With the season opener just over two months away, a total commitment to the success of the Valparaiso University football program is on full display.

“We’re excited about the commitment our players have made to our program and the hard work they have put in since our staff’s arrival,” Valpo head coach Landon Fox said. “Our players have shown their commitment to us, and we’re making a commitment to them by investing in several resources that will help us reach our full potential.”

The upgrades to facilities and resources are numerous, starting with the playing surface itself. Anyone who has frequented the University’s campus this summer has seen the progression that has taken place inside of Brown Field with the installation of new turf.

The program has purchased a GPS Sports Performance Tracking system, which tracks yardage and explosiveness. In addition, the team has added shakes and nutrition powders through Gatorade that the players will be provided as part of their post-workout recovery. 

“We’re able to identify numerical values that we couldn’t access previously with our new tracking units, and I tell our players that anything that can be measured can be managed,” Fox said. “These new resources continue to help our student-athletes maximize their potential on the field. These developments coupled with a full-time football-only strength and conditioning coach will lead to significant player development for our program.” 

Several more additions are on the way to enhance the team’s training and conditioning. A section of turf will soon be added to the football weight room, as will a nutrition center.

“We’re excited about the will and the desire to get better that we saw from our players during the spring season,” Fox said. “The results that they have achieved in a short period of time are generating excitement. The changes in their bodies are already evident. As a coach, those immediate payoffs get me fired up about what we can do in the years to come with the players in our program. The value of having a member of our staff focused exclusively on football strength & conditioning has been reinforced with the results we’ve seen so far.”

As the countdown continues for the Aug. 29 season opener at Eastern Kentucky and the start of fall camp draws nearer, Fox has made his expectations clear.  

“We’re demanding and the expectations are high,” Fox said. “You’ve got to work; we need high achievers in this program. We want players who are here to maximize their potential every day. We are thrilled with the buy-in that we’ve seen from this group so far.”