SAN MARCOS, Texas – The 2019 football season officially begins in nine days for the Bobcats, but the preparation for the Aggies began months ago in the weight room and the Paul and Pat Gowens Family Pavilion. Before Texas State could travel 120 miles northeast to take on Texas A&M on Aug. 29 at Kyle Field, total transformation had to begin.

Bobcat Nation has waited for this moment with upwards of 100,000 fans packed into the historic college football venue, screaming full throttle. There are no words to describe the feeling of the opening kickoff of college football season, especially deep in the heart of Texas.

The new coaching staff, led by first-year head coach Jake Spavital, has provided a boost in energy surrounding the Texas State football program not seen in the Hill Country in quite some time. The coaching staff has rejuvenated a team hungry for an appearance in a bowl game for the first time in program history.

As the season rapidly approaches, every aspect of the game of football is analyzed, re-worked, and perfected. For strength and conditioning coach Scott Salwasser and sports dietician Carla Nowicki, there is no difference.

Salwasser arrived in San Marcos in December and immediately hit the ground running. He was tasked with improving the team from both the weight room and by monitoring the nutritional needs of the players.

"You can only train the players as hard as they are able to recover," Salwasser said. "When we came in, we wanted to change the culture and change the bodies of these players. We wanted to make them faster, more resilient, and make them stronger. Of course, that only goes as far as the fuel that you give them."

With extensive on-the-job training at both Cal Berkley and Texas Tech, Salwasser knew the direction he wanted the weight room to move. He also knew he was missing a star dietician to provide the fuel his team needed. He found Miss Carla, as she is affectionately referred to by the team, in March. She had been working in a private practice prior to joining Texas State.

"Since we have been working together, the results have been incredible," Nowicki said. "Since March the team has dropped 423 pounds of fat mass and added 581 pounds of muscle mass. The changes in the body types of the players should pay immediate dividends on the field this fall."

The two have quickly formed a dynamic duo. Player after player commented throughout fall camp about the transformation they have seen in themselves and their teammates this offseason. The team is leaner, stronger, and faster than in years past.

"One thing that I really look at is how the team is performing at the end of practice," Salwasser said. "To me, the best test of shape is what they are doing at the end. Are they still vocal? Are they still flying around? Are they still chippy with each other? Are they still competing? I think we have been so far in camp. That is as much a testament to their conditioning as it is to their fuel."

Nowicki, a former competitive lifter and strength coach, knows the demands of the weight room. She can be found in the weight room after the team has left going through the same intensive workout, rep for rep. She takes the experience as a further learning tool and continues to develop a nutritional plan for maximum results.

"It is because of the opportunities that were given, especially the support that I have from the coaching staff, that made this possible," Nowicki said. "I was able to take what [former Texas State Dietician] Chelsea [Burkart] had in terms of buy-in from a lot of these athletes and coaches and take that to the next step of creating opportunity."

The previous regime laid the foundation for the nutritional component at Texas State. However, they allowed it to rest in a state of infancy. Nowicki has revamped the entire nutrition entity. The player lounge is always fully stocked with snacks, applesauce is always on hand during practice, salt is everywhere in the facility, and the dining hall is packed with proper foods to fuel the team.

"This is one giant puzzle," Salwasser said. "It is not like it is strength and conditioning, then nutrition and athletic training. It all falls under athletic performance."

As the clock continues to countdown until kickoff, the weight has been shed, the bulk has been added. The time is now.

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