University of Georgia Athletics
Football- Strength & Conditioning
July 20, 2006 | Football
"The Strong Shall Survive"
That is one of the mottos of Georgia strength and conditioning coordinator Dave Van Halanger and his staff in the UGA weight room facility. Under Van Halanger's guidance, the Bulldogs are dedicated to year-round conditioning and weight training as the only way to improve their physical gifts. The year-round program guarantees that Georgia players are in peak physical form in season, which helps both in endurance and in injury prevention.
Van Halanger, who spent 18 seasons directing Florida State's strength and conditioning program before arriving at Georgia, and his staff take a personal interest in each and every Bulldog student-athlete. Offering words of encouragement and guidance, Van Halanger and his staff, which includes full-time assistants Keith Gray and Clay Walker, tailor a custom-made weight program specific to each student-athlete's needs and goals. Their offices are conveniently located within the weight room, so they are close to the action at all times.
Other mottos Van Halanger and his staff use to motivate and inspire the Bulldogs include Desire, Dedication, Determination; To become a champion, you must first train like a champion; and Performance, not promises.
Butts-Mehre Weight Room
The 1997 expansion of the weight room-, which doubled the size of the facility from 4,000 square feet to 8,000 square feet, gives Georgia a facility which ranks among the most progressive in the nation. The added space greatly enhanced the amount of work stations available, allowing for more intense sessions.
In addition, the Bulldogs have a sand pit adjacent to the Spec Towns Track which allows for additional drills to enhance speed and power.
Another integral part of the expansion was the development of the Leon Farmer Award. Given in honor of Athens businessman Leon Farmer, who was a major contributor in the funding of the Butts-Mehre expansion, the award presented annually to the player whose dedication to strength and conditioning program results in a significant contribution to the football team. The award is commemorated by a sculpture featuring an athlete performing ferent lifting techniques. The sculpture is supported granite foundation.
See more photos of the weight room here.
