. I suggest if you want to do this that you choose between either working or socializing, because doing both will likely severely hinder your training and chances to earn a walk on spot. I also suggest you start cutting back on your marijuana habit. I'm not here to start a debate on whether it's good or bad (I quite frankly don't care if someone smokes), but you will get drug tested almost immediately after you begin working out with the team. Obviously, there are ways around it, but I suggest just taking steps to cut it out all together and safe yourself some trouble.

I'll be following your journal. I hope you follow through with your goal.

But yeah, my workout regimen comes before about everything. That's how I've always been. I'm all into fitness and I love doing it. I am now doing something that I love, for an even greater purpose than just 'staying in shape.'

I'm re-doing my junior year, but for a much greater cause.
(Took my junior year off to train for my senior year)
2 years before I even make moves to start getting in with OSU football.

[Niko49ers]

Today's workout felt great.

Pre-Weights
.5 mile jog
Agility Ladder


Single-Leg Broad Jumps: 5sets 2jumps per leg
Box Jumps: 4sets 3jumps

Weights
PowerClean
135x5
145x5
155x5

Full-Squat
5x135
5x150
5x180
5x180

Incline Bench
5x100
5x120
5x140
5x165

Deadlift
5x160
5x195
5x225
5x260

Calf Raises (Explode up, slow down)
10x135
10x135
10x135

Reverse Calf Raise (dumbbell)
10x20
10x20

Situps
30xBW
30xBW
30xBW


Post-Weights
Stretch

Notes
The cleans feel extremely easy. The 5x260 deadlift was an easy pull too. There was a hnnnnggg girl that showed up and everyone flocked to her. I found it amusing while I focused on my lifts.

[Niko49ers]

A member of the Warriors' staff sent me a questionnaire to fill out since I'm the newest member of the team. It's to get people to know a little bit about me.

Niko,

Here are some questions to help people get to know you as the newest Warrior.


How does it feel to be a part of the Lima Warriors?
I feel like I'll become a part of a great family. It's a perfect chance to do something that I love, with a whole new group of people and a new atmosphere and I get to stay in my home city of Lima, OH. I feel anxious and excited to meet everyone and to get training underway. People don't realize how much I'm looking forward to making the most out of this opportunity. I feel inspired.

What kind of a rush do you get when you are playing a game?
Try combining the emotions of being anxious, excited, hyper, nervous, and focused all in one. That is my answer.

Would you trade football for any other sport? Why or Why not?
No. I've been a football player my entire life. I've played baseball, basketball, I've ran track and I've wrestled, but football is my choice.

What inspires you to play football?
I love the emotions that come with the game and the relationships with everyone I meet. Literally everything that is involved with being a football player is my inspiration.

Do you know any past athletes that motivates you to do your best during a game?
Any star athlete from the collegiate and professional levels during any time period (80s, 90s, 00's, now). They are stars for a reason. They practice like stars and perform like stars.

Why did you decide to play football?
It's always been a part of my life. Watching it on TV, hearing it in small-talk amongst men, my family huddling around the TV for the OSU/Michigan game, watching football all day on Thanksgiving, watching the Superbowl no matter who's playing, it's always been there for me. Back in middle school, I wanted to play because I was one of the best "kids on the block" around my town in pick-up games and wanted to play with my friends. I wanted to keep doing something I was good at that also kept me close with all of my friends. I liked being praised for performing well too. My senior year, though, was a different story. I felt like I had something to prove.

In your opinion, what was the best play you have ever accomplished?
A bucksweep during my Senior year against Ada. It was a 40-something yard scamper that was full of me zig-zagging, bouncing off hits, and running through tackles, as well as finishing the run by dragging people with me. The amount of 'heart' I have when running the ball was shown.

What is one thing that you enjoy while playing football?
The feeling I get after making a good play.

What makes a great football player?
In my opinion, great mental and physical states will make a great football player. The physical state that your body is in obviously will play a major role in becoming a great football player. Being stronger, bigger, faster, more coordinated and agile than someone else will give you a tremendous advantage at being a better football player and overall athlete in general than someone else. The mental aspect of pushing yourself to become better, staying focused, and handling your emotions will aid in becoming a great football player. If you don't push yourself to become better, you're going to stay where you are in your comfort zone and won't grow. If you don't focus on a task at hand, then how can you perform your best? If you let your emotions get the best of you, say anger, you might be so mad that you forget about the task at hand. You won't focus on what needs to be done because you're so "enraged" at something else. Having a great mental state and a great physical state will both aid in making a great football player.

In some major Games, How do you handle pressure?
I handle pressure well. Going into the first game of the season, going against Ada, Grove, and LCC (all enormous games) my Senior year I felt more focused. Extremely focused. I realized theres much more at stake. I do get nervous. I do get anxious. I get butterflies like no other. It just shows I care about performing well. But then again, doesn't everyone feel that way?

How is the relationship of a Coach with players?
The coach-to-player relationship is important in my opinion. Most of the time the coach has to act as a coach. Guide the player to be the best he can become at the sport. Critique the player. Give him advice. Help him fix his flaws and mistakes in technique and make sure the player is doing his best and giving maximum effort. I feel like the coach has to act as a friend too. It helps establish a real relationship in my opinion. There has to be a balance. If everything is about football, the player might feel like the coach doesn't care about him and might lose motivation. He'll feel like he's just a number on the roster, instead of a member of a family. If a personal connection is made with the coach having a friendlier and sociable side, then the player would probably be more acceptable to criticism and he will know the coach is trying to make him better.

One Football moment you can never Forget
I have too many to chose from. I can't pick one. I'll pick two because they are equally great in my opinion.

1) 90-yard touchdown against Bluffton my senior year in the third quarter to settle the win. Bluffton was gaining some momentum and it was a big game in the Northwest Conference. We had started the game off with a 9minute30second drive, which we flexed the Wing-T. It was perfect football. Dive, dive, trap, belly, sweep, dive, sweep, counter....3yards, 6yards, 4yards, 8yards, 4yards. Attrition at it's finest. Us and Bluffton went back-and-forth with momentum swings and it was a really good game. Until Bluffton thought they had us beat when they pinned us on the 11-yard line with a punt, backs against the end zone with 90 yards in front of us... Coach Zerbe called my favorite play. It was a bucksweep to me and it popped for a 90-yard touchdown. It completely obliterated Bluffton's momentum that they couldn't come back from it. Their coach, the next morning commented on my run on a radio show. He said "after that kid broke that 90-yard run, that was it: Game set and match."

2) Game-winning touchdown against Columbus Grove. It was once again, another big game in the NWC. Except this was the BIGGEST game. We had went 0-10 two seasons in a row and when my Senior year came, we won a few games at the start of the season, but they weren't "good" teams. We lost to the first 'good' team we faced, being the Ada Bulldogs because of our own mental mistakes and injuries. Grove was a big test for us and we were put on a big stage in front of the entire region of high school football. They knew Spencerville was good, but how good? So to win that game was extremely huge for our football program and our community as well. Anyways, in the 4th quarter, we were down by 4 with a few minutes to go, it was 3rd-and-long and Coach Zerbe called a buck-sweep to me (my favorite play) and managed to take scamper 20-something yards into the end zone to put us on top. We then had to stop Grove from driving down the field and scoring, which would have won them the game. Needless to say, it came to a 4th-and-long nail-biting 30-yard last-chance throw to the end zone, and was knocked down by one of our defenders. The crowd went nuts, Grove players fell to the grass in disbelief, Spencerville players and the sideline full of coaches and 2nd strings EXPLODED with excitement. The camera that was filming the game literally started shaking and it looked like an earthquake was happening due to the Spencerville fans going absolutely nuts. It was amazing to watch on film the following Monday.

Sorry for the great wall of text. I mean you asked for a moment I can never forget lol... I remember those moments in such detail I could describe them MUCH further and would love to, but I think I've already wrote too much.


How do you guys motivate each other At half time if you are behind?
The things going through our heads at first are things we did wrong in the first half and how we can correct them. We're not feeling sorry for ourselves and thinking we're beat. We're discussing on how to come out and play a BETTER second half compared to how we played in our first half. We know the guy to the right won't give up, the guy to our left won't give up, and I'm not letting them down because their my brothers, therefor I won't be giving up either. We win as a team we lose as a team, but we always fight as a team. The coaches coming in and giving us a nice little, uh, speech that children shouldn't hear, is always a wake-up call too.

How does it feel to hear cheers of supporters?
It feels like I'm not just playing for my football family, but like I'm playing for an entire community.

How do you think you will be able to bounce back from the injury you sustained as a Senior in high school?
I know I will bounce back from my injury very well. I feel extremely agile and have no trouble at all exerting maximum force with my left leg (the leg the injury occurred). I've been training very hard and gaining strength, working on my explosiveness/quickness and overall athletic ability to become the best football player I can become.

What are you most looking forward to as a member of the Warriors?
To become a part of another football family, once again, just like the family I was a part of my Senior year. Everything involved on-the-field and off-the-field I'm very excited to experience. I feel like people don't understand how much I'm looking forward to this opportunity. Hopefully after reading this, you'll have a little better understanding.

Is there anyone on the team you look up to or are looking forward to playing alongside and getting to know?
Definitely Geno *last name censor'd* and Mike *last name censor'd*

What is your favorite...
TV show? I don't watch too much TV, but if I had to pick, it would be The Walking Dead.
Movie? Inception
Food? Steak with grilled onions and portabella mushrooms drenched in A1-Sauce.
Do you have any siblings? Yes. I have 1 brother named Alex, and two step-sisters named Kira and Kaytlynn.
Pets? One dog named Callie along with 2 cats we call Aggie and Ghost.

Extras
I work at Happy Daz.

I want to study Physical Therapy in college.

I get my name from my dad, who died back in 2001 when I was only 7. His name was Nico. My mother's name is Keri. They made my name by removing the letter 'c' from Nico, and replacing it with the letter 'k', which is from my mom's name "Keri."

I like to create diet and workout programs. I've created my own diet and workout programs ever since my Freshman year and it's helped make me who I am now regarding my athletic ability and general fitness/health.

Thanks again for doing this, and please feel free to throw in anything about yourself you think might be interesting for people to know.

[SDOptimist]

Recommend any from Ohio?

I checked for you and unfortunately, Ohio is one of those weird states where their Community Colleges/Junior Colleges aren't known for athletics. They are strictly academic institutions. None of the ohio community colleges have football teams.

But if you are worried about money, your OSU-Lima is going to cost 3x more than going to a local community college, and it is the same education the first two years (since you are transferring anyways). Students go to community college to save money, get their GED done and then transfer to a 4 year. Not many people go to a 4 year with a plan to then transfer to another 4 year.

I went to a JC/CC before I transferred to a university. My JC cost something like $30 a unit several years ago. Where as my university cost me over $3,000 in just tuition. Which comes to a bit under $300 per unit.

I looked it up for you and there are 3 community colleges(2 year colleges) in the Lima area. Rhodes State College, Edison Community College and Owens Community college.

Like I said, people don't go to 4 years with the plan of transfer to another 4 year. That's not the intention of those schools. Community colleges is what that is for. They have plans/agreements that will get you into the 4 years that you want to go to. They have advisors that help you with the whole process and telly you need to do.

Its unfortunate that none of those community colleges have football programs because those are much better than semi-pro/amateur leagues. Especially if you wan't to get recruited.

Also you have to watch out with playing in your league. The ncaa does have rules regarding it. First of all, you can't receive any kind of payment whatsoever from the team or any of the staff. Secondly, I found this:
''The NCAA, whose rules mandate that for every season an athlete plays semi-pro football past the age of 21 he loses a season of eligibility, eventually ruled that Balogun had."

There was a really good college player named Mike Balogun, who was playing for oklahoma and was banned by the ncaa when they found out he played for an amateur league when he was 21.

So you are starting college next fall? you should treat it as a greyshirt year and take under 12 units the first semester. This will mean that your clock won't start until the following spring semester when you take 12+ units, and you would then get an extra year of eligibility.

[Niko49ers]

I checked for you and unfortunately, Ohio is one of those weird states where their Community Colleges/Junior Colleges aren't known for athletics. They are strictly academic institutions. None of the ohio community colleges have football teams.

But if you are worried about money, your OSU-Lima is going to cost 3x more than going to a local community college, and it is the same education the first two years (since you are transferring anyways). Students go to community college to save money, get their GED done and then transfer to a 4 year. Not many people go to a 4 year with a plan to then transfer to another 4 year.

I went to a JC/CC before I transferred to a university. My JC cost something like $30 a unit several years ago. Where as my university cost me over $3,000 in just tuition. Which comes to a bit under $300 per unit.

I looked it up for you and there are 3 community colleges(2 year colleges) in the Lima area. Rhodes State College, Edison Community College and Owens Community college.

Like I said, people don't go to 4 years with the plan of transfer to another 4 year. That's not the intention of those schools. Community colleges is what that is for. They have plans/agreements that will get you into the 4 years that you want to go to. They have advisors that help you with the whole process and telly you need to do.

Its unfortunate that none of those community colleges have football programs because those are much better than semi-pro/amateur leagues. Especially if you wan't to get recruited.

Also you have to watch out with playing in your league. The ncaa does have rules regarding it. First of all, you can't receive any kind of payment whatsoever from the team or any of the staff. Secondly, I found this:
''The NCAA, whose rules mandate that for every season an athlete plays semi-pro football past the age of 21 he loses a season of eligibility, eventually ruled that Balogun had."

There was a really good college player named Mike Balogun, who was playing for oklahoma and was banned by the ncaa when they found out he played for an amateur league when he was 21.

So you are starting college next fall? you should treat it as a greyshirt year and take under 12 units the first semester. This will mean that your clock won't start until the following spring semester when you take 12+ units, and you would then get an extra year of eligibility.

I believe it breaks the NCAA rules if I'm paid to play. There is no pay involved. Just an experience and getting connections.

But yeah I'll be starting college at the OSU-Lima Branch in the Fall 2013.

So for my credits, you're suggesting I take...
First Semester/Fall 2013: <12 credits
Second Semester/Spring 2014: 12+ credits

I mean I would think that's possible. I don't know much of anything about classes and siht I would have to be taking my first year. I'll hopefully have all of that sorted out within a month or so.

When I get my license back on December 17th, I plan to drive over to the OSU Lima Branch office, or wherever I need to go, and find out what have to do in order to make my plans work.

ie.. taking required classes, making sure I can transfer and everything for my third year of college, etc. etc.

[SDOptimist]

I believe it breaks the NCAA rules if I'm paid to play. There is no pay involved. Just an experience and getting connections.

But yeah I'll be starting college at the OSU-Lima Branch in the Fall 2013.

So for my credits, you're suggesting I take...
First Semester/Fall 2013: <12 credits
Second Semester/Spring 2014: 12+ credits

I mean I would think that's possible. I don't know much of anything about classes and siht I would have to be taking my first year. I'll hopefully have all of that sorted out within a month or so.

When I get my license back on December 17th, I plan to drive over to the OSU Lima Branch office, or wherever I need to go, and find out what have to do in order to make my plans work.

ie.. taking required classes, making sure I can transfer and everything for my third year of college, etc. etc.

ya read up on greyshirting. I first thought you had to take under 12 units for the whole first year of college. But, after reading up on it more, you only need to do it the first semester (fall). When you read up on it, you will find out. Instead of the last year of eligibility ending at the end of spring, it will now end at the end of the following fall.

Rule: 5 years to play 4 (10 semesters to play 8). If you enroll full time at lima in fall of 2013 and take 12+ units your first semester, you clock starts and your 5 years (10 semesters) will end Spring 2018. The perfect situation you would stay at lima for 2 years and then transfer to osu, walkon, make the team, redshirt your first year there (3rd year of college) then have 2 seasons to be able to dress. But if you were to greyshirt your first semester at lima, your clock won't start until spring 2014. Count 9 more semesters and your last semester of eligibility would fall on the Fall of 2018 instead of Spring of 2018 (fall 2017 being your last football season). Make sense?

http://www.siskiyous.edu/counseling/...agreyshirt.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoal4OsaDw

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...and-greyshirts

Here is how grey-shirting works:

A player commits to a team that is over-signed.
That player either doesn't go to school in the fall, or enrolls part-time and pays their own way. They are not officially on the team.
In January of the following year, that player enrolls full-time and officially joins the team. They are technically part of the recruiting class for the following year.

Of course your situation will be a bit different since you won't be joining any team. But regardless, your clock won't be starting until you become a full time student (spring 2014 rather than fall 2013)

As for what classes to take...that is why it is better to go to a JC/CC. You have better resources for when you want to take the right classes so you can transfer. You aren't given that info at a university where you are going. So you are going to have to do some extra searching through the school site and all the school sites you want to go to. You have to complete your GE and take pre-major classes.

[Niko49ers]

ya read up on greyshirting. I first thought you had to take under 12 units for the whole first year of college. But, after reading up on it more, you only need to do it the first semester (fall). When you read up on it, you will find out. Instead of the last year of eligibility ending at the end of spring, it will now end at the end of the following fall.

Rule: 5 years to play 4 (10 semesters to play 8). If you enroll full time at lima in fall of 2013 and take 12+ units your first semester, you clock starts and your 5 years (10 semesters) will end Spring 2018. The perfect situation you would stay at lima for 2 years and then transfer to osu, walkon, make the team, redshirt your first year there (3rd year of college) then have 2 seasons to be able to dress. But if you were to greyshirt your first semester at lima, your clock won't start until spring 2014. Count 9 more semesters and your last semester of eligibility would fall on the Fall of 2018 instead of Spring of 2018 (fall 2017 being your last football season). Make sense?

http://www.siskiyous.edu/counseling/...agreyshirt.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoal4OsaDw

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...and-greyshirts



Of course your situation will be a bit different since you won't be joining any team. But regardless, your clock won't be starting until you become a full time student (spring 2014 rather than fall 2013)

As for what classes to take...that is why it is better to go to a JC/CC. You have better resources for when you want to take the right classes so you can transfer. You aren't given that info at a university where you are going. So you are going to have to do some extra searching through the school site and all the school sites you want to go to. You have to complete your GE and take pre-major classes.

Alright brah thanks a lot! That saved me a lot of time with reading on how everything works. Rep'd!

But really man, I'm decided on being a Buckeye my entire 6 years of college. I'm going to find a way to make it work. Money isn't too much of a concern. Everybody (for the most part) ends up with student loans and siht like that anyways and it's normal. With a physical therapy job I'll be able to pay those loans off with ease.


Just read Wendler's article on walking on: http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_...he_walk_on&cr=

Inspiration. The first year I try-out for the team will definitely be the tackling-dummy role and siht like that. Me trying to earn respect and show everyone I'm good.

The second year, though... I hope I'll be getting throw in here-and-there. At least be on the team and not on the scout-team.

Will post my workout I did Monday in a few minutes..

[Niko49ers]

12-3-2012 Monday

Pre-Weights
.5mile jog
Agility Ladder
Cone Drill (L-Drill preparation)

Single-Leg Box-Jumps: 5sets 2jumps
Single-Leg Broad-Jumps: 4sets 3jumps
Triple-Broad Jumps: 4 sets

(The power-rack was being used so I had to kill some time and did some more plyo's...)

Weights
Power Clean
135x5
145x5
155x5 (I swear this feels extremely easy to pull. Almost like a waste LOL)

Squat
5x135
5x155
5x185
5x215
5x245 (felt easy)

Bench
5x100
5x125
5x145
5x170
5x195 (big 200x5 next Monday!)

Row
5x85
5x105
5x125
5x145
5x170 (felt easy, but I still feel like my form is off for some reason)

Hyper Extensions (weighted)
10x60lbs
10x70lbs

Decline Weighted Situps
20x35lbs
20x35lbs
20x35lbs

Heels-To-Heaven (lower-ab workout)
20xBW
20xBW
20xBW

Post-Weights
Foam-Roller
Stretch

Notes
Had 2 friends present in the gym and was clowning with them a little bit while waiting on the power-rack to free up. I feel really 'springy' when I jump. I didn't even feel like this before my injury playing my Senior year of football. I feel faster.

One of the assistant coaches' son was in there working out too and he said "You're going to be prepared when the season comes around" while watching me do my plyo's.

[SeanP35]

Is there anywhere you feel you're lacking with your workouts or do you find it covers everything pretty well? I'm trying to prepare properly for next season of football and I would love to find a program that just works, or one that works with a bit of modification. I tend to always be lacking somewhere. My aspirations are not nearly as high as yours, but I would still like to play football at a Canadian university. Since this season will be my third out of high school, I am only going to have 4 years to potentially play anywhere. Which, put simply, means I need to actually attempt to reach my potential for once.