A shocking revelation from the world of American college football has exposed an extreme culture of energy drink consumption, with players reportedly guzzling staggering amounts of Red Bull to keep pace with the sport's intense demands.
Former Louisiana State University (LSU) coach Les Miles, in a candid interview, detailed the absurd lengths his players would go to in order to maintain energy levels during his tenure. The routine wasn't for the faint-hearted.
The 26-Can-a-Day Habit
Miles described a startling scene where players would consume eye-watering quantities of the popular energy drink. "We had players that would drink a case and two of Red Bull a day," he revealed. A standard case contains 24 cans, meaning some athletes were consuming 26 cans daily.
This extreme intake wasn't just a pre-game ritual; it was woven into the fabric of their entire training schedule. Miles explained the relentless cycle players endured, which created a dependency on caffeine and sugar to function.
A Gruelling Schedule Demanding Extreme Measures
The former coach outlined the punishing timetable that necessitated such extreme measures:
- 5:30 AM: Wake-up for early morning weightlifting sessions.
- Full Day of Academic Classes: Juggling sporting commitments with educational demands.
- Afternoon Practice: High-intensity drills and training under the sweltering Louisiana sun.
- Evening Meetings: Strategy and film sessions stretching late into the night.
"You're going from 5:30 in the morning to 11 o'clock at night," Miles stated, highlighting the unsustainable pace that led players to seek a chemical edge simply to stay awake and alert.
Beyond the Sidelines: A Widespread Culture
This dependency wasn't limited to players. Miles himself admitted to partaking, albeit on a smaller scale, consuming three Red Bulls each morning. The practice highlights a deep-rooted culture within high-level sports where extreme energy supplementation becomes normalised to meet extreme physical and mental demands.
The interview sheds a harsh light on the pressures faced by student-athletes in the multi-billion dollar world of NCAA football, where the line between peak performance and potentially harmful habits can become dangerously blurred.
