Monday Night Therapy: The Husker Way - Nebraska Football Strength and Conditioning

In this episode of the Corn Nation’s Monday Night Therapy podcast, host Minnie Hunt interviews Bob Davis, a former strength and conditioning coach with Nebraska during the 1980s under Boyd Epley, the legendary pioneer of Husker Power.

Davis shares insights into the foundational role Nebraska’s strength and nutrition programs played in the Cornhuskers’ dominance, emphasizing how walk-ons and farm kids pushed blue-chip recruits by outworking them. He discusses innovations like performance testing, customized nutrition cards, and year-round training, including offseason programs that prepared players physically and mentally.

Davis also reflects on the evolution of training—comparing old-school techniques to today’s tech-enhanced systems—and emphasizes fundamentals, balance, proper mechanics, and injury prevention. He highlights the importance of developing athletes’ understanding of movement, hydration, and nutrition. Creatine use, the relevance of bench press, and high-tech versus practical basics are all explored.

Davis underscores that most injuries result from fatigue and poor mechanics, not contact. He calls for transparency in athletic performance reporting to inspire fans and hold players accountable.

Now running “Strength of America” and “Body by Bob’s,” he continues to educate athletes of all ages on how to train smart, eat right, and stay healthy for life.

The episode closes with calls for community engagement and the hope of returning Nebraska to its physical dominance.