Ozone article talks about Lichter's approach.
"The first thing coach Lichter showed us when he talked to us was a video clip of a lion hunting down a gazelle. He sat there with the clicker (video controller) and said 'Look at how the gazelle is kicking its leg as it's dying.
That's what we want you guys to do this year.' He was a linebacker in college ball, and you can see the passion in him and you can feed off of it." -----Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis.
Ohio State's summer conditioning program is in full swing under the new guidance of recently hired Eric Lichter. Lichter has quickly established a tone to his program, one that emphasizes development of players specifically for football skills.
There are two things that for the most part a football player can never be; too big and too fast. According to OSU linebacker James Laurinaitis, he has seen tremendous improvement in both of those areas in his short time under Lichter. Laurinaitis reports that his percentage of body fat is rapidly shrinking while his weight is rising. He credits not just Lichter's lifting program for that, but his nutrition program as well.
"He has us on this diet where you eat smaller meals but you eat six or seven meals a day, so you're eating every two hours or so. I've slimmed out but still gained weight. I'm in better shape right now and running better and and lifting better than at any time since I've been here," said Laurinaitis.
"When I was in the spring game I was about 242-243 and I felt good. After that I gained and I'm up to 246-248 now, but I feel like I'm in better shape with less body fat now and I'm faster now.
"I run a lot better now than I did as a senior in high school. I run 4.6. Before I get out of here I'm going to go 4.5 or below. I'm saying that because we have Butch (Reynolds) and we have him (coach Lichter). I've already gained speed and I'm gaining weight. I can't imagine now if I stay at this weight and keep improving my running. I've never been this big before yet I'm faster than I've ever been."
According to Laurinaitis, he has already surpassed some the goals he set for himself when he first arrived at Ohio State.
"When I got here I had a goal to be 250 by the time I left. Here I am at 250 now, so lets stay here for the next three years. If I can do that and get faster every year I'll be primed for whatever comes next," he said.
Laurinaitis will be vying for a starting position next fall on a defense that some have described as suspect due to its lack of experience. Laurinaitis says he and his teammates have heard those comments and are responding in a positive way. One of the things they are doing is to embrace Lichter's new approach.
"I think we take it as motivation, but we knew it was coming," he said.
"We knew that our team was going to be young, but he's (Lichter) making us into a bunch of lions. Our lifting groups are lions, cheetahs and bears.
The first thing coach Lichter showed us when he talked to us was a video clip of a lion hunting down a gazelle. He sat there with the controller and said 'Look at how the gazelle is kicking its leg as its dying. That's what we want you guys to do this year.' He was a linebacker in college ball, and you can see the passion in him and you can feed off of it.
"I think our D being young we know we're not perfect, but we get to practice against one of the best offenses in the country every day.
"Our attitude is that we might make mistakes, but when our team needs us, we're going to step up. We don't lack confidence, I'll tell you that much," he said.
"Our young D has confidence, but it's hard to say as good as last year because you have so much respect for those guys that were there. People ask if we get sick of being compared to A. J. (Hawk) and Bobby (Carpenter) but if people are comparing me to them, I'm honored to be in the same sentence with them.
"None of us can replace those guys, we can't fill their shoes, but we can try to make our own shoes. That's not saying we'll be better, but maybe we'll be different and better at some things and maybe we'll be worse at some things, but lets try to make our own stamp here, keep this Linebacker U. going."
So Laurinaitis, like the rest of his teammates, is spending his summer getting bigger, faster, and developing that attitude of a lion hunting down a gazelle. The only thing perhaps standing in his way of getting bigger is, ironically, three of his teammates. Despite his recent gain in size, his roommate situation makes him the pipsqueak of his apartment, and that sometimes leaves him last in line when it comes time to eat.
"I have to room with Alex Boone. Alex, Todd Denlinger Jim Cordle," said Laurinaitis.
Boone and Cordle are both offensive linemen and weigh in at 315 and 275 respectively, while Denlinger is a defensive tackle tipping the scales at around 270. That makes for some tough competition in the food line when it comes time to eat one of those six or seven meals daily.
"There's no food," Laurinaitis said with a laugh, "and I'm the only one that cleans if you can imagine that, but that's what happens when you're the smallest. I never thought I would say that I'm the smallest one in the house at 250 pounds."
:osu2: 
