Could we officially be seeing a rebirth of the Alabama football dynasty?
Things are certainly trending upward for the Crimson Tide, especially with the student-athletes return for in-person voluntary workouts on Monday. It was the first time that players were hands-on with coaches David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea, and everyone got a first-hand view of how they operate.
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Since both were hired from Indiana on March 3, the coaching staff, players and fans have been very excited to see what they can do in the sports performance department.
Respectable sources had already confirmed with yours truly of Touchdown Alabama Magazine on the relationships the duo is building with the players; however, one current running back was highly impressed after the workout.
Brian Robinson Jr., a senior and Tuscaloosa native, came to Alabama in its 2017 signing class from Hillcrest High School as a four-star.
He has improved his numbers each season and posted 441 yards rushing with five touchdowns on 96 carries in 2019. The 6-foot-1, 226-pounder even displayed some versatility as a receiver – grabbing 11 passes for 124 yards.
As he looks to create more of an impact, he took to Twitter carrying a scary message to rest of college football.
Can’t lie, today’s workout made me realize why I came to bama in the first place, Bama is Back!!!#RollTide
— Brian K Robinson Jr. (@BrianR_4) June 8, 2020
Not only did the first day of weights, speed training, flexibility training and other stations had players drenched in sweat, but it was also one that reminded the program of why Nick Saban needed to make a change in the strength and conditioning department. According to other sources, the players called the first training session with Ballou and Rhea ‘the best thing they have ever been a part of.’
Others have stated that this was exactly what Alabama needed to get back on top and the tandem of Ballou and Rhea is what it had been missing the last two years. With these two, no workouts are the same. Both individuals have developed tailored-made sessions to target specific muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints of different players in various positional units.
The idea for Ballou and Rhea is to coach the Tide to last all four quarters and be bigger, faster, stronger and most importantly, more durable than its opposition. Alabama wants to greatly decrease its issue with season-ending injuries and Monday provided a fantastic start as players love Ballou and Rhea.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
