THROUGH THE STORM IN 2005, JOSH BURTON AND HIS FAMILY ENDURED HURRICANE KATRINA. TEN YEARS LATER, THE LOUISIANA NATIVE IS HELPING LEAD A RESURGENCE WITH THE WILDCAT FOOTBALL TEAM. PLUS... WEBER STATE’S MR. IRRELEVANTS NOVEMBER 2015 THE VICTORY BELL ALLI CLUFF: SOLVING FOR X

presented by

Volume 1, Issue 3 WeberStateSports.com We Make Your Money Grow!

South Ogden Ogden Ben Lomond 4605 Harrison Blvd. 2605 Washington Blvd. 115 Washington Blvd. 801-394-6611 801-409-5000 801-399-4425

II Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com www.bankofutah.com WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 1 CONTENTS STARTING LINEUP FEATURES 16 DEFINITELY NOT IRRELEVANT Weber State football stars Tim Toone and Cam Quayle were each selected with the final pick in their respective NFL draft classes, but “Mr. Irrelevant” is a tag that no longer fits. BY JIM BURTON

21 SOLVING FOR X Alli Cluff worked through her college career much like she solves a difficult math problem, by working hard and systematically creating a finished equation. BY DARIN HOGGE

36 THROUGH THE STORM In 2005, Josh Burton and his family endured Hurricane Katrina. Ten years later, the Louisiana native is helping lead a resurgence with the Wildcat football team. BY CHRIS J. MILLER

28 SOUNDING OUT A WIN A tradition that dates back to the 1930’s was revived in 2002, and has been a strong symbol for Wildcat Football for the past 14 years. BY CORIE HOLMES

36 32 HEART OF THE MATTER Heart rate monitoring is providing WSU Strength and Conditioning with a high-tech look into athlete recovery as a method to maximize performance and enhance injury prevention. BY JOHN HENDERSON AND DARIN HOGGE

DEPARTMENTS

4 FROM THE A.D. 21 32 6 SNAPSHOTS 14 PLAYIN’ ON PURPLE with cross country’s Paige Dilmore 43 HIGH PERFORMANCE 47 CREATE A LEGACY 48 WILDCAT CLUB MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Val & Claudia Weathers 51 COMPLIANCE CORNER 53 NAME GAME 56 TOP TWEETS 28 16

2 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com ith Thanksgiving to share their lives with us. Their having just been great stories provide the heart completed and with and soul of Bleed Purple. the year-end holiday I am also grateful for the athletic seasonW getting into full swing, I successes that we have been able feel it is a great time to share a to celebrate during 2015. few things that I am grateful for Men’s tennis won its second- as the Editor of Bleed Purple straight Big Sky Conference regular Magazine. season title last spring, giving THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF WEBER STATE ATHLETICS First off, I am very grateful for presented by the staff of Bleed Purple. We have the year. Softball soon followed received many kind words about Weber State it’s first league title of the magazine in its Inaugural conference championship and year, and this project would not advancedwith the to the program’s NCAA tournament. first-ever be possible without the dedication Mike Hardy of men’s track became Volume 1, Issue 3 of everyone that contributes to it. Internally, Paul Grua and Corie in the steeplechase at the NCAA Editor in Chief Darin Hogge Holmes of our Athletic Commu- Championships.an All-American by finishing fifth Executive Editors Paul Grua nications staff have been vital This fall, the Weber State women’s Chris J. Miller parts of the publication, from cross country team continued Corie Holmes pitching feature story ideas to its dominance, winning its third Creative Director Darin Hogge writing articles to editing, and I Big Sky title in the last four years Contributing Writers Chris J. Miller thank them for their efforts. Jim Burton I am grateful for the images Championships. Meanwhile, Corie Holmes and finishing 22nd at the NCAA Darin Hogge supplied by Robert Casey and WSU football proved they are Paul Grua Justin Johnson, who have each well on their way back to being Jerry Bovee supplied photos that make the a team to be reckoned with in the John Henderson Becky Thompson artwork of the magazine look so great. Big Sky, defeating Montana on Will Pridemore And I am especially grateful for Photography Robert Casey the phenomenal writing of Chris 1987 to highlight a 6-5 record, its Darin Hogge Miller and Jim Burton. They are the road for the first time since Justin Johnson both fantastic at their craft, and With 2016 just around the cor- Ad Director Dave Champlain the experience that comes from firstner, Bleedwinning Purple season hopes in five for years. many their decades of great work in more successes in the year to come. EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: WEBERSTATESPORTS.COM us a pair of experts to which we FACEBOOK: facebook.com/WeberStateAthletics canthe assign journalism some of field our have top stories given TWITTER: @WeberState each issue. INSTAGRAM: WSUWildcats I am grateful for the great Darin Hogge student-athletes that we have at Director of Digital Media and Publications Weber State and for their willingness

ON THE COVER

In 2005, Josh Burton and his family endured Hurricane Katrina. Ten years later, the Louisiana native is helping lead a resurgence with the Wildcat football team.

THROUGH THE STORM Feature on page 36. IN 2005, JOSH BURTON AND HIS FAMILY ENDURED Copyright © 2015 by HURRICANE KATRINA. TEN YEARS LATER, THE LOUISIANA NATIVE IS HELPING LEAD A RESURGENCE WITH THE WILDCAT FOOTBALL TEAM. PLUS... WEBER STATE’S MR. IRRELEVANTS NOVEMBER 2015 Weber State Athletics Publications THE VICTORY BELL ALLI CLUFF: SOLVING FOR X

presented by Volume 1, Issue 3 WeberStateSports.com Photo by Darin Hogge. All Rights Reserved Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 3 From the A.D. A Message from Jerry Bovee

t’s time for another edition of in place. It is this story I would hope “Bleed Purple Magazine” and could travel the nation. 190 athletes once again our staff has done being selfless, showing a tender side, an amazing job of bringing to supporting one of their own, being life the stories and experiences not only an athlete but being a family! Iof our student-athletes as they make I am so honored to be part of the up the heart and soul of our department. Weber State family! I am completely In this issue you will learn more about blessed my girl Z is at such an amazing Josh Burton and his life experiences university. associated with Hurricane Katrina. The words “THANK YOU” do not You’ll also read about what Tim do justice! My heart is full of so much Toone and Cam Quayle are up to love and encouragement. WEBER these days and one of my favorite STATE ATHLETICS, YOU ARE DOING articles in this issue is all about the LIFE RIGHT! I would hope all 190 tradition of the “Victory Bell” that would see and feel my gratitude! is rung by the football players after today. In the mail we received a package Love and Blessings to all.” from Weber State University Athletics. so much more in this 3rd issue of Inside we found hand written notes. Our thoughts and prayers will continue a home win. You’ll find all that and Bleed Purple. All from WSU athletes from football, to go out to the Corta family and I This week I was reminded again softball, women’s and men’s basketball, appreciate the maturity of our of the important role we all play in women’s and men’s tennis, track and Weber State student-athletes to the lives of our student-athletes as field, women’s and men golf, women’s understand that people matter! one of our softball players lost her soccer and volleyball. Not just a note Truly athletics can reveal character father after a valiant battle with of “thinking of you” or “sending for good and ill and now you get a cancer. I’ve watched as Mackenzi’s prayers”. They were heartfelt, encour- glimpse of why I think this is such peers in the department have rallied aging, and completely full of love. a special place. Thanks for your 190 notes from young athletes, support! been so rewarding to see athletes coaches and administration. As I read around her at this difficult time. It’s from each of our 16 sports write each note I was overwhelmed and Until next time, go Wildcats! notes of encouragement to the Corta humbled by the outpouring of love family. I know their efforts to show and support for our family and my love and support to one of their own girl “Z!” in a time of intense sadness has been I questioned how a university of a comfort not only to the Corta family this size would pull together for one Jerry Bovee but also to their community. In a athlete and her family. To be told it Weber State Director of Athletics recent post to facebook, Mackenzi’s was an athlete NOT in the softball mom Jacki, posted the following as program that put this together just a response to the outpouring of warmed my heart. In today’s world support from her daughters fellow we hear of the athletes getting kicked student-athletes: off teams, drugs being done, suspended “I was completely taken back for this or that, and probations put

4 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 5

Simply Smarter Weber St Program Ad.indd 1 9/15/15 3:56 PM 6 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com Senior center Joe Hawkins (55) leads the Wildcats from the tunnel and onto the field ahead of Weber State’s 32-14 Homecoming Game win over Sacramento State on Sept. 19. (Photo by Robert Casey)

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 7 8 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com Weber State goalkeeper Nikki Pittman makes a diving save during the Wildcats’ matchup against No. 7-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. on August 21. (Photo by Shane Lardinois)

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 9 Spirit Squad member Reagan Schroeder holds up the “W” in support of the Wildcats during football’s Homecoming win over Sacramento State on Sept. 19. (Photo by Robert Casey)

10 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com Running back Eric Wilkes fights for extra yardage as a defender tries to take him down in Weber State’s 38-17 win at Northern Colorado on Sept. 26. (Photo by Robert Casey)

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 11 12 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com Photos from the Weber State Men’s Basketball Alumni Classic in August. Clockwise from top right: Randy Rahe and Damian Lillard share a laugh on the bench as coaches of the Purple Team; Lillard gets congratulations from members of the Purple Team after winning the 3-point contest; Lillard reacts to a basket scored by the White team during the alumni game; Lance Allred dives on the floor to beat Eddie Gill and Kyle Tresnak to a loose ball. (Photos by Robert Casey)

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 13 with Paige Dilmore

Corie Holmes met with Paige Dilmore, a member of the 2015 Big Sky Conference champion cross country team, for the latest edition of Playin’ on Purple. In addition to the interview, the pair had some fun doing an emoji challenge. Check out the full video by clicking on the link above.

Playin’ On Purple: What’s your favorite memory or moment at Weber State? Paige Dilmore: So that’s really hard because there’s a lot of good ones. We have a lot of fun day to day with coach pull- ing tricks and the girls are just really funny. I have to say though that my favorite so far happened just recently when we won the conference championships for cross-country, so that’s really exciting.

P.O.P If you could play any other sport collegiately what would you play and why? P.D . I’ve never been a contact sport athlete even when I was little I didn’t do any of those sports. I really wanted to play skill with the ball. I just think it would be so cool to be a soccer player. soccer because I’ve always admired those athletes. Their endurance when running up and down the field and also their P.O.P. If you could witness any athletic event past present or future what would you want to see and why? P.D. Secretariat, the one about the horse racing. One of my favorite scenes is in the last race of the Triple Crown, I love I’m notfeel suregood which sports one movies. it is, but They when are definitelyhe pulls away my favorite and keeps genre. spreading One of themy gapfavorites on the is second place horse who was supposed to win by a lot. It just gives me butterflies in my stomach causeP.O.P. I Iflove you that. could I would bring definitely one musician go back and back witness from that the race. dead who would you bring back? P.D. I don’t really have a favorite dead musician or anything, but at the end of camp this year one of my teammates said that her biggest fear was Michael Jackson. If I could bring a dead musician back it would be Michael Jackson just so I could scare my teammate. It would be kind of mean but it would be worth it.

P.O.P. Who is your favorite person in the whole wide world? P.D. My favorite person is kind of cliché. It’s my younger sister. She’s 16, she’s my best friend. She’s so funny and lighthearted, and everything that I want to be she is. So we just kind of balance each other. I just love her so much.

14 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 15 DEFINITELY NOT IRRELEVANT Weber State football stars Tim Toone and Cam Quayle were each selected with the final pick in their respective NFL draft classes, but “Mr. Irrelevant” is a tag that no longer fits.

By JIM BURTON

im Toone no longer a change from the one Toone had in catches passes or returns “I want to help people,” said the mind when the Lions drafted him punts and kickoffs at formerexcitement Wildcat of the wide medical receiver. field. with the 255th pick in the 2010 NFL Weber State or anywhere Toone, 30, has returned to Weber draft. else for that matter. The For those scoring at home, pick former Wildcat football different NFL teams – Detroit, Buffalo, No. 255 was the last one that year. standout and one-time NFL prospect Denver,State after Atlanta spending and timeNew with Orleans five In other words, Toone was Mr. Trecently walked away from the game, – and is set to enter the school’s Irrelevant. setting aside the teamwork, hustle nursing program in January. This is and pressure-packed excitement a departure from his earlier plans seem like a rather cruel moniker. of the gridiron game for the team- to go into physical therapy, but then ButNow, in the at NFL, first it’s glance actually that not might such work, hustle and pressure-packed again that career path was probably a bad thing. It dates back nearly 40

16 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com he underestimated his agent’s comments. But it didn’t take long to realize the magnitude of irrelevance. “I bet I was on the phone for probably the next three days, probably six to eight hours a day doing phone interviews all over the country,” he explained. “I thought, ‘Man, how dumb am I? These guys all over the country are doing interviews and I’ve never even heard of this before.’” Quayle, a 43-year-old husband and father of four who once got into

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis, spenta training time camp with fight the with Ravens legendary and Jacksonville Jaguars as well as the Barcelona Dragons of the now-defunct NFL Europe. In the fall of 1999, while in training camp with years when the Pittsburgh Steelers excited,” Quayle said. “I’m like, ‘Well, the Jaguars, he suffered a cervical selected Dayton receiver Kelvin Kirk tell me more about this.’ He said, ‘It’s spine injury, which didn’t necessarily with the 487th pick in the 1976 awesome. You’re the last guy and end his career but certainly caught draft. Prior to that year, the last man they make a big deal out of it. You his attention. taken in the draft was just that – the get to have this big party in California; “I remember thinking, ‘What am last man off the board. There was you’re going to love it. It’s going to I doing beating my body up,’” he said. no real distinction made and cer- be the best thing ever.’” “I loved mountain biking, loved to tainly no weeklong celebration the Quayle said that in his ignorance, backpack, loved to ski. It was at that selection. It wasn’t until southern California businessman – and ex-NFL player – Paul Salata came up with the Mr. Irrelevant concept, which includes an entire week of activities, that anyone gave the last pick a second thought. Since Salata’s brainchild came to fruition, only one school has enjoyed the distinction of having multiple Mr. Irrelevant titleholders. And that school happens to be Weber State. More than a decade before Toone’s 2010 coronation, Wildcat tight end Cam Quayle was taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the 241st pick of the 1998 draft. Quayle, who is now a pediatric dentist, said he had never heard of Mr. Irrelevant until he became one. “My agent called me and was so

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 17 impact, I want to be entrusted with people’s lives. I’m going to work as hard as I can to help them.” Certainly Toone learned about the importance of discipline and hard work during years of football. He also learned about communication, job mastery, trust and adaptiveness during his time in the NFL. As for being the last pick in the 2010 draft and being dubbed Mr. Irrelevant, Toone was aware of what

the notoriety that comes with it. it meantThat fact to bethat the he final wore selection dreadlocks, and which danced outside his helmet when he ran, made him even more recognizable. Rather than simply becoming another Mr. Irrelevant, time I started thinking long and closely with athletes, but he soon Toone, who served an LDS mission hard.” audibled into another course of in West Africa, provided a visual for Having already been accepted to study. Partly because he’d grown up NFL fans to take in. dental school at Virginia Common- watching his mother work as a “It made my name more common, wealth, Quayle wondered if he might nurse, and partly because he liked I guess,” he said. “Everybody knew be one hit away from losing the the many special options nursing me with the dreds and that whole many of the things he loved. It was provided, he decided to change image. I was easily spotted when I at that time his agent offered a critical paths. piece of advice, telling Quayle to “I want (to provide) more acute make use of his dental school accep- care,” he explained. “So hopefully an tance letter. emergency room setting or an ICU “He said, ‘You’re a little different setting.” than my other clients, you’ve been Anyone who has seen a team of accepted to dental school. You’ve doctors and nurses working got a great career ahead of you,’” together in a high-pressure setting Quayle said. “He said, ‘I’ve got three knows the importance of commu- sons. If you’re one of my sons, I’d nication, precise decision-making say hang it up and go be a dentist and teamwork. Naturally, the same because it’s a sure thing.’” goes for an athlete in a team sport Like Quayle, Toone had to decide like football. Toone said as he between prolonging a journeyman considered nursing, the aspect of playing career and starting a new teamwork in a critical-care situation chapter as a health professional. And was appealing to him. After all, he like Quayle, Toone didn’t mind walking felt a similar rush of energy on the away from football as long as it meant being able to help others. “There’s a lot of stress that there’s Initially, Toone’s plan was to go afootball lot of (immediate field. response) that into physical therapy. Given his goes into it,” Toone said. “I think I background in sports, he was can do well, so I’m pursing that intrigued by the idea of working because I want to make that immediate

18 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com went around Detroit.” Toone said he appreciated the extra attention that came from being a Mr. Irrelevant. Granted, none of that mattered to his teammates and coaches. All they wanted to know is whether he could run fast and catches passes. The fans and media, of course, ate up the Mr. Irrel- evant sideshow and the fact that Toone had a few extra layers to his story only made him more popu- lar. Eventually, however, Toone’s NFL career came down to one question: Can you play? Toone believed in himself and the answer, for him, was a resounding “Yes.” But just as with Quayle, inju- in practice. ries“For cost me, him it valuablestunk just opportunities because I kept on thegetting field hurt and and wasn’t able to play,” he said. “It was a hard time but having that (Mr. Irrelevant) experience and peo- ple knowing me, it was fun. It was fun to — I don’t know — brighten their day a little bit.” Ultimately, that’s perhaps the best thing Weber State fans can take away from the story of Cam Quayle, Tim Toone and Mr. Irrelevant. They may have been draft picks, but away from it they were — and still aretough — guys good on guys the field,with agood desire enough to leave to become their mark NFL on the work by helping others. And there’s nothing irrelevant about that.

Below: Toone joins Rich Eisen for an interview for the NFL Network following his selection as Mr. Irrelevant. Right: A Q&A sidebar that appeared in Sports Illustrated following Quayle’s selection.

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 19 20 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com SOLVING FOR X Alli Cluff worked through her collegiate career much like she solves a difficult mathematics problem, by working hard and systematically creating a finished equation.

By DARIN HOGGE

lli Cluff didn’t always female athlete Cluff made her name would go, but he didn’t play that plan to be a teacher. Nor in the sport of softball, but while she much because he was busy taking did she plan to major in was very successful in the sport, she care of us.” mathematics, or even discovered that she didn’t love it. As she entered her years at Fremont play collegeiate golf. But Golf meanwhile, had been merely High School, she saw a chance to get that is where she has an occasional family activity. out of playing softball. With the Utah found her journey taking her, nearly High School Activities Association aA dozen years after one big switch when I was little,” said Cluff. “He implementing girls’ golf as a sanctioned started her down a path of great would“My dadput mewould out takeat the me 150-yard golfing sport for her sophomore season, it opportunity. marker and I’d play from there. I’d was perfect timing to try something For years as an aspiring young go with him occasionally when he different.

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 21 “Once I got to high school, and I was good at softball, I didn’t feel like I could just quit,” said Cluff. “I felt I needed to play something, and golf was the same season, so instead of playing softball, I picked up golf and I ended up really liking it.” Cluff’s switch from softball to golf not only moved her to a sport that she would end up developing a great love for, it also got her noticed by Weber State head coach Jeff Smith. “I saw her play a lot of high school golf because I was recruiting that region quite a bit,” said Smith. “There were three players in that region that ended up playing for us college golf. She was easily the best playerand four at orFremont, five that but went she onhad to some play stong competition in the region. I think that really pushed her early lineups, she put in countless hours able to break into the lineup. Looking on to want to get better.” working on her game and found a back, she has discovered it wasn’t Smith would eventually offer Cluff place of refuge at the chipping and just her level of golf skill that was a spot on his team, which she gladly putting green. She would spend keeping her from shooting the accepted. She joined the squad as a hours developing her skills there scores that would get her into action. freshman on the 2010-11 squad on because of the love that she generated “I think the mental aspect of the an academic scholarship, but quickly for it. game was the thing that was holding discovered the high level of dedication “I think I got really good with my me back the most,” said Cluff. “You that playing golf on the collegiate short game because that was always want to play tournaments so bad, level requires. the easy place to go and spend some and I think that desire holds you good time working on my game,” back sometimes, because you put said Cluff. “The most relaxing place so much pressure on yourself at compared“That first to yeareveryone was rough,” else. I saidjust in the world for me is to go chip and qualifying. And the tournaments you workedCluff. “I definitely my butt wasn’t off to good, try and especially be at putt quietly by myself.” least competitive. Even within the if you don’t perform well, you won’t Weber State program, I wasn’t really developing her game on the sidelines, getdo get to playto play, in the you next are terrifiedone.” that competitive at that point.” notCluff seeing spent heraction entire in first a singleseason So Cluff went to work. Determined tournament during her freshman sophomore season, earning her to be competitive, determined to year. While her skills were getting debutCluff finallyin the broke team’s through opening in her earn spots in the team’s tournament better and better, she still wasn’t tournament, the Wildcat Invitational

“I think I got really good with my short game because that was always the easy place to go and spend some good time working on my game. The most relaxing place in the world for me is to go chip and putt quietly by myself.”

22 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com “My sophomore season we were at the Big Sky tournament at Ocotillo, and I shot one-over in the second round,” said Cluff. “I was not known to shoot one-over. I was usually shooting low 80’s back then, so it was kind of the round of my life. I think that was the turning point for me because I realized ‘I can actually play this game. I actually have the mental capacity, I have the physical ability to play this game’. My teammates were stoked. I had such good teammates, Kelsey Chugg, Jordan (Ulibarri) and all them. The next day I shot 76 or 77, so it was so much better. It was proof to me that I can shoot that low. And that’s when things started to click and I began to see an increase in how I played.” That fateful day, Cluff recorded

holes of the day before a double-bogey ononly the a single par-four bogey 13th over herhole. first She 12 responded with a birdie at 14, and added a birdie on 18 to shoot 73 for the day. The following day, she struggled a bit out of the gates, but shot even-par over the last eight

77, earning a tie for 21st overall with aholes three-round of the day total to post of 230.a final-round

State’s tournament lineup her junior season,Cluff wasand againher new a fixture mindset in helpedWeber her improve her scoring average by hosted by Weber State at Davis Park lineup, and performed well enough eighth in the Wildcat Invitational, Golf Course. Cluff responded on the 11thnearly at three the Cal full Poly strokes. Invitational She finished and team’s home course, shooting two- 26th at the 2013 Big Sky tournament. eventin qualifiers over the to remainder hold her spotof the in year. the Back at Ocotillo, she again struck and helping the Wildcats earn the scoring fivesome for all but one gold in one round, this time posting over-par 73 to finish third overall team championship in the event. a 74 in the opening round. Like the Cluff’s performance earned her a A pair of top-10 finishes in small year before, her round was blemished start in the team’s next outing, but experiencedfield events late ain thebreakthrough season gave only by a single bogey and one momentCluff some in the confidence, second round and of shethe double-bogey, and this time she Raven Collegiate helped her realize Big Sky Conference Tournament that a 106th place finish at the Circling that she still had a lot of work to do. gave her a big boost heading into at two-over-par. She was determined to stay in the offset“Once it with I hit a my single junior birdie and to senior finish

her final two seasons. WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 23 “In her four years here, she just turned herself into a really good golfer... and she did it on hard work. She’s kind of the same way on the course as she is in the classroom, she’ll outwork everybody.” -- Jeff Smith

she was most comfortable. school, I didn’t want to do microbiology not make or break me,” said Cluff. She began her career at Weber the rest of my life. So then I went to “Howyear, I Ifinally played realized in a tournament that golf did State with intentions to eventually Athletic Training the next semester, not change who I was as a person. move on to Physicians Assistant But how I responded to a terrible school, so she initially chose to I didn’t feel settled about it. One of round did in a way shape my character major in Zoology, but quickly myand friends then again, suggested the first math, day and of class said a little bit. So while my physical learned she would not be happy ‘You’ve always liked math and abilities improved, it was my mindset traveling on that path. always considered teaching’. So I that improved the most. And that, tried that and it just felt a lot more in turn, led me to play better golf.” ‘I don’t even like animals’,” said Cluff. comfortable.” Cluff became the team’s number “I “Mydidn’t first like day anything in Zoology, about I was it, like so Once Cluff was settled on a major, one player by her senior season, the next day I changed to Microbiology her dedication again took over and dropping her scoring average again and I tried that for a semester. I she began traveling the grueling by over two strokes to 78.7. She enjoyed it, it wasn’t like I hated it, path of pursuing a mathematics but I thought if I didn’t go to PA degree. seven different events that year, went on to earn top-30 finishes in the Wildcat Invitational, a 17th place including an eighth place finish in at the Cal Poly Invitational, 14th at thefinish SUU at theInvitational Bronco Fall and Classic, 13th at 15th the BYU at Entrada Classic. She was rewarded with All-Big Sky Conference Honorable Mention honors. “Alli was always a straight-A student and a good athlete,” said Smith. “In her four years here, she just turned herself into a really good golfer. She was one of the top players in the conference her last couple of years. She played No. 1 for us her senior year, and she did it all on hard work. She’s kind of the same way on the course as she is in the classroom, she’ll outwork everybody. She is a great athlete and a great student, but she earns everything in both the academic and athletic arenas.” Much like the change from softball led her to find her true path athletically, Cluff changed course academically until she found where

24 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com Cluff (second from right) concluded her collegiate golf career at the 2014 Big Sky Conference championships alongside teammates (from left) Kristie Jensen, Emily Podlesny, Nyomy Obcemea, and Kaceelyn Pouttu.

year-and-a-half that I’ve been doing it. Things about work in general, and balance and life. “Being the teacher was a big deal. I have always been the athlete. I have always been the student. I’ve always been the one to be like ‘tell me what to do and I’ll do it’. All of a sudden I was put in the role of ‘you tell them what to do’, and it was really hard “I did not have a social life. That scholarship for most of her time to wrap my head around. I feel like was out of the picture,” said Cluff. here, which is very hard to do as a it is starting to come slowly and will “My teammates were pretty much student-athlete,” said Smith. “They all the social life that I got, and thank need to maintain, I think, a 3.7 GPA a steep learning curve for me.” goodness for them. I’ve made a lot to keep it, and with the nature of continueCluff feels to come, that butgolf it has was impacted definitely of good friends here. But, ask my collegiate golf, it’s particularly the way she teaches, and she often teammates, I was doing math almost turns to the life lessons that she 24/7. I took one day off a week and semester and have one semester learned from the sport to enhance that was it. All the other time, I was wheredifficult. they Most just sports practice. compete Golf onehas her teaching, mainly teaching students doing math. At the airport, on the equal fall and spring competition the importance of sticking with plane, any time I got a chance, I was seasons, so there is no real off-season things. doing math homework.” during the main academic year.” “Some kids now just give up so Cluff’s hard work paid off with Following graduation, Cluff easily and just throw in the towel,” her school work as well, and she accepted a teaching position at said Cluff. “If something’s hard, they continued to excel academically. She Fremont High School, going full circle went on to not only retain her years (at Weber State) were not that don’t do it. Really my first couple of to the place where her golfing career “Some kids now just give up so easily and just throw in the towel. If something’s hard, they don’t do it. Really my first couple of years (at Weber State) were not that enjoyable, solely because it’s hard to come and play at the collegiate level. It’s a different mindset. So I try to implement that with my students now.” academic scholarship, which comes began. Cluff intends to continue to enjoyable, solely because it’s hard with stringent requirements, but teach math, at least until she feels to come and play at the collegiate she earned both All-Academic team another change of course needs to level. It’s a different mindset. So I honors from the Big Sky Conference be taken. try to implement that with my students and Academic All-America honors “I have enjoyed teaching,” said now. from the National Golf Coaches Cluff. “I still don’t know if it’s what “My character is so much different Association for three-straight seasons. I want to do for the rest of my life, now. The way I look at things now “She actually stayed on academic but I have learned a ton even in the is because golf has pretty much

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 25 taught me to look at things that way. logical backing as to how you got different way and get to build that You can turn around a crappy round your answer. Give me something and rapport with them, so I would like just by ignoring the bad shots and then we can work through where to eventually.” not letting those bad shots affect the the error is. That is what I learned If she does enter the coaching next shot. My attitude in life and my the most from all my professors in ranks someday, she will likely attitude towards teaching has the math department. When you get approach it much like her collegiate changed a lot because of golf.” to that higher level, it’s not creating golf coach does with his players. Much like she worked through her new things, it’s using what you know “The biggest thing I’ve taken from path in both athletics and academics, Coach (Smith) is his attitude toward Cluff tries to get her students to So far, Cluff has turned down each things,” said Cluff. “He was always think things through with their coachingto figure out offer what that you the don’t Fremont know.” very positive, very optimistic. He school work. administration has made. She feels could get frustrated and disappointed, “I really think what I learned from like coaching is something she but at the end of the day you knew college in the academic world was would very much like to try someday, he cared. He didn’t let golf become how to think things through,” said but for now her goal is to continue our lives. It was part of our lives. He Cluff. “And that’s what I try to get to focus on growing as a teacher. knew that most of us would not my students to do instead of just “I’m trying to take that one step become professional golfers, but he memorizing and spitting out at a time,” said Cluff. “I think it would gave us an opportunity to experience information. help me with my teaching too, something that we could treasure “My theory is, I don’t care if you’re because you get a different side of and something that could build our wrong. I just care if you have some the kids. You get to see them a character.” So a few years down the road, she may be coaching, maybe just still teaching, or she may be doing something entirely different. But one thing is for sure. Whatever she is doing, she will be dedicated and working hard at it. Cluff looks back fondly on her time at Weber State and she is grateful that it was part of the equation. “It was some of the best years of my life,” she said. “Some of the hardest years of my life. I’ve met a lot of lifelong friends that I still meet up with. Weber State as a whole just gave me an opportunity that I never could have given myself. “It makes me sad to look back on because I have nostalgia to come back, but at the same time, there’s so much good in the things that I need to be doing now. (Weber State) has been a catalyst for the rest of my life, so I just really appreciate everything that the school has done, all my professors, coach, my teammates. I’ve really been shaped by the whole experience.”

26 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 27 28 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com SOUNDING OUT A WIN A tradition that dates back to the 1930’s was revived in 2002, and has been a strong symbol for Wildcat Football for the past 14 years.

by CORIE HOLMES

veryone who has attended highly regarded privilege for each 1939. Before its reign as the victory Stewart Stadium for a member of the football team. bell, the bell, was housed in an football game where the “The victory bell was a tradition Ogden City clock tower. mighty Wildcats have come that I didn’t know anything about The Weber College class of 1937 out victorious has heard the until I got here,” head football coach wanted to build a tradition for future football players chant the Jay Hill said. “It’s a tradition that the generations of Wildcats to follow familiar “We are the Wildcats players take great pride in.” and be proud of. The ’37 students E The victory bell, produced at the met with Ogden City Mayor Harman the grand chimes that ring from the Clinton H. Meneely Bell Company in W. Peery and suggested the bell be victoryscratching, bell. snarling,” The long-standing fight song and used as a victory bell to be rung after tradition of ringing the bell is a brought to football game days in Troy, New York in 1888, was first every touchdown or field goal at the

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 29 “Once (the players) knew the history, they got excited to restore and honor that forgotten tradition. I put it on the players to get the bell and start the tradition up again and they wanted to do it.” -- Jerry Graybeal stadium. A few weeks later, with the in continuous use for the last 14 years. victory bell,” Graybeal said. “The mayor and city commissioners’ When Jerry Graybeal took over approval, the bell was gifted to the the Wildcat football program in song with the fans and ring the bell students. 1998 he tried to honor traditions andathletes it’s something wanted to that’s sing been the donefight The Victory Bell tradition went that had been lost over time. and honored ever since.” strong for several years, but then fell “The tradition of the victory bell A small victory bell was placed in into a period of on and off use for fell in our lap to be honest,” Graybeal each of the weight rooms at Weber the next 70 years. State to encourage athletes to push During WWII the use of the bell the players about the history of the themselves and achieve personal was discontinued, but it remained bell,said. and “The once first they thing knew we didthe washistory, tell victories. Ringing the bell is synon- a symbol of victory in the community. they got excited to restore and honor ymous with winning, achieving goals, Following the war, the bell came that forgotten tradition. I put it on and celebrating accomplishment. back and enjoyed a period of use, the players to get the bell and start “We ring a bell in the weight room the tradition up again and they to symbolize victory, achievements song caused the old bell to be used wanted to do it.” and personal bests,” Hill said. “The lessbut inand the less. late 1960’s a new fight bell has become to me a symbol of In the early 2000s, the bell was game was a 44-0 victory over the players playing at their best. found collecting dust after a lengthy WesternIn 2002, Oregon Weber and State’s fans firstgot to home wit- When we get to ring it at the end of period of non-use. The bell was then ness history reborn. the game, it’s become special to me restored and refurbished by the because I know the players are playing Emeriti Alumni Council and has been year and debuted the ringing of the at their best.” “We won our first home game that

30 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 31 HEART OF THE MATTER Heart rate monitoring is providing WSU Strength and Conditioning with a high tech look into athlete recovery as a method to maximize performance and enhance injury prevention. By JOHN HENDERSON and DARIN HOGGE

fter suffering several in-depth look at what the underlying a heart rate monitor under their key injuries at critical causes may be. To dig deeper into uniform that tracks heart rate times in the season, the the physiology of the athletes, and during activity. With this information, Weber State University how they were responding to the the team can now see how the Women’s soccer coaches, training load of practice, games, athletes are physically bouncing along with the WSU strength workouts, and daily back from each individual game, Athletic Performance team consisting stresses, they looked right at the practice and workout. Using this ofA athletic trainers and strength heart of the matter. information, they are able to make and conditioning coaches, took an Each soccer player now wears educated and objective decisions

32 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com on practice time, intensity, and duration to best serve the student- athletes. Before implementing the use of heart rate monitors, the team was forced to rely on the coach’s intuition, the athlete’s feedback, and best judgement. “In our sport, because it is such a determine what the work rate is of thefluid players,” game, we said wanted head to coach be able Tim to Crompton. “That’s based on when they get their heart rate into a target zone and keep it there for an extended period of time. We also get tissue recovery, which gives us a gaugereports into on recovery, when players specifically are most soft prone to injury.” monitoring, is it gives the trainers andThe coaches benefit a of “look heart under rate variabilitythe hood” of how an athlete is responding to senior on the squad is tolerating the trainingtraining. Theyvery maywell, find and that is making while a where they are physically. WSU Athletic Trainer Andi Pigeon super- vises a training session with the Wildcat positive adaptations to the training, “It’s good that we can tell an athlete Soccer team. a freshman may be struggling to ‘this is what your heart is telling us,’ keep up with the workload. With as opposed to ‘this is what we see’,” this information they can identify a said Crompton. “Nobody likes to be zone for the two, two-and-a-half potential problem and reduce the told ‘you don’t look right, you’re minute exercise that we’re doing, volume for select athletes. On the tired and you’re done. That’s what and then they’ll come over and take we see.’ But when you can show a quick look at it. If within 40 is recovering well and can be pushed them the data, they receive it a lot seconds to a minute they’re back flip side, they may see that an athlete better. A lot of times, it serves as a down into the 60 percent of max relief to the player, because they’re heart rate, that player is usually one to thehow next you level manage of fitness. players,” said Crompton.“It definitely “It makes gives anyou adjustment an extra Typically, the coaching staff only piece of knowledge to compare to sharestrying todata figure with it an out athlete as well.” when an of our fitter players. But if it takes what your eyes are telling you. There action needs to be taken with regard sometimesfive minutes, like that to usuallycome over coincides when are occasions where the data is to training level, but occasionally the we’rewith their watching fitness the level. data So live the and players take suprising, but many times it’s players will engage with the live data a look at where they are at.” spot-on to what you’re seeing and feed during training sessions. While some injuries are bound to “One of the things the monitors happen with the nature of physical Many times during the season we contact sports such as football, haveit verifies players your that instincts we just as pull a coach. back based on how quickly their heart soccer and basketball, injuries have until we see that recovery.” ratetells us recovers is the fitness in levelexercise,” of the athlete said been found to occur at a higher rate The coaches have also found that Crompton. “So they’ll hit that red when athletes are fatigued and not the data helps their athletes realize zone and they will be in that red fully recovered. With the use of heart

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 33 Heart monitoring, in addition to many other tests, helped solve a problem with basketball player Jeremiah Jefferson’s physical performance. rate monitors, wellness questionnaires, and other measures, the performance team strives to reduce injuries and ensure that Weber State student- athletes are performing at their best by objectively rating readiness. By utilizing a high performance approach to preparation, Weber State Women’s Soccer has been able to reduce injuries, and improve athletic performance. During the 2014-15 basketball season, freshman Jeremiah Jefferson was noticeably slower than what the coaches remembered during the recruiting process. He was often leaning over, gasping for air, grimacing during workouts and appeared to be in poor condition. After attempts to improve his conditioning to no avail, coaches and athletic trainers suspected there may be underlying problems. A battery of testing was performed to determine the cause of Jeremiah’s decreased performance. With the use of heart rate monitors during practice it was determined that Jeremiah was actually recovering from the workload as well or better than his teammates. Inside the Health Promotion and Human Performance Lab, Tim Ruden conducted VO2 max testing which revealed that Jeremiah was in extraordinary condition and was in the top 95th percentile for VO2 max for an a very fast and explosive athlete. max, speed and agility testing, the athlete. On court speed and agility “The strength coach and trainers testing was performed using laser ran me through a bunch of tests status and cognitive performance. timers and compared to the top Wellnessfinal piece wasquestionnaire the athlete’s mental data drafted athletes in the 2014 NBA said Jefferson. “Why I was struggling draft combine. According to the testing, andtrying feeling to figure so out tired. why The I was results tired,” “overthinking” during practice Jeremiah would have been the showed that I was in great shape sessions.revealed Jeremiah, a lack of now confidence understanding and second fastest athlete in last year’s that his performance limitations NBA draft, proving the coaches After completing blood tests, were cognitive based, began to relax evaluation that Jeremiah was indeed physicals,and that, physically, heart rate variability,I was just fine.” VO2 and started to process information

34 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com differently. He learned to practice and he would be okay.” to make efforts to ensure that their more relaxed and play fast without student-athletes have a positive and useful, Weber State Strength and productive experience. The Athletic his ability, and as a result, his speed, ConditioningSince the findings and Athletic have Trainingbeen so Performance personnel, which also quickness,hesitating. Heand gained agility confidence returned toin have implemented an athlete includes a registered dietician, are normal. readiness management system constantly seeking new methods of “Having the information (that the consisting of a daily morning resting measuring and monitoring the tests provided) gave me a real boost heart rate, and a wellness questionnaire athletes’ performance and wellness. for student-athletes. Each morning Student-Athlete health and wellbeing physical performance has really the athlete wakes up and collects a is their number one priority and improved.”of confidence,” said Jefferson. “My resting heart rate using a smart they can now take one step further Without a means to “look under phone application. They complete a in making sure that Wildcat student- the hood” Jeremiah may have wellness questionnaire consisting athletes are as healthy, well, and undergone too much conditioning of questions about quality and injury free as possible. We hope to in an attempt to get him back to duration of sleep, stress levels, mood, continue to build our readiness, speed, compounding the problem, and performance. The information recovery, and monitoring ability by and leading him to increased risk of obtained is used to help identify adding new technologies, and injury and decreased performance. athletes who may be struggling systems. By collaborating with campus The Weber State basketball coaching physically, mentally, or emotionally resources we can use the data to staff and Athletic Performance team in an effort to guide them to the right evaluate performance analytics, and now see a different Jeremiah, one support. Morning resting heart rate begin to create predictive modeling who is extremely explosive, quick, gives the team valuable information that will guide our training and and athletic. on how the athlete is responding to practice programs. If we can maximize “That battery of tests helped training and the daily stressors. our athletes’ potential, and reduce eliminate some fears that we had,” Strength coaches and athletic trainers injuries, we will be much more said assistant men’s basketball can receive alerts for an athlete competitive, and ensure that our coach Steve Smiley. “As a staff, we who’s heart rate is elevated too high, athletes will spend more time were very concerned about Jeremiah’s too long, and who may be entering competing at the highest level, and into a state of overtraining. less time doing rehabilitation. that we could push him physically Weber State University continues health. (The results) gave us confidence

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 35 THROUGH THE STORM In 2005, Josh Burton and his family endured Hurricane Katrina. Ten years later, the Louisiana native is helping lead a resurgence with the Wildcat football team.

By CHRIS J. MILLER

hrough thick and thin, to lead the Wildcats secondary second-year coach Jay Hill and his Josh Burton knows where during one of the toughest Big Sky staff continure to turn around the his strength comes from. Conference football campaigns in WSU football fortunes. Burton, Weber State’s history. With a win over Idaho State on talented junior safety, And Burton has been up to the is a vibrant personality, task, leading the ’Cats in the the Wildcats posted a 6-5 record, Tjust the kind of person you need locker room and on the field as includingthe final day a 5-3 of mark the regular in Big Sky season, play. 36 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com THROUGH THE STORM

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 37 With Burton leading the way on develop in all areas of his life. ‘D,’ the ’Cats have posted a pair of After playing in all 12 games as a well. back-to-back wins this season, redshirt freshman in 2013, Burton “JB’sHall isa confidentgreat kid. in He’s Burton well as highlighted by a thrilling 29-26 started every game a season ago, respected among the coaches,” Hall overtime victory at No. 12 Mon- and led the Wildcats with three tana. interceptions to earn All-Big Sky to me about Josh was his range and Burton is pleased with the success, Conference honorable mention. abilitysaid. “The to play first thething ball that from stood center out This season, the 6-foot-1, much for the Wildcats to accomplish 190-pound safety is one of the Part of No. 7’s growth and talent is thisbut notyear satisfied. and in the There future. is still so top defensive points leaders. A afield.” result of his work in Ogden. Much “Things are turning around. highlight in the early going was of his development is a direct an 8-yard interception return for result of his upbringing in southeast the rise,” Burton says with a smile. a touchdown against Oregon State Louisiana. WeberLike Stateany strongis definitely leader, a teamBurton on Burton was a star for the Amite has mentors who have helped him “Coach Cory Hall, my mentor, Warriors, a high school with a develop crucial skills. But he’s also alwaysin the first tells game the defensive of the year. backs to solid reputation in southeast a work in progress, a talented get to the ball,” Burton says. “When Louisiana. With Burton – as well as student-athlete who continues to we do that, good things happen.” current Utah Ute Reginald Porter –

38 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com “In southeast Louisiana people came together. We made it through. We had each other. If anything, Hurricane Katrina brought people together.” on defense, the Warriors advanced many as 15 of the clan together in they would know I took my ACT to the state championship game in the days that followed. the morning of our championship 2011. “We didn’t know New Orleans game, a game we lost by a single Small towns dot southern was under water for a couple of point,” Burton explained. Louisiana. Burton is from Roseland, days. It was so long for people to Then-WSU assistant coach Cecil a small town north of Amite, which respond. We felt like people around Thomas kept his eye on Burton, and is on Interstate 55 an hour north the nation could have reached out eventually offered him a scholarship. of New Orleans. The Tangipahoa sooner,” he says. He signed in late-July. “I was the River winds through the commu- “But in southeast Louisiana last one to sign out of our recruiting nities. people came together. We made class,” he said. “Life in my neighborhood was it through. We had each other. And well worth it. an everyday struggle, but that’s If anything, Hurricane Katrina “Weber State has been a good life,” Burton says, “There were bad brought people together,” he adds. experience for me,” says Burton, things around me, but football and on track to graduate in professional having faith in God and my parents Coming to Ogden sales. “I’m learning a lot from my serve as good role models helped professors. Really, sales is really me succeed. Burton’s path to Weber State just about life.” “Football helped me want better had its challenges too. “The new coaches are great. So in life.” He’d been recruited by several was the old staff, they’re the ones colleges, but some lost interest that recruited me here. Coach Facing challenges when his ACT score was lower (Jody) Sears is a good man and I than anticipated. respect him. Burton’s large and closeknit “If they’d have looked into it, family was tested in 2005, but found the strength to rise above a devastating natural disaster. In late August 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed into Louisiana and Mississippi, eventually claiming 1,833 lives. The damages were estimated at over $108 billion. For an 11-year-old, Burton mostly remembers being scared. His Aunt Diane lived in New Orleans, so they went and brought her home. He recalls trees falling, and lots of rain and wind. But Burton’s home became a refuge during those days with as

Burton’s family took in many family members displaced by the devastation left in Katrina’s wake.

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 39 40 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com “Coach Hill has made us smarter well,” Burton adds. “Regardless of theon thescores field, this and year, off we the have field come as so far. We hope the fans stick with us.”

Smooth game

When Burton was in sixth grade, he learned to play the piano by watching his sister’s husband, Reggie Jackson, who was the school’s band director. “He’s talented with all kinds of instruments, and I just learned by watching his hands as he played,” Burton explains. “One day in like that,” Burton says. “I like the Church. As I’ve grown older we’ve church, I started playing and they smooth stuff.” developed a better relationship. thought it was him.” All about family Time with family is precious.” Not surprisingly, gospel and The youngest of 12, Burton rhythm and blues music is his Burton’s eyes light up when he literally starts laughing when talking favorite. talks about his family. about his closest siblings – there’s “I love old school R and B, you “My mother Rosa has been Nancella and Ileysha and Sara, know like Anita Baker, Luther pushing me since I was young, and brothers Royal and Kendrick. Vandross, Yolanda Adams, stuff always believing in me. She’s the “Time with them is great.” one that runs everything,” he says. One regret is that his grandmother Below: Josh (second from left), with “My father Roy is a pastor at Luella McGee died just before Burton sisters (from left) Ileysha, Nancella and Good Hope Missionary Baptist received his scholarship. Sara. Above right: The Burton family. “Like my own family, my teammates at Amite and here at Weber have grown closer,” Burton adds. “I love to chill with them and have fun. “I’m not much for the nightlife, but I love the day life,” he smiles. “Just doing things with Cordero Dixon, Eric Wilkes, Mitch Tulane, all the DBs. I could name them all.” Down the road, Burton hopes to try for football at the next level. “My dreams of playing in the NFL are wide open. One day I hope I can be back home around my family. I want to be around my nieces and nephews, and hopefully

things,” he said. influenceJust like them he’s to doing aspire with to great his teammates right now.

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 41 BIG SKY BASKETBALL 2016 TOURNAMENT MARCH 7-12, RENO EVENTS CENTER

ON

FOLLOW THE WILDCATS THE

ROAD TO RENO FOR THE FIRST TIME, ALL 12 SCHOOLS FACE OFF FOR A BERTH IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT #ROADTORENO VISIT ROADTORENO.COM 42 FOR Bleed Purple TICKETING November 2015 AND LODGING INFORMATIONWeberStateSports.com High Performance WSU Strength & Conditioning

Olympic Weightlifting for Athletic Performance By CHRIS FRITZ

wo of the more common and complex lifts we use in the strength and conditioning department are the snatch and the clean. These 2 lifts Tmake up 2/3 of what are considered the Olympic lifts. Both lifts require the athlete to take the bar from the ground and accelerate it an upward either overhead, snatch, or across thedirection chest andto the shoulders, finishing clean. position is to train the neuromuscular system. “TheThe biggest Olympic benefit Weightlifting from these lifts movements prepare our athletes to produce high levels of force during the pull phase, and also how to safely always technique driven, that is we our athletes. absorb forces with the catch phase,” care more about how they lift than In addition to maximizing power said John Henderson, WSU Head how much they lift. By teaching our these lifts also help our athletes with Strength and Conditioning Coach. athletes to focus more on the technique mobility. As the athletes become “These lifts are ideal for power required to execute the lifts we train production, and injury prevention.” them to maximize their power movements the loads begin to With this in mind our focus is output, an essential quality to all of increasemore and and more require proficient our athletes in the catch in a full squat position. The full squat position increases an athlete’s mobility in the hips, ankles and throughout the thoracic region. The snatch requires the athletes to execute and overhead squat position to receive the bar, in addition to the mobility created by the full depth squat our athletes also begin to develop better shoulder and core mobility and stability. The increased mobility created throughout these lifts not only allows our athletes an increased ability to change direction but also is a major factor in injury Watch WSU men’s basketball player Zach Braxton hit a personal record with a 275 lb. clean. prevention.

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 43 High Performance - Nutrition

Performance Nutrition

By ADAM HUFFIELD, MS, ATC, CSCS, RDN and JOHN HENDERSON, MS, ATC, CSCS

eaching our athletic potential is all about the work we put into making ourselves better. Endless hours of honing our Rskills at practice and improving our strength in the weight room are necessary to reaching that potential. Another component that is often overlooked is nutrition. By failing to address nutrition we are setting a limit on ourselves that will prevent us from ever reaching our potential. Food is our fuel. We get out exactly what we put in. We wouldn’t put poor quality gas into a performance sports car, so why would we make food choices that limit our maximum athletic performance? Proper nutrition can bridge the gap between a good athlete and a great athlete. products. carbohydrate sources. Good sources Nutrition Simplified The second macronutrient is carbo- include oatmeal, sweet potatoes, Food is made up of three macro- hydrates. Recently, carbohydrates brown rice, fresh fruits, fresh nutrients. have received a bad rap due to many vegetables and whole grain breads. Protein is like a building block for of the popular low-carb diets. The third macronutrient is fats. our bodies The to first use of to which build is muscle,protein. However, carbohydrates are the main Fats just sounds bad and it is repair damaged tissues, and maintain source of energy when competing or unfortunate because eating fat does certain body processes. Athletes will working out, so performance athletes not necessarily mean that you will require more protein than non-ath- should never follow a low-carb diet. store fat as bodyfat. letes will. That said, eating excess Doing so could zap energy levels and Fats are important to healthy skin, protein will not automatically build leave us feeling sluggish and unable organ protection, cellular function, more muscle. Protein cannot be to perform at our best. and hormone balance. Fats are also stored in the body so excess will be Carbohydrates come in forms of our primary source of energy when converted to bodyfat. Not exactly the we are resting. The quality of fats is goal of any athlete. A good rule of carbs are better than others. The what we should be concerned with. thumb to follow is to aim for around bettersugars, ones starches, are generally and fiber. higher Some in Saturated fats are found in animal 1 gram of protein per pound of body- products and tropical oils such as weight daily or 15-20% of total calories. longer lasting form of energy. coconut oil. Saturated fats can clog Good sources of protein are lean starchesAim for and about fibers 50-60% and provide of your a our arteries and raise cholesterol meats, fish, and reduced fat dairy total calories to come from good levels. We want to limit saturated

44 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com fats wherever possible. • Make a grocery list. You’ll be less • Eat a large variety of foods. This Unsaturated fats on the other likely to impulse buy and you will keeps food from getting boring and hand won’t clog our arteries and can save money. ensures that you are obtaining all even help to improve cholesterol • Shop the perimeter of the grocery your nutrients. levels. Good sources of unsaturated store. 90% of what you need is here. • Make sure the breads you buy say Fresh produce, dairy, and meat are 100% whole grain on the package. oil, avocados, almonds, and peanut all found on the perimeter. The middle Otherwise, it may just be over butter.fats include Aim for olive fats oil, to canolamake up oil, about fish aisles are mostly processed foods. processed white bread dyed with 20-30% of total calories. • Try to eat 5-6 smaller meals per molasses. day vs. 2-3 large ones. Determining Calorie Needs • Try to eat a variety of colors in Protein sources: Chicken breast, Determining how many calories your fruits and vegetables. The more colorful they are, generally round steak, lean ground beef, pork these simple formulas and it will they have a greater concentration sirloin,turkey tuna,breast, tilapia, flank salmon, steak, loweye fatof givewe need you eachan estimate day isn’t of difficult. where youUse of vitamins and minerals. milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese, should be based on your current • Lack of time is not a good excuse tofu, edamame, beans and legumes. activity level. This activity level will for poor eating. Try preparing all vary throughout the year based on your meals twice a week such as Carbohydrate sources: Oatmeal, if you are in-season or off-season. If Sunday and Wednesday. Cook large whole wheat pasta, sweet potatoes, amounts and portion them out in brown rice, whole grain breads, weight, add or subtract 300 calories meal size storage containers in your potatoes, quinoa, barley, whole grain fromyou find your that daily you aretotal. gaining or losing fridge. That way you can just pop it cereal, fresh fruit, and vegetables. in the microwave and it takes just 2 Activity level minutes. Fat sources: Olive oil, canola oil, Low: • Utilize a cold bag or soft-sided avocados, olives, almonds, walnuts, Bodyweight X 13 = Total Daily Calories cooler. Take your meals with you Moderate: and you won’t miss a meal or be peanut butter. (Don’t forget that flaxseed, fish oil, almond butter, and Bodyweight X 15 = Total Daily Calories tempted by fast food or vending protein sources generally have fats machines. too). High: Bodyweight X 17 = Total Daily Calories Very High: Homemade Protein Bites Bodyweight X 20 = Total Daily Calories A great homemade option for a healthy protein snack. Recipe by Adam Huffield, MS, ATC, CSCS To lose bodyfat: subtract 300-500 calories from your total. Protein Bites To gain muscle weight: add 300-500 8 scoops chocolate whey calories to your total. 2 cups oatmeal 1/2 cup peanut butter 2 tablespoons milk Nutrition Tips 2 tablespoons honey • Limit processed foods. Try to eat chopped peanuts food that is as close to its natural Nutritional Information state as possible. 340 calories • Limit fast food. Fast food is generally 32 grams protein not healthy food. If you must, opt 24 grams carbohydrate 13 grams fat for a sandwich shop, choose whole grain bread, load it with vegis and Mix 1st 5 ingredients and shape into golf ball size balls. Roll each ball into chopped lean meats, and chose a low fat peanuts. Makes 8 servings. sauce.

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 45 46 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com Create a Legacy

hether you graduated in 1959 or as recent as 2013, you to can make a difference in the life of a current stu- dent-athlete. Recently Val, 59’ and Claudia, 65’ Weathers made a very Wgenerous commitment to improve the academic life of a Men’s Basketball player, by creating an endowed scholarship. The Larson-Weathers Endowed Schol- arship for the Weber State Men’s Basketball program was set-up to honor Val’s former Coach Bruce Lar- son and will provide an education for a deserving helping someone gain a valuable asset, an education. student-athlete for many years to come. Whether you give an annual gift to a scholarship fund, such as the Wildcat Club, or create an endowed Alli Cluff, Class of 2013, was an outstanding stu- scholarship that reaches far into the future, even dent-athlete. Not only was she an exceptional golfer, one supporter can make a life-changing impact on leading the Women’s Golf team her senior year; she a student. was an Academic All American. Alli is just beginning a career as a math teacher at Fremont High School. We are all about helping students-athletes turn their She is also beginning to “pay it forward” by joining dreams into realities. We’re counting on you to help the Wildcat Club. Her donation will go directly to us accomplish that goal. With your support, we can the general student-athlete scholarship fund. Please change lives take a minute to see just how amazing Alli is:

Director Wildcat Club Athletic Fund

Val and Alli represent the 300 plus Weber State Click here to donate student-athletes receiving financial help with their to the Wildcat Club education. Every student-athletes’ story is different, Athletic Fund but by providing scholarship assistance, you are

For more information on becoming a Wildcat Club Athletic Fund member, please call us at 801-626-6576 or visit WeberStateSports.com

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 47 Wildcat Club Member Spotlight Val & Claudia Weathers

by CORIE HOLMES

al Weathers has been a Weber State fan since he himself was a Wildcat. Weathers played basketball at Weber Junior College and was a part of the 1959 national championshipV team. He was recruited by Coach Bruce Larson who became one of the most

“I never had a great relationship withinfluential my father,” men in Weathers his life. said. “I never had a positive male role model in my life until Coach Larson. He taught me how to be a good man. “I had so much support during my team, he was also the head coach of Hebecame did more a father than figure coach in basketball, my life. He time at Weber that impacted the rest the baseball team and was an he coached life.” of my life,” Weathers said. “I wanted assistant coach for the Weber foot- Because of coach Larson’s to give back to the program that ball squad. changed my life and have the “Coach Larson is the greatest his love for the Wildcats, Weathers opportunity to impact someone example I have in my life,” Weathers andinfluence his wife in Claudia,his life, and recently because set up of else’s life.” said. “I named this scholarship after the Larson-Weathers Endowed Larson was the head coach the him as a way to thank him for Scholarship for the Weber State Wildcats for two years from 1957-59. everything he’s done for me.” Men’s Basketball program. He not only coached the basketball Larson looks back fondly on his time at Weber. “Those were a great two years for me,” he said. “We played in the old gym downtown or in local high school gyms. Weber State has had such great success in basketball so this scholarship means a lot to me.” Under Larson’s tutelage, the Wildcats had great success. In his

Holmes and Weathers, ended the seasonfirst season, as the juniorthe team college with national Allen runners-up. The next year Weber

Weathers (third from left in back) celebrates with members of the 1959 NJCAA National Championship team.

48 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com Idaho to make a game in Ogden the same night and one of our cars broke down. Coach Larson took the starters and one sub to make it before game time and the rest of us hitchhiked or hopped a train. Not one of us was late for that game. Something like that would never happen today.” Larson only coached two years at Weber before heading to the University of Arizona where he coached for 12 years and still resides in Tucson. Weathers has been a basketball season ticket holder for over 50 years. He and his wife are founding members of the Wildcat Club.

During Weathers’ basketball career, Weber Kansas had to choose between buying a State played at the Weber College gym- television“When we or first getting got married, basketball we nasium, which still exists in downtown Weathers also recalls his time as Ogden. Below: Weathers poses for a photo a Wildcat, recounting the many season tickets,” Weathers said. inside the gym. adventures he had as a player. “Back then, things weren’t the for the TV,” Claudia said. “I knew we “I knew it was pointless to fight captured the NJCCA National same as they are now,” Weathers were getting the tickets.” Championship defeating Bethany- recalled. “I remember one game we And the couple still has season Lutheran 57-47 in Hutchinson, were coming home from Boise, tickets all these years later.

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 49 “My scholarship means a lot to me because not a lot of people get the chance to play at the collegiate level. So I thank God every day.”

Richaud Gittens - Basketball Tempe, AZ Class of 2017

Join the Wildcat Club and help support WSU Student-Athlete Scholarships Call 801-626-6576 or visit WeberStateSports.com for more information or to join. 50 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com Compliance Corner Student-Athlete Employment

One of the missions of the Weber State Office of Athletics Compliance is to educate those who support our athletics programs. You may or may not know that NCAA rules control what a booster can and cannot do with recruits and current student-athletes. Improper interactions between a booster and a current or future student-athlete may jeopardize the student-athlete’s eligibility.

According to NCAA rules, you are a booster if you 1. Have participated in or have been a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution’s athletics program (e.g. Wildcat Club); 2. Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization; 3. Have assisted or been asked to assist by the athletics department in the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete; 4. Assist or have assisted in provided benefits to student-athletes or their families; OR 5. Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution’s athletics program.

It is important to remember that once you trigger booster status with an institution, you are always considered a booster.

s social media platforms boosters from communicating with Remember to ASK BEFORE YOU like Facebook, Twitter, recruits and their family members on ACT! Please contact us if you have any Snapchat, and Instagram social media. These rules exist to questions on NCAA rules. have become a large part ensure that that there is not improper of our daily lives, our Sincerely, coaching staffs have increasingly where to attend college. The prohibition A influence when a recruit is choosing used these platforms as a way of on contact on social media includes, communicating with prospective but is not limited to: student-athletes during the recruiting process. Social networks have • Posting on a Facebook wall replaced telephone calls as a preferred • Commenting on a recruit’s photos Will Pridemore channel of communication for a large • Using the inbox/email feature Director of Compliance number of the recruits our coaches • Instant messaging [email protected] target each year. • Direct messaging 801.626.8552 • Twitter “@ replies” • “mentions”

Weber State requests that its boosters refrain from contacting recruits and Insta their family members on social networking. A number of schools have reported violations of NCAA rules due to booster contact with recruits on social media. When a violation occurs, we must impose penalties that may affect our coaches’ ability to recruit, which we do not want to happen. While social media While our coaches can use social interaction between boosters and media as a tool of communication recruits may be well-intended, it is with recruits, NCAA rules prohibit still a violation of NCAA rules.

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 51 52 Bleed Purple November 2015 WeberStateSports.com Name Game Arky Ends Tenure as Voice of the Wildcats

By CHRIS J. MILLER “Thanks for your time, this time, Wildcats’ overtime victory over till next time.” Arky’s final call for WSU was the arl Arky has seen some Montana in Missoula in October. of the greatest accom- In making the announcement, Stepping in plishments in Weber Arky thanked many who he had Filling his shoes will be Steve State athletics history, worked with at Weber State, including Klauke, also known to so many Utah and called them with Brad Larsen, Paul Grua and Kerri Robinson, as well as the ownership in for Arky through the years, is a for the fans and listening audience. of KLO-AM 1430 radio, the Webb two-timesports fans. Utah Klauke, Sportscaster who has of filled the great energy and flair CAnd now, after 18 years of calling family. Year, and has been the voice of the games for the ’Cats, Arky recently Arky is a Utah sports broadcasting Salt Lake Bees since 1994. He’ll be joined on men’s basketball home broadcasts by David Patten, a former WSU basketball standout.

Lolotai a pioneer While the name Al Lolotai isn’t as recognizable as some sports pioneers, the former Weber Junior College football player was an

culture and opened the doors for manyinfluential young member Polynesian of the athletes Samoan to dream big. And for that, Lolotai will be honored in January when he is inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. The 2016 Class, which includes Troy Polamalu (USC, Pittsburgh Steelers) and Vai Sikahema (BYU, Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles), will be honored on January left his position as radio voice of the icon, with stints on television and 29-30 in Oahu, Hawaii. Weber State Wildcats to pursue radio, calling World Cup archery Albert Lolotai joined the Weber other opportunities. events all over the world, as well as Junior College football team in the Breaking down “Wildcat Carl’s” a popular stint as “Cowboy Carl” early 1940s, a strong offensive lineman resume takes a calculator. Arky while covering the National Finals from Laie, Hawaii. called more than 700 football and Rodeo for 10 seasons in Las Vegas. basketball games, including six Big Arky summed up his Weber State Samoan and Polynesian to play in Sky Conference basketball champi- experiences this way: theIn National 1945, Lolotai Football became League, spending the first onships and six NCAA Tournament “I’ll carry those memories with that season with the Washington appearances. me and will always be a Wildcat at Redskins. Arky also worked Weber State’ heart. No one will be cheering A year later, Lolotai joined the Los last two trips to the NCAA Football louder or be more proud than old Angeles Dons of the All-American Championship Series football playoffs. Wildcat Carl. Football Conference and starred for

WeberStateSports.com November 2015 Bleed Purple 53 three seasons. The AAFC merged Vosges in the French NM1 league. Mike Price, prevailed 29-26. It’s with the NFL after that season, but great to get another win. … Lolotai decided instead to become in 2014, and played last season in Former WSU distance runner a pro wrestler, adopting the name Oviedo,Tresnak Spain. finished his WSU career ‘Alo Leilani.’ Warrior Dash World Championships Lolotai held several wrestling career at WSU in 2004 has been Brettheld Oct. Hales 9-10 finished in Tennessee. third at… the titles in the 1950s through 1970s, playingOcokoljic, in leagues who finished around his the college world Ex-Weber State basketball assistant winning the Stampede North American ever since. The Serbia native played coach Phil Beckner joined the Heavyweight title in 1978 at the age last season in France as well, and is of 58. the oldest player on this year’s Others to be inducted in January squad by seven years. are Charli