People do not realize what all goes on behind the scenes in order to create and sustain a successful athletic program. There are many essential parts that keep a great program running. Athletic trainers fall into that group. Athletic trainers do not get the recognition they deserve. I believe they have one of the hardest jobs in the program. I credit them for all the work and effort they put in to help keep us healthy. All of the extra time that they put in helps keeps the program running smoothly. Since my injury I have gained a brand new appreciation for our athletic trainers. I have been rehabbing everyday trying to get my knee back to 100%without our athletic trainers, I'm not sure if I would have made the strides that I have made. You never see them in the media and you don't ever hear about them, but I call them the work horses of the program. With the number of major and minor injuries athletes sustain each year, no program would be able to keep a team if it were not for the athletic trainers. Although I have had the most contact with athletic trainers this year with my knee injury, I have also counted on them other times since I've been at UGA. When I dislocated my shoulder last spring, two student-trainers were by my side the entire time I was in the hospital. Also when I tore my ACL this past season, they were there giving my parents comfort and letting them know that I was going to be well taken care of. My parents appreciated that and so do I. Here is an idea of our athletic trainers' daily schedule:
4:00 am: Wake up in order to set up for MATT drills.
8:00 to 2:15 pm: Time for classes to be taken.
2:30 to 6:30 pm: Training Room6:30pm- until:
Go home, eat dinner, study, and go to bed so that they can then do it all over again.
Athletic trainers, we don't tell you enough, but we truly appreciate all that you do for us and for the University.
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I hope they read this so they can feel the appreciation not just from the athletes they serve but from the fans also. This past season was horrendous for injuries and I know all of you had a tough go of it. Thanks for keeping our team healthy, and Jeff thanks for writing this up for us so we can understand a little more!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeff for this wonderful entry on your blog. I am a mother to one of the student AT's this past fall with the team. I know he will appreciate the kind words. They do work hard, and they are proud to be a GA Bulldawg and part of the team. GO DAWGS!
ReplyDeleteThanks for recognizing the trainers Jeff but what about the team managers? Don't they deserve some love too? I was fortunate enough to be a student manager for the UGA basketball team in the mid-70's and my closest friends from my college days are former players, managers and trainers. The trainers and managers have to be there before the players arrive and stay around after the players leave. They don't work nearly as hard as the players physically, but they do have to have a similar commitment level. Thanks again for taking the time to thank those young men and women who lay it on the line for various Bulldog teams day in and day out.
ReplyDeletemy son is one of the student trainers right now so i appreciate your encouraging words
ReplyDeleteJeff: I'm truly happy that the trainers have taken good care of you and other players. They have a thankless job. However, pardon me for hoping and praying that not so many of you will be needing their services so much this year!!! I'm really hoping that the injury bug doesn't bite ya'll quite as hard this year!
ReplyDeletegreat post jeff! very interesting...love the blog...don't stop! its the biggest GA football fix we get during the offseason!
ReplyDeleteHey, Jeff, can you tell us more about the mat drills? I see them referenced all the time, but I have no idea what they entail. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJeff. I know they take as much pride in their work as you guys do getting prepared for Saturdays. As you state, college football would not be as rugged and intense as it is today. Next time you run into them (tomorrow) give them a great big shout out from the dawg fans.
ReplyDeleteDear Jeff,
ReplyDeleteWe have several closeups of you being helped off the field in September by our son's girlfiend (Along with Ron and others) and hopefully our future daughter-in-law. We can't say enough about your willingness to post this and give the trainers the respect they earn. I'm proud to call Jeff Owens a BullDAWG and your blog is the best. Anna A. will truly appreciate this.
Sincerely,
Aladawg
Mat drills:
ReplyDeletehttp://georgia.scout.com/2/500224.html
Hey Jeff-
ReplyDeleteBenjamin Boyd's mom here.
I LOVE your blog-you are doing a great job....keep it up.
Where would you guys be without these great trainers?
I know personally what good care they take of our players.
Looking forward to watching you play this season.
Jeff- Great post. I imagine the trainers worked lots of overtime this year with all the injuries we had. They deserve a lot of credit.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I, too, would love to see a blog explaining mat drills and some of the other training you guys do.
Jeff, thanks so much for taking the time to post on your blog. Living here in South Florida, I can never get enough info about the dawgs. Also, can't wait for the 09 season to get here, as this could be a very special year for the dawg nation. Take care, stay healthy and tear em up this year!
ReplyDeleteAnother great post on a subject that is far too often ignored. I cannot imagine the workload and pressure these trainers are under. They have to get the players healthy or else the entire program suffers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving us more insight into their daily lives. I imagine they really appreciate getting some well deserved recognition.
-Michael
Muckbeast - Game Design and Online Worlds
http://www.muckbeast.com
I love your blog Jeff! Love the Dawgs as well! Kudos to the trainers for their great work getting you guys healthy. Beat Florida!!!!
ReplyDeleteAs an athletic trainer and a HUGE Bulldawg fan, thank you so much for you kind words. Good luck this season Jeff!
ReplyDelete