Back From Break, Random Notes

Back from spring break. It was a crazy time over spring break, things got pretty out of control...no, no, wait, yeah, they didn't. I went home to the Philly 'burbs and basically worked out, hung out with a few friends, read a lot, and watched a few movies. Did a little shopping for some new sneakers, found nothing I like, but DID come up with a very lifelike Randy Moss figurine in a clearance bin for 5 DOLLARS! I only had 4 dollars in my pocket, and wouldn't you believe the man took it. Now ol' Randy sits on my desk and keeps an eye on things.

I played some ball this weekend in cleats and all, and felt really good. Didn't go quite 100% but didn't totally half-ass it either, and I think I'm coming along really well at this point. I played Sunday and the ankle is still pretty sore, but nothing like it used to be. I squatted today and it's even doing well. I could cut actually pretty well.

Hoping that all is going well for the SU football team in the beginning of spring practices, which according to Syracuse.com started on Monday. I hope to be with them someday, and will continue to work towards that goal. I do not know when tryouts or that sort of thing are, but when they do come- I will be ready. At this point, with cardio and all I'm working out 6 or 7 days a week, depending on the week, and am really coming along. I've said it before- if I don't make this team, it certainly won't be for lack of effort. I will control what I can control, and that is what I put into it.

I'll be updating a lot more soon! I'm also on the radio on 88.3 WAER in Syracuse on the post game shows for basketball and lacrosse. More so lacrosse at this point, but the occasional basketball show as well. Tune in after the games for my ...analysis? Uh oh...

You can also go to http://www.waer.org/ and listen live. Happy Tuesday and back to work.

Update on Yesterday

It was better today- see? SOME good can come from being an idiot and pushing yourself too hard. It's pretty sore now, but no complaints- I could cut a whole lot better today. Played some football in a light rain and had a blast.

Kicked a couple 40+ yard field goals too...maybe some added value there...

Tomorrow begins a new week, getting better everyday.

Just tried out the ankle with cleats...

Strapped on cleats for the first time since the old snap crackle pop occurred. Truth be told, I was sort of expecting everything to just be completely fine, and I guess to some extent it was.

I ran some routes at like 70% speed and it definitely hurt, and definitely still felt weak. I was really disappointed, but I dunno...I guess this is to be expected. I don't know. I basically feel like s--t about the whole thing.

So, (and I know Josh will get a kick out of this) I'll be trying it again tomorrow. Because I'm an idiot. And because I dunno, maybe I just need to be more warmed up first. I mean I warmed up, but maybe...not enough. Maybe I just...maybe the ground was too hard. I'm sure I'm fine. Yes, I am totally fine.

So things are good. I'll update you all tomorrow on how it goes, most likely from the ER.

Back On The Horse Tomorrow

Back to the weights tomorrow- looking forward to it. I'm going to bed in a few minutes and going to wake up early to go before class. I've felt at times lost and confused this week without having a steady gym schedule- my goal has become the center of my life, it seems. Not that anyone that has been near me over the past several months would not agree, but I guess I'm just continuing to notice.

The ankle is finally starting to have some burst in it. I really started to notice this week with all the basketball and stuff. It's starting to show a little life, which is exciting. God, it has been a long, long time I feel like since it was just normal to run, jump, or cut without pain. It's nice. Let's hope it continues, as I still haven't put on cleats and really beat it up, but basketball is a pretty decent indicator I feel like.

As always, I'll keep you updated on how things go...Go 'Cuse in the Big East Tournament.

Post-Super Bowl Sadness, Will I make this team?.. etc

Well it's over. Five plus months, minus the combine and draft of course, of utter football-less misery. It's still snowing in Syracuse and I have a class from 7-9:45 tonight, and I'm in a contemplative mood.

First, the Super Bowl last night was incredible. 3 years in a row of top-notch games to remember, and congrats to the Saints and the city of New Orleans. I picked the Colts to win the game big, so count me on the list of people who were wrong on that one. I question the Colts taking their foot off the gas late in the first half, but ultimately it came down to just a couple plays within the huge game that changed the tides in the Saints favor. Either way, an outstanding game on all fronts, and I can't wait to see what NFL Films does with America's Game to tell this epic story.

In terms of Hopeless Walk On, I've been thinking about how this crazy plan of mine is going to turn out. Thinking about the scenarios, the successful one, and what that would be like, and also failing, and what that would be like. I really hope everything works out, I know that goes without saying, but I was thinking as I was walking home from the gym earlier today how much time and effort that I have put into this, and how badly I want to play football. (and how badly it would suck to fail at trying to play football)

It seems insane when taking a step back to try this hard for a goal that in the grand scheme of things, probably will not do much for my life. It seems as though at this point, I should be focusing more on career-related things and not some pipe dream of playing collegiate football, but I can't avoid it- I want to play. I'm keeping the foot on the pedal, and if I fail, at least I can say I busted my ass every single day to make it happen. Some people just aren't good enough, but I'd like to think that I could be good enough.

I guess I know how much I can learn from this experience from a football standpoint, a life standpoint, and about myself, and how much I have learned about myself already. You learn what kind of grit, commitment, and determination that you have really fast even when training for something like this, and I know if I were to make the team, that this would be the very tip of the iceberg. Let's hope it all works out.

Getting my Legs Right

Squats, split squats, jump squats, speed squats, lunges, dead lifts, cleans, running, stair machine, basketball, ahhhhhhhhh........

Although on most days I drag my ass around this tundra of a campus, my legs are getting stronger, more conditioned, more in shape, etc. Soon I should be at least reasonably solid in the leg area and I'm still doing the upper body nonsense, so hell I should look like a football player at some point. Now looking and actually being one are two different things, of course, but at least I'm putting the time in. Any new recommendations on leg exercises is always appreciated!

Also, as of now, the ankle is really sore on a daily basis but doesn't cause me any major pain at this point while lifting. It does slow me down during basketball though, but it's definitely coming along and improving. It's just a long, long f--king road, I underestimated how long it would really take to get all the way better. I really doubt it's going to be 100% before I have to try out for the SU Football team.

Coming up on Saturday or tomorrow: a long, drawn out Super Bowl piece. Come back to see who my prediction is, and by how much. I'll say this: the winner is gonna win big.

Back in Saddle Again

A lot going on!

- Started classes this week- taking 17 credits this semester, with some pretty hard classes to boot. Should be my worst semester thus far in terms of workload in college. I'm now a senior though (albeit a 24 year old one, I started school at 21) and there isn't much more to go.

- Started training again. After 9 full days off, I got back on the horse today at the gym. I benched the most that I've ever done and generally felt absolutely incredible- haven't felt that good at the gym in a long, long time. My body needed the rest, and my back was reasonable. I concentrated the entire time on having good form during exercises which could mess with my back and afterward, I iced my back and ankle for 20 minutes. So far, so good, I'm sore back there, but nothing horrible. We'll see how I feel tomorrow, and how this thing progresses. Tomorrow is leg/back/etc day so that's the real killer. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

- I'm going to start really concentrating on getting my ankle and legs right in terms of conditioning. It's time to start being in ridiculous shape on the lower half of my body now that my strength is up- I have to be able to at least outwork the other people trying out.

More updates to come soon now that things are rolling. More and more people have been coming, and I'm appreciative of all the people taking an interest in my crazy journey. Thanks for coming, as always, and keep coming back for more awfulness!

Injury Update

So my back is getting a little better. I've taken now a full week off from the gym, by far the longest period since I started in September. My body seems to really appreciate it, actually, so I'm hoping this back problem turns into a good thing, but getting some much-needed rest.

I've been going into physical therapy with the whiz therapist herself Colleen O'hara, and coming along pretty decently. Still is pretty painful, though. I slightly under stated the intensity of the pain in the last post about my back, it's been keeping me awake at night, waking me up in the middle of the night, and putting me in agony throughout the day. I couldn't even tie my shoes, but continued to ignore it. It's slightly alleviated, but still pretty f**ked up.

I'm taking a few more days off, then getting back on the grind with much-improved form and less weight on some lifts- gonna have to take it a bit slower than I was. Truth be told I was flying up on weight more than I should have been; I was a bit overzealous. Am a bit overzealous. But going to control it now.

I'm headed to Notre Dame on Monday to give a report for 88.3 WAER in Syracuse on the Notre Dame vs. Syracuse basketball game. Break is just about over and back on the grind come Monday.

Tendinitis...I hardly knew her

Just got home from a physical therapy appt with good old Colleen O'Hara of the Rothman Institute in King of Prussia, PA. I've had some back problems, apparently from horrific posture coupled with horrific form while squatting and doing dead lifts, in addition to the good old ankle issues I've come to know and love over the past 6+ months.

Some good and bad news. The good news is that my ankle has excellent range of motion, meaning it moves each way pretty well. The bad news is that I have some tendinitis going up the bottom of my foot, Achilles, and up the side of my leg. No big deal, I have some exercises that I can do to combat it, so it shouldn't be the end of the world.

Same with the back- working on a few things, and I should be pretty good, pretty soon, hopefully. It's good to be back in there and say hello to everyone where I used to work, I even saw a patient that I used to hang out with all the time who is a history teacher at a local high school. I told him he inspired me to be a History minor, and he told me I should be a teacher, then proceeded to laugh his ass off.

Times at NFL Films have been interesting, as always. This has been a lot cooler than a lot of days over the summer, because since we're in the thick of football season, a lot of live TV is being made on the go and I'm lucky to be a part of it. Pretty neat the way everything works, and how smoothly it's set up.

Gym Updates

Been working out with a buddy of mine since I got home (miss you Josh baby), introduced him to this high-intensity workout that was given to me. He's taking it like a champ, although he threw up last time we went. I, on the other hand, am kind of plateauing a bit in a lot of ways.

Good times though, thanks Bally's Gym, because every time we go in I'm just like yeah I'm with him, on the guest pass, and they just sorta nod and grunt at me. They just don't care. It's awesome. If I can go this entire break pulling that nonsense, I'll be a happy man with an extra 50 bucks or so in my pocket-- God bless America.

I've also been coming in to NFL Films and helping out every day, so I haven't had a ton of free time to do the things that I wanted- not that I'm complaining, there is coaching tape here that I've stared at whenever possible, mesmerized. Once again, God bless America.

Squat is up to 200 lbs (longggggg way to go) bench is stuck at 175 (3 sets, 10 reps, down to 8 reps next week we'll see where the weight is then. Also only 30-45 seconds between sets). I suck. Just gonna keep on the grind here, like I have been. My weight is a steady 180, hoping to add a bit more weight over this next month. I've also begun jump roping and sprinting.

Lastly, I won my fantasy football league, so I'm walking around with a strong sense of entitlement, like I really knew what I was doing. Hell, I won last year, so lightning DOES sometimes strike twice.

I DID LEGS! And, I'm a total absolute Idiot...

So I just worked out my legs for the first time...ever really. In a weight lifting sense. I've done massive amounts of running, etc playing soccer and other sports all my life, but I just did squats, leg press, leg extension, calf raises, a bunch of time on the stair machine, and abs.

I'm freakin tired- but it feels absolutely amazing to be using my legs again. Moving around and whatnot. Awesome stuff. Wed. is now leg day. So...

Mon- Chest / Tricep / Front Shoulders
Tues- Back / Bicep / back shoulders
Wed- Legs / Cardio
Thurs- OFF for now
Fri- Chest / Tricep / Front Shoulders
Sat- Back / Bicep / back shoulders
Sun- Cardio, sedintary football watching

This is what I'm going with for the next few weeks at least. We'll see what happens.

Waiting around till 7 to go into Human Sexuality class. Why I'm going to that class, missing the first couple innings of the World Series with my beloved Phillies is beyond me. I am truly, pitifully, an idiot. Which brings me to my next point.

I just spilled chocolate flavored protein all over myself. It just blew up out of my shaker after the top came off. In front of a lot of people. And a lot more people to come when I go to class. And a lot of people in the Schine computer lab right now. In a white shirt. I look like a rolled around in the goddamn mud before I came here. Awesome. It's even in my hair, all sticky......

Too easy...

Doctor Visit ...Greatttt Successss

So I visited with the doctors during my visit home this past weekend/Monday.

All is going well- very well. I'm more than two months ahead of schedule. I'm supposed to start jogging in February, and I am lightly jogging right now, albeit very slowly and ....lightly...

I was given a huge list of exercises that I can do, with varying degrees of difficulty. I'll be working my ass off on those, and hopefully keep this giant bubble of ahead of scheduleness going. In the meantime, I'm still lifting like a crazy man. My doctor weighed me in at 178, so I don't even know what to think anymore about the weight thing. Who cares, really. Either way I weighed nowhere near that before. so I'm gaining.

Back in lovely Syracuse, where the clouds are always out for your pleasure and enjoyment. Making major gains in the weight room, as well. I'll post where I'm at soon, and compare it with where I was a month ago, as posted on the site. Should be pretty cool.

False Alarm

So I posted a couple weeks ago that my weight was up to 176. That is a lie. After weighing myself on two other scales, there is good news, however. After the last couple weeks serious eating and lifting I DO weigh in at a whopping 174 now. Just to clarify. As if you care.

I'm like one of these chicks that watch their weight like hawks. I gained 2 lbs today...oh god....even though I probably just left 2 lbs in the toilet....OK too far.

Anyway, that's what this is turning me in to. I'm off for the weekend for lifting, so I'm happy, sore, and going to eat myself senseless.

Monday, I have an appointment with the Physical Therapy people, most notably Colleen the ultimate Physical Therapist at the Rothman Institute just outside Philly. Hopefully she tells me I'm doing awesome because it's starting to feel pretty good down there. Walking isn't that big of a deal now, and I want to start light jogging soon.

Relative Lack of Excitement

It has occured to me that there has been, well, a lull around here lately. In my life, really. I think that I've been training, lifting, and am just in the groove. The beginning new car smell has worn off and I'm just in the grind of this thing.

My ankle has plateaued a bit, so I'll be visiting a physical therapist as I mentioned, provided I can afford it. Let's hear it for credit cards...

Eating, Gym, Eating, Schoolwork, Eating, Gym...

I invite you to hang in there with me as I progress.

I still want nothing else than to play college football. I realize that might not come across in every post since, on a daily basis, I'm pretty much a goofy idiot. But let it be known that I'm working my ass off.

Goin to the gym now...I've got goals...

Setback

After getting rid of the ankle brace for a few days and generally feeling excellent, with tons of progress and the like, I'm pretty banged up.

There is bruising at the bottom of the ankle/heel area, and it's swelled up nicely. I don't know what the hell I did to it. I didn't tweak it at any point, at least that I felt, that stuck out.

More in a couple days. I'm lifting like a champion, eating like a champion, and doing all the right things. But I'm getting frustrated.

I'm like 2 months ahead of schedule. But I'm F--king frustrated, no two ways about it. This has been going on for months already. I'm making a couple calls and I'm going to find a way to pony up a bit of my no money to get some physical therapy. I'm told its next to unheard of to have this surgery and not do physical therapy, so OK MEDICINE, YOU WIN!

NFL Picks, other updates tomorrow and Friday.

I'm Going to Jog in 1 Week

I'm supposed to begin jogging in February. I'm going to try next week. First week in October.

Some might say I'm overzealous. Some people might say I'm ahead of the times. Most would most likely say that this doesn't surprise them at all, because I'm a retard. This does not burst my bubble, although it might burst my ankle upon first trying to jog.

I tried sort of half jogging at the gym today while we were shooting a basketball around pre workout. (stopping the workout updates every week, going to do them once a month, lets face it, they're boring as hell)

Anyway, it didn't really hurt all that bad. So it's on! Wish me luck.

I'm taking off the brace for just walking as well.

In unrelated news, both my parents just began shaking their heads in the "no" motion with a disgusted look on their face, in unison.

Injury Update / Workout Update 9/11/2009

OK brave and clearly bored souls reading hopelesswalkon.com, here is the update regarding my health and how working out is going. It's a good thing that things are going well, because college is not. I'm not very bright. School is hard. The S.I. Newhouse School of Communications needs to lighten up their course load and leave me more time to enjoy NFL Network programming and otherwise BS about sports with my friends. But I digress...

My weight is at 168. The goal is 190 by the tryout at this time next year. I've been working my ass off at the gym doing everything that's possible without using your legs too much. I'll post the workout I'm doing now in a couple days.

In one month I'll be actually doing stuff with my legs in the weight room, and am planning on jogging by November or December, depending on how I feel.

Right now walking is still a pain in the ass. It hurts considerably when it tires out, since I've been walking all over the goddamn Syracuse globe. I figure once those muscles are built back up, I'll be much better off, but it's a long way to go.

To be clear, this is supposed to be the first week I walk. I'm supposed to start jogging in February. I'm sorta speeding up the timetable. Gotta behave like a warrior to be a warrior. I'm not being stupid though and pushing it too hard that I'll re-injure myself, but I'm doing just hard enough. Walking that line.

More updates in the next couple days so stay tuned. Maybe I'll fall down and injure myself again, who knows? You can't gameplan for an crazy idiot, you just can't....

Injury Update

So I'm sitting in Link Hall right now next to some douche who is talking loudly on his cell phone. Common courtesy, brotha, get the hell up and walk outside for a minute.

Anyway, I lifted earlier today, and am pretty much back on the horse. I'm going to start doing some light leg work in 1 month. This is not prescribed by any doctor, but I'm just sorta feeling it. Dr. Doyal. Good lord.

I've been walking all over the free world, since I need to in order to get around. It's hurting like hell and swelling up considerably, but I'm continuing to claim that it doesn't hurt to anyone who asks. Yep, I'm fine. So don't ask. I'm doing great. GREATTTTTTTTT.

I'm going to find a physical therapist around here, but I have to find a way to pay for it. We'll see how that goes.

Last Week around Philly

First off, I'm back up to 167...that was fast. Feeling better about myself working out and stuff, went to physical therapy again today and I'm coming along really well. Still can't really walk correctly, but am limping along, little worried about Syracuse ice f'ing my day up, but lets hope for a temperate Syracuse winter....HAHA

Some random thoughts:

-I'm filming a faux highlight and standup tomorrow back at Films for my demo reel thingie. Slightly nervous to be in those sweet studios on camera, but nobodys watching anyway (kinda like hopelesswalkon.com, where nobody is reading, so who cares anyway) ...dance like nobodys watc......no, no no...stop that

-In the Air Tonight...isn't it just timeless?

-Goin to the Mike Vick Debut...really looking forward to the people protesting and whatnot, it's going to be riotous and entertaining, no doubt. I'm rooting for the guy, not because I like him, but because he represents the anti-hero at this point, against all the sort of douchebags that I hate trying to dictate someone else's life. It's gone too far, Mikey (see previous posts) Show em all up, please.

-I got some football cleats, since previously in my vaunted flag football days I was using soccer cleats, and these were on sale and pretty damn cheap. I stare at them often.

-I'm looking forward to getting back up to 'Cuse and getting a look at our team. There is a walk-on meeting this week, which I will be going to, even though I clearly can't play this year. I'm going to see if I can get involved though in some capacity this year, whatever they need.

-Comments on the Ben Roethlisberger case to come tomorrow most likely. And more stuff. Come back and read. Please....please come back....

-Feeling good tonight, another good workout today. 10/4 over and out

Last Day at NFL Films, moving forward

Definitely was weird leaving NFL Films today. I worked my ass off at that place all summer. I hope that I made some sort of impact, I really do. There are a lot of great people there and it's just a class organization all the way. I was lucky to have interned there. I'm gonna miss it. Maybe some day I'll be back, who knows.

Some notes about whats going on in the life of your favorite (only) hopeless walk on:

-Leaving for Cuse on Friday -classes start Mon.

-Gotta buy a bed, and all other applicable furniture during next weekend. Anyone have a bed for cheap? I do mean cheap. I'm cool with peed on stuff.

-Have tickets to Birds preseason game vs. Jacksonville on Thursday (thanks Lindsay) and if anyone is going and wants to tailgate........I'll be tailgating........oh I'll be tailgating

-Working out again today (day 3 in gym) as well as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning before I leave for school. Making minor progress, not being able to lift while standing or do any legs stuff is hurting me badly.

-In terms of my health I'm walking around a tiny bit more, gimping, and it still hurts like hell. Not much to report in terms of a serious breakthrough I CAN USEEE MY LEGGGSSS AGAINNNN........not just yet. stay on the line