July 16, 2009

Summer is anything but boring for members of the Fighting Illini football team. While the pace isn't anything like that which they endure during the regular season, they're expending plenty of energy, not only in summer school classes, but also in the weight room and on the field, getting bigger, stronger, faster, and more flexible.

The players' regime is systematic and comprehensive. Besides the 7-on-7 scrimmaging many of the players go through on their own, strength and conditioning coach Lou Hernandez and his staff have the team running the Memorial Stadium bleachers, pumping iron in the weight room, running longer distances, pulling and pushing weights along the Zuppke Field turf, and now, practicing some yoga techniques.

The yoga training started last summer, when former offensive coordinator Mike Locksley's wife, Kia, led a group consisting mostly of offensive lineman through weekly flexibility sessions in what was often a very, very wam Irwin Indoor Football Facility. When the Locksleys moved west to the University of New Mexico, the Illini staff turned to one of Kia's colleague's at Champaign's Mettler Center, Peggy Prichard, to continue the program.

The athletes are just over half-way through the seven-week program, which has seen a number of skill position players join in this summer.

"These guys are so big, so strong, that some of the stretches we do are particularly challenging for them," said Prichard. "We're stressing flexibility in the lower back, the hip flexors and the hamstinrgs, and we're also focusing on relaxation techniques. They have been really working hard at this; it's been a fun experience.

Instructor Peggy Prichard talks about yoga training with members of the Illinois football team this summer. Watch Video

The Fighting Illini continue their summer regime for another three weeks, when training camp begins. The squad's first workout will take place Thursday, Aug. 6, in Champaign. They'll hold practices at Memorial Stadium again Aug. 7 and 8, and then report to Camp Rantoul Sunday evening, Aug. 9, where workouts resume Monday. Camp Rantoul is scheduled to run until Saturday, Aug. 22; fall semester classes commence Monday, Aug. 24. Illinois opens the 2009 season Saturday, Sept. 5 in St. Louis against Missouri.