Lance Mitchell Online Journal No. 1

OU senior linebacker Lance Mitchell will script his own online journal at SoonerSports.com for the 2004 season. Mitchell will share his experiences with Sooner fans as he anchors the middle of the Sooner defense.

This is the first installment of his online journal. Submit your own questions to Lance by clicking the link at the end of this journal entry.

Lance Mitchell
Journal Entry No. 1 (Sept. 1, 2004)
I think I'll begin my journal by telling you about my summer. My days started at about 7:30 in the morning with a workout at the new Roy Williams facility over in the Indoor. I worked with a group of running backs, wide receivers and linebackers.

Schmitty (Coach Schmidt) actually set it up so the linebackers would be working with the receivers. I had to work with the speed guys for conditioning and changing directions. That was pretty tough. I'd be at the head of one line and in the other line was Mark Clayton. So I had to go up against him in things like the ladder drill. Man, a guy who has his kind of footwork -- it was tough. But you know me, I don't want to lose. He would be at my side and I was trying to catch up with him. It was pretty good work for me coming off an injury. I couldn't have asked for a better workout to get back my speed.

About Noon, I'd get a little rehab -- eat a little bit -- and then I'd come back about 3:00. That's when Jason White and I did a lot of our extra work -- in the afternoon. We repeated that almost every day. We'd work on mobility, things like getting our knees up and changing direction. Pretty much things within your position that you needed to work on. We basically did a lot of moving around.

I'd say it took about two weeks just to get my body comfortable with that routine. We were basically doing two-a-day workouts. We wouldn't go real long -- maybe 45 minutes to an hour. Then we'd leave and come back that evening for pass drills, seven-on-seven. It made for a full day. We competed well.

I just focused my whole summer on getting my legs back to where they need to be. About halfway through the summer, Coach Schmidt moved me into a different group. I started working out with the defensive linemen. I started really working on my strength. I'm looking around and seeing the guys pushing up four plates on the bench press like it was nothing. It was a struggle but I had to do it.

I ended up running with Dan Cody. That guy can almost run like a receiver -- so there was no drop off as far as running next to somebody. I was pushed to my limits this summer.

Personally, I think Coach Schmidt knew that I'd challenge myself and he wanted me to get back to where I was at -- or even better. He had a great program put together for me. We all worked together but there was a lot of stuff personalized for me.

As soon as I got injured last season, I took about a week off just for me and then it was Schmitty and me EVERY DAY. I'm totally different strength-wise since then. Schmitty watched the way I ran and he helped me change some things -- like getting my knees up. Man, we did some vigorous things -- like pants with weights in them and running up stadium steps. Vigorous stuff! I really had time to change up some of my fundamentals.

I just couldn't believe it. Some days, I was thinking 'this is just ridiculous'. But then after it was done, I'd realize what a day it had been. I got up every morning and challenged myself. I could feel the results. When I first started out, six or seven guys would be with me. Then I kept moving up until it was just one or two. I've always had good lateral speed but what I focused on was my straight-ahead speed.

My first day back in practice, I felt good. I felt light and I could feel myself moving. I was happy and satisfied with that.

I got a few breaks from all the workouts. I went home once. It was a good deal. I went back to San Francisco and it was about 65 degrees. I had to take my coat home! I actually went to baseball game while I was out there -- went to see the Giants. I was about 10 minutes into my seat and they hit three consecutive home runs. I was right there. I caught a good break.

Anyway, send me your questions by clicking the link below and I'll answer as many as I can next week. See you Saturday for the Bowling Green game!

Ask Lance a Question | Sooner Online Journals

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