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LANDIS — South Rowan’s offensive linemen call it simply “The Course,” although it could just as easily be called “The Curse.”
The Course — the punishing path to physical fitness that South’s offensive line traveled this summer — is equal parts Marine obstacle course, toughman contest, Chuck Norris workout video and medieval torture rack.
Here’s a brief discourse on The Course from the resident expert on the subject, a 6-foot-4 mobile mound of muscle named William Van Wieren. Van Wieren may have just a little hog in him, but he’s mostly lion and tiger and bear.
“The Course is one of Coach (Larry) Deal and Coach (Travis) Billings’ actions,” says Van Wieren, warming to his subject and pointing to the incline that separates South’s football and soccer practice areas.
“We ran up that hill carrying these 100-pound sandbags. When we got to the top, we did some pushups, flipped a few tires around, pulled the sled a little, hurdled a few more sandbags, did some lateral moves, ran some more, then got on our knees.”
To pray?
“No,” says a smiling Van Wieren, who somehow found humor in this rigorous regimen. “We got on our knees so we could do some abdominal work. You know, twisting and swinging those sandbags around.”
And you survived to tell the tale?
“Sure,” says Van Wieren. “Every Tuesday and Thursday this summer, while the little guys did skill work, we big guys ran The Course.”
Of course.
The Course apparently does a body more good than a glass of milk. Maybe that haunting hill explains why the chiseled Van Wieren could pass for a college defensive lineman rather than a mere high school junior O-lineman. “Will the Wall” has a huge chest, shoulders and legs, but very little of his listed 255 pounds is situated in the vicinity of his belt.
Deal says he and Billings came up with the idea for The Course while they were on retreat with the other Raider coaches. They were watching one of those wild strongman competitions on ESPN when the light bulb clicked on.
“For safety’s sake, we substituted sandbags for those cement blocks the guys were carrying on TV,” said Deal. “But we figured this would be a good challenge, a really neat thing for our big men. And they really sunk their teeth into it, started taking pride in it. It became their thing, something they could call their own.”
And the results?
“Great,” said Deal. “It really taxed them, so their recovery time is much quicker now. We’re far ahead of where we were last year and I think that summer workout is a big reason.”
The Course succeeded, because the coaches sold it as bonding competition, rather than mandatory misery.
“They timed us every time we did it,” said Van Wieren, “and we had to improve every day.”
Certifying just how tough The Course was, linebackers coach Bob Boswell, not a man who’s afraid to push the troops to the max, offered his seal of approval. “Bob told me it was a college level workout,” said a proud Deal.
To be precise, The Course was actually two courses. On Tuesdays, the Raiders negotiated a 220-yard distance for endurance. Deal demanded a time of 3 minutes, 30 seconds.
On Thursdays, it was a 160-yard mini-course geared to test speed and strength. Deal figured that one should be a two-minute drill.
“Every one of the guys made the grade on the endurance course,” said Deal. “We had 50 percent with a passing time on the short course. But that short course was tough.”
Well, for everyone except Van Wieren.
Van Wieren returned from a family vacation and promptly established a pair of course records. His first Tuesday, he shattered the long course mark. Two days later, he set a new standard on the short course.
“I think me breaking both records back-to-back made (fellow lineman) Scott Moyer mad,” chuckled Van Wieren. “At least I think it did.”
Actually his teammates aren’t mad, they’re glad — that the VW-sized Van Wieren is on their side.
“The great thing about William,” offered the 275-pound Moyer, “is that he’d be the last one to brag about anything. He’s the perfect leader, because he keeps everyone’s head up and pushes us all. I just hope I can push him a little bit, too.”
Deal’s sky-high on Van Wieren as well.
“He’s a hoss. Good speed, great strength, great endurance and a mind for the game,” he said. “He’ll go all day for you and he gives you everything he’s got.”
And Van Wieren’s going to get even better. The Raider offensive line, which will start four non-seniors, has already demanded that The Course perform an encore next summer.
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Tomorrow — West Rowan
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