TD Exclusive: Coach Moffitt Talks Title Game

On the eve of the National Championship we wanted to share with you this cool TigerDroppings exclusive interview with LSU Strength Coach Tommy Moffitt. Enjoy...


How do you prepare for a National Championship game? Is it different?

Not really, we continued to focus on power, maintaining our sport specific fitness from the regular season and focused on the rehab for those that were injuried

What is your prototype LSU player?

To be lean, extremely fast and very powerful.

What separates your players from Alabama's players?

I'm not sure anything does. We recruit the same and our strength and conditioning philisophies are almost identical. Our DC, John Chavis perfers a little smaller and faster athlete but that's where the differences end.

How do you keep players focused with 4 weeks off before the BCS game?

I'm not sure that there is a better way to do this other than work really hard. We lifted and ran really hard for two of those weeks and spent the other two practicing.

What kind of program is put together for the players to stay at a high level of performance between the SEC Championship game and the BCS game?

We call it a concentrated block of loading, focusing on maximum speed, accellertion and power. We trained at a very high intensity while keeping the volume low, focusing on maintaining the fitness that we had following the regular season.

How would you compare your coaching experience at LSU to past schools?

How is the environment different in Baton Rouge? I've never had a bad job, coaching in HS for JT Curtis was a great experience as well as working for the university of Tennessee and Miami. Regardless of the atmosphere, who the head coach is, I put allot of pressure on myself to do a good job. Our family loves Baton Rouge, youth sports, the schools that my children are in is great and the hunting and fishing is second to none!!

How do you keep your players ahead of the competition in a conference like the SEC?

I'm not sure that we have an exact science. We work really hard, focus on fundamentals and strive to get the best from our athletes. Our football staff, athletic department staff and administration supports us and make it easy for us to do our job. The athletes that we recruit have bought into our system and live within a culture of hard work, dedication and strive for excellence.

What is it like to coach for Les Miles?

Really good, his more of a friend than a boss. Our children have played baseball together for the last 3 or 4 years so I have gotten to know he and his family ourtside of the work place. He is really down to earth and make coming to work each day really easy. He is also a very hard worker himself so he sets the bar high for us all.

How does Les prepare his staff for a game like the BCS National Championship?

Not any different than any game in particular. We approach each game like it's a national championship

What do you think defines LSU football?

Speed, Toughness, Effort and a commitment to doing the hard things right.

What has been your favorite part or highlight of this season?

Winning the Western Division, going 13-0 and winning the SEC championship. Winning the SEC is a huge accomplishment that sets the stage for greater things to come.

Who do you think could do more push-ups without stopping, Les Miles or Nick Saban?

Les Miles of course!

Special thanks to Coach Moffitt and former defensive back, 2-time All-SEC team selection and freshman All-American from the University of Tennessee, Ray Austin for the hook up.

Geaux Tigers!