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The drive within

Sporting News, The, July 29, 1996 by Dennis Dillon

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"That's, I think, one of the things that separates him from a lot of other players, the fact that be may not have some of the (physical gifts that (other players) have, but he maximizes his ability by having one extra tip here or one extra little idea there."

Today is one of those humid days in June, and the thermometer is headed toward the mid-80s as Spielman's truck pulls into the parking lot of Rochester High School. Despite the temperature, he is wearing a long-sleeved, blue sweatshirt with "Marines" in maroon letters on the chest and blue and white designer sweat pants. He ties a red do rag around his head, wraps tape on his wrists and then puts on a pound weighted vest that he wears when be is running or lifting weights. He walks through an iron turnstile, which acknowledges his entrance with a loud groan as it revolves, and heads for the bleachers.

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"The best part of my game is quickness and instinct," he says. "This is one of the things that develops my quickness." He hops up the l@ concrete steps to the top, walks back down and then paces back and forth in the front row. As he moves toward a trash can, he suddenly steps around it and raises his right arm in an uppercut motion." Here's an offensive lineman," he says, fending off an imaginary block. The next time he walks by it, the trash can is a running back and Spielman drops down into a tackling position.

"You're testing yourself constantly," he says. "If you make your training hard, the game is easy. I never lean over during a workout. I never drink water, either, which is probably the most stupid thing I do. But ifs another test."

He repeats the step-hopping exercise three more times, then switches to an agility drill in which he runs up the steps sideways, crossing one leg over the other, as fast as he can. He does it four times from each side.

Now, he's getting worked up. His pulse is racing and his words are coming in staccato bursts between breaths. A distinct mood change is taking place.

"You're always picturing plays, game situations, what the other guy is doing. ... When you work out you get in a determined mood that simulates your psyche on game day. ... A transformation takes place. ... You notice when I get jacked up, my voice changes a little bit. It escalates. ... Pretty soon, you,re feeling pretty nasty."

Is he feeling nasty right down I'm getting there," he says.

Spielman finishes his workout on the asphalt track, where he sprints 25 yards, jogs for 25, sprints for another 25, then walks 25. He does 10 sets altogether. "Most people would think of eight automatically-four quarters," he says. "But two more is overtime."

As he cools down by walking once around the track, Spielman says, "You've got to get your muscles used to those quick, sharp movements. You hardly ever run in a straight line on the football field. A lot of it is you're flowing down the line, crossing over and jumping over people. When I was going up those steps sideways, I was trying to get my groin and hips used to those moves and go as hard as I can, not worrying so much about speed but really pounding - go-go-go-go! Playing my position, if I have to run ands downfield, then forget about it. But if there's a guy running from that sideline to the other sideline, I'll guarantee you I'll catch him."

The drive within

Sporting News, The, July 29, 1996 by Dennis Dillon

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