University of Minnesota Athletics
Preparation Is Second To None For Rallis
8/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Rachel Timmerman
Minnesota Athletic Communications Student Worker
Linebacker Nick Rallis is starting his fifth and final season this year, one that will prove to be his strongest yet.
The Edina, Minn., native played in all 13 games last season, seeing action on both defense and special teams. His stats included 18 tackles, with 3.0 tackles-for-loss. He also found success in the classroom, as he was named Academic All-Big Ten.
But arguably his biggest achievement over the years has been the amount of preparation and thought he puts into the game.
"He's doing everything the right way," said assistant strength and conditioning coach Dustin Perry, who has worked closely with Rallis. "He's strict on his diet, takes care of his body and gets the proper amount of sleep every night."
Rallis doesn't view all of it as a tedious task - he just wants to do what will make him a better player in the long run.
"I like to plan out everything I need to do to maximize myself as a player," Rallis said. "At the end of the day, it's all about playing the best on game day. Whether it's training in the weight room, watching film, recovering, eating right - that all goes into becoming a better player. That's why I like to give it my all in every area."
That includes putting in the extra time in the off-season.
"We did some special strength exercises with him," Perry said. "We took the positional movements that he has to do, the actual movements in the game, and broke those down into their separate parts to strengthen those movements."
Rallis said Perry has been a big influence on his outlook on overall preparation and training.
"I can say that he has helped me get to a level further than I could have gotten by myself," Rallis said. "He's had a great influence on all the training, preparation, recovery, all that stuff. He's a great coach and gets you better."
Another example was his older brothers, including Mike, who also played linebacker for the Gophers.
"I learned a lot from my brother," Rallis said. "Even going back to watching film, he showed me how to really scout an opponent. I've kind of built off that. I've taken it to a level where I feel it really prepares me. The only way to get better at it is to go in there and put in the hours.
"The night before a game, I run through every single scenario that I can think of," Rallis said. "Then I get up in the morning and do it again. I try to think about it so when it happens, I've already played the play ten times."
His nutrition is also a constant thought in his mind.
"When I first got here, Nick and I talked a lot about all the different questions he had, kind of just clarifying things," team dietitian Brittany Francis said. "He likes to be more exact on what he does."
Francis joined the staff in 2014, and quickly noticed the amount of thought Rallis puts into his diet.
"Nick is very different than a lot of people his age or athletes his age," Francis said. "He realized right when he came in that nutrition can benefit him on the field and overall health. He's also really knowledgeable about the science of nutrition - carbohydrates, protein, fats, gram amounts - what his body needs and where he can find those in foods."
Having a roster of more than 100 athletes to manage, Francis can rely on Rallis to relay her message.
"He's a great example for the rest of the team and the linebackers," Francis said. "I can always count on him to do what I ask him to do. If I'm not around the players can ask him, 'Hey should I eat this, Nick?' Some things are easier to get from your buddy."
Rallis says he appreciates having Francis and the fueling team around, especially since that means he gets to grocery shop less.
"Brittany does a good job of having good choices for us," Rallis said. "I don't know if guys realize, but it wasn't always like that. We have it pretty lucky. We're thankful for all that we get."
Rallis is also thankful for playing so close to home.
"I grew up here so it was no question that I wanted to be around," Rallis said. "The biggest thing is that I can see my family all the time. I wouldn't trade that for anything."
He says his favorite part about being 30 minutes from home is that his parents are able to come watch him play.
"They care for me, even right now," Rallis said. "I'm still like a little kid. I wouldn't be here without both my parents."
Rallis will finish his masters in the spring, but isn't sure if he'll continue to stick around Minneapolis.
"I will play football as long as I can, but it's not guaranteed and the odds are pretty far against you," Rallis said.
No matter what he chooses to do, Perry and Francis are both confident he'll be successful.
"He is very driven" said Francis. "I think anything he wants in life he'll get because he's focused."
But instead of thinking about life after football, he's focused on making the most out of his last season.
"I would like to get into some sort of coaching, I haven't really decided yet," Rallis said. "Not trying to decide right now, I'm just trying to focus on football while I'm still playing."
