New weight training facility builds stronger, faster FIU football players

More than just a building, the football fieldhouse is the place where athletes are developed, spirits are raised, muscles are pushed to the limits and players realize their potential. For years, FIU languished without one, but the new R. Kirk Landon Football Fieldhouse is large enough and well equipped to train a team of 100 football players.

The fieldhouse weight room opened last fall, making 2010 the first time FIU Football has been able to train in top-notch facilities during the off season. The upgrade in facilities has allowed Co-Director of Strength and Conditioning Roderick Moore, and assistant coaches Ryan Horton and Dave Feeley to implement a tough conditioning regimen. They focus on Olympic-style lifting techniques such as the power clean, an explosive strength exercise.

Throughout the summer, the players packed the weight room at 6 a.m. for voluntary workouts. They worked out under the watch of the huge, menacing Panther eyes Coach Mario Cristobal had painted on the north wall of the weight room.

“The impact of this facility is tremendous,” says Moore. “First, they want to lift because the place inspires you. Second, the guys will perform put in the time to do extra lifts and push themselves to the max.”

Veteran players like linebacker Toronto Smith and defensive back Anthony Gaitor have been some of the biggest beneficiaries of this facility and its team of strength and conditioning coaches. Smith was 206 pounds when he arrived at FIU and is now 225. He bench pressed 275 back then, and now does 385. His power clean has gone from 250 to 335 pounds and his squat went from 365 to a staggering 600 pounds.

Anthony Gaitor came in at 160 pounds and is now up to 180 pounds.  He used to power clean 225 and now can lift 315. His bench has gone from 205 to 365 pounds. His squat increased from 315 to 550 pounds.

“We’ve seen guys go up 80 pounds on power clean, 100 pounds on squat and 40 or 50 pounds on bench press,” said Moore of the tangible gains the players have had in their new home.

The 14,000 square-foot weight room has 26 hammer racks, more than 30 isolateral plate-loading machines and a turf area for plyometrics and transition to the field. In addition, the facility has specialized football training equipment like the MAXX, a machine that develops and measures speed and power in lineman. The room has two wooden Championship Platforms, reserved for those who set the standard for the team.

The fieldhouse was made possible by a $1 million donation from FIU Board of Trustees member R. Kirk Landon. Before it opened, the entire team had to wait to use one of three converted racquetball courts filled to the brim with antiquated machinery. For Moore, who had previously been at the University of Tennessee, this was clearly a work in progress.

Now, for first time FIU Football players are putting up Divison I numbers in the weight room that match what athletes in the BCS conferences are doing – the kind of numbers that help a team win.

While it takes more than weights to build a team, a team cannot be built without the help of steel, turf, and hours in the gym.

“When you see your body getting stronger and bigger, when you see yourself getting faster, and you see it translate over to the field then that is a big confidence boost,” said Moore

— Julian Kasdin ’07