Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Rubin reason enough to root for the Eagles

If you're looking for an NFL team to cheer into the Super Bowl, Philadelphia has the most NSU appeal.

Eagles assistant strength coach Barry Rubin, a legend in his business, is a former Demon.

A tight end for NSU from 1978-80, Rubin played for legendary coach Charlie Brown at Neville High in Monroe. He made the Jewish All-America team while playing for the Demons.

He also became a protege of then-NSU assistant coach Al Miller. That launched his 25-year strength coaching career. He has 13 years of NFL experience, seven as the Green Bay Packers' head strength coach. He was out of the NFL for a few seasons before joining the Eagles last spring.

He was also head strength coach at LSU in the mid-1980s. There, he became friends with Pete Jenkins, then the Tigers' defensive line coach. Jenkins is on the Eagles coaching staff and recommended Rubin to Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid.

Rubin and Miller were among the 14 inaugural inductees in the USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame alongside another Demon, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame member and 2004 USA Olympic weightlifting coach Gayle Hatch of Baton Rouge.

New football coach Bradley Dale Peveto is bringing the Hatch weightlifting program to the Demons. He likes the explosion and flexibility it produces; not to mention the on-field success. More about that later...

No comments: