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The SMU football team is hard at work on its offseason conditioning work with strength and conditioning coach Mel de Laura and his staff.

The Ponies are being tested over the course of several weeks on a number of lifts, jumps and flexibility drills. In discussions with several players, one number stood out.

One of the exercises the players do is dips. Everyone has seen it done: the player gets between two parallel bars at about the height of his waist, grip the bars and hang, before lowering himself until the bars are almost to his armpits, only to lift his body weight as he straightens out his arms.

• Most of the players on the team did at least 20.
• Several posted totals in the 30s.
• 14 Mustangs had totals in the 40s.
• Six (wide receiver Cole Beasley, safety Chris Banjo, running back Bryce Lunday, defensive back Robert Mojica, linebacker Cameron Rogers and defensive back Ryan Smith) had totals in the 50s.
• Safety Randy McKinnon did ................ 88.

When asked about McKinnon's performance, wide receiver Brad Haynes wasn't sure whether to believe its accuracy. Smith called McKinnon's total "ridiculous" and said McKinnon is one of the strongest players on the team, regardless of position or size. Assistant strength and conditioning coach Steve Englehart called McKinnon "a beast."

Opinions are subjective, of course, but it's hard to argue with any of them.

off season medicine

EIGHTY-EIGHT?

Smith is right. That IS ridiculous. Dips are harder than push-ups, since you have to lift your entire body weight (minus the weight of your arms).

The guys who got into the 50s are amazing. McKinnon's number is insane.

Hope his knee rehab is going well.

WildHorse wrote:EIGHTY-EIGHT?

Smith is right. That IS ridiculous. Dips are harder than push-ups, since you have to lift your entire body weight (minus the weight of your arms).

The guys who got into the 50s are amazing. McKinnon's number is insane.

Hope his knee rehab is going well.

Dead on. 88 is sick!

my jerk of a trainer makes me do these, and i couldn't do 88 with a break between every 1

Dutch wrote:my jerk of a trainer makes me do these, and i couldn't do 88 with a break between every 1

Line of the day, and nothing comes close.
I think I'd drop dead before I got to 10 (with breaks between each one, like you).

I do dips religiously. I max out at about 12 or 13. Cannot imagine anything much above 20. Then again, I am doing a two second raising and a four second lowering portion. I suspect these guys are doing them much quicker.

40 bid

ponyboy wrote:I do dips religiously. I max out at about 12 or 13. Cannot imagine anything much above 20. Then again, I am doing a two second raising and a four second lowering portion. I suspect these guys are doing them much quicker.

Child of a lesser god

The only dip I do is French dip with ruffles.

One Trick Pony wrote:The only dip I do is French dip with ruffles.

Best French dip EVER is at Philipes in LA with their spicy mustard.

My mouth is watering now.

I like Lipton's onion soup mix with sour cream !!

Talked to Randy McKinnon today. He assured me that not only was the count of 88 valid, but he had "several" thrown out ... and thinks he can break 100.

He also said he broke the bench press record at Syracuse when he lifted 500 pounds, but backed off from lifting heavy weight for fear of injuring himself. He said he now has added a lot of bulk to his frame and could resume lifting heavy weight, although he stopped short of saying whether or not he planned to go for 500 pounds again. This morning, he benched 405 ... six times.

PonyPride wrote:Talked to Randy McKinnon today. He assured me that not only was the count of 88 valid, but he had "several" thrown out ... and thinks he can break 100.

He also said he broke the bench press record at Syracuse when he lifted 500 pounds, but backed off from lifting heavy weight for fear of injuring himself. He said he now has added a lot of bulk to his frame and could resume lifting heavy weight, although he stopped short of saying whether or not he planned to go for 500 pounds again. This morning, he benched 405 ... six times.

That kind of strength is impressive and look forward to having him back next year.

I need to hit the gym