WVU's strength coach putting White and Slaton to work
Patrick White and Steve Slaton will be checking in regularly with SIOC from Morgantown throughout the summer.
Patrick White: To understand anything about life for the players in Morgantown in the summer, you have to understand about our strength coach Mike Barwis. I just tell young guys when they get here, "Be aware and keep your distance."
Steve Slaton: That's because Barwis is a mixed-martial arts guy, and he will take you down before you even know he's there. But Barwis is someone who will prepare you for the ultimate challenges of football. All the workouts you've ever had in your life don't set you up for Mike and one day in his weight room.
PW: That's why they say the strength coach might be one of the most important people in a football program, because that's where we spend most of our time all summer. And Barwis makes every day count. He is full of energy ...
Steve Slaton: Hyper-energy!
PW: ... All the time. I have yet to see him one day that he's not amped up. The man has an arm that's rock-solid. Every muscle on his body looks like it's solid wood. Even though he gets after us and is a strict disciplinarian, he treats every single player with respect. That's why he has our respect right back.
Steve Slaton: Barwis knows what your best is, and he wants it every day, 110%. "All I want is all you got." That's one of his trademarks.
PW: A typical workout is intense: platform lifts, bench, squat, back, bicep and tricep lifts. Then we go to injury prevention: balancing on balls, flexibility, plyos and conditioning.
Steve Slaton: Conditioning - just a pretty word for running, and running, and running. That's the worst part, the running. Running sprints, running intervals, running the hill behind the practice field. He knows what you can take, and he tries to get a little bit more.
Steve Slaton: If you're a Mountaineer football player, or any type of Mountaineer athlete, you're spending the summer living "Barwis Days." We're here at "Barwis Beach." But when we're done, we'll be ready for anything.
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