Iowa State’s and Nebraska’s weight rooms have not fallen behind the strenuous pace that technology sets.

But both differ in the way to complete a workout.

Nebraska – along with the rest of the nation – uses equipment that was pioneered by their own strength and conditioning coach.

Boyd Epley, who is considered a legend in some exercise science circles, developed equipment such as the Hammer, the Push-Pull-Right and Push-Pull-Left, and the Husker Power Rack.

The former two pieces of equipment specialize in building strength in the muscles and motions that are used during a football game.

Whereas the latter is used in a more traditional muscle building sense.

The Hammer allows the lifter to do a modified squat. It is called a “multi-joint exercise” by Epley because it works the ankles, hips, and knees at once.

“It is used to develop explosive strength [throughout the legs],” Epley said.

It works by keeping the whole body in alignment on the way down and then back up again.

Where your hands are placed even with your back while doing a squat, the Hammer aligns your hands on the same plane as your knees.

“It is the No. 1 selling weight- lifting machine in the nation,” Epley said.

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Trev Albert [a former recruit from Iowa, who went on to the NFL] increased his vertical leap from 29 inches to 41 inches by using the Hammer.

Other weird looking equipment to the untrained eye such as the Push-Pull-Right and Push-Pull-Left works somewhat like a “standing bench press,” Epley remarked.

It is also a multi-joint exercise; this one working the wrist, elbow and shoulder joints.

As you push across your body one way, the lower back and obliques [love handles] on the other side get a supplementary workout, while the arm that you are extending feels the burn throughout.

This machine can simulate, to a degree, what muscles are used during pass-blocking.

The Husker Power Rack is another actualization of Epley’s notes and doodles.

“This allows you to do bench [press], hang cleans, squats, and military press all at one station,” Epley said.

So do these pieces of equipment, plus a more traditional program work?

“Some kids might come in overweight, say 335,” Epley said the staff will then “trim them down to 315 and then build back up to 335.” But now, the difference is “they are a lot more muscular.”

Iowa State Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt McGettigan concedes that Epley “does a great job,” but Iowa State goes about things in the weight room in a simpler way.

“We don’t do anything real fancy,” McGettigan said.

Although Iowa State does have a Hammer in their possession, the coaching staff puts more emphasis on free weights and dumbbells rather than testing out all the latest equipment available on the market.

The dumbbells and free weights never see a month that football players don’t use them.

And during the fall, Iowa State breaks down into three and four-day programs.

The three-day program is for those who see action on Saturday.

The four-day program is called the “developmental program.”

“We’re on a 13-week program during the season,” McGettigan said.

Mostly it is redshirts who spend four days in the weight room and get 13 extra days of lifting.

Those 13 days can be crucial. Just ask Jordan Karstens.

The redshirt freshmen who led the Ohio game in tackles this season, went from “228 pounds to 282 pounds,” McGettigan said, over the course of a year.

“He gained 16 pounds over last season, plus 10 or 12 more through the winter,” McGettigan boasted.

But weight is not the only thing gained by Karstens.

Karstens went from bench- pressing 320 pounds to currently being able to lock-out at 405.

He believes the players are afforded “a lot of attention” in the weight room.

“One player is with three coaches,” Karstens said, while lifting.

Iowa State lifts in three increments during the fall, each increment given the title of a “phase,” complete with exercises that are performed only in that period of time.

So, would a fourth phase be implemented if Iowa State were able to beat Nebraska and then go on to play somewhere south over the winter break?

“I haven’t looked that far ahead yet,” McGettigan said.