Little league football and high school football offer little in comparison to the life of a college football player.

 
Lifting three days a week and running at 6 a.m., you develop a never-ending soreness across your whole body.

 
“It’s really hard to wake up or even go to class sometimes. I’m just that tired, but this is what separates the weak from the strong,” sophomore safety Kyle Olinger said.

 
The WSC football ‘Cats started their winter conditioning after the new year, getting ready and excited for the 2016 season to begin. The ‘Cats received a schedule that contained multiple lifting and running days, with the spring game set for March 30.

 
“The one thing I struggle with is waking up at 5 a.m. I don’t want to be that person who’s late to morning practices,” redshirt freshman safety Brayden Swartwout said.

 
As for me and my life playing for the team, it’s great and I enjoy every day. I’m glad to be a Wayne State student-athlete.

 
Most of the time when you’re in season, you’re staying healthy by eating the right foods and going to sleep early, but not in the off season. I bet if you asked any college player if there was something that they did differently in the season compared to off season, it would be eating and sleeping.

 
For me it was a big sacrifice coming from a family of six, where snacks were an everyday thing. Snickers, M&M’s, Doritos, Lifesavers and my favorite, Skittles. In my dorm room you wouldn’t be able to walk in without seeing one of those wrappers.

 
When the new year started, I told myself that the snacks have to go or I will suffer during the conditioning. I received a care package from Mom the day before winter conditioning started and the snacks were promised to me without asking. As a young adult I told myself that I would not eat any of the snacks and I didn’t.

 
Not eating the snacks came in clutch for the conditioning when I watched 60 percent of the team throwing up on the first day.

 
List of foods football athletes gave up:

 
Ian Ailts: “I gave up pastries and candy with bad sugars.”

Cory Fitch: “I gave up drinking pop, and make sure I get at least 7 hours of sleep before morning conditioning.”

 
Cole Tirrel: “I cut out pop. I probably have it once a month if that.”

 
Shymere Williams: “Red Bull, monster and chips, because of the bad trans fats.”

 
Alain Devoe: “I had to give up all sodas.”