There is no mistaking Matt McChesney’s loyalty to the Colorado football team.
After growing up in the shadow of the Flatirons and then starring at CU as a relentless defensive lineman, McChesney loves his Buffaloes.
As a business man, McChesney is also loyal to his customers.
“If I have a kid in here who is committed to Nebraska, I’m going to give him my best every day, even though I think where he’s committed is disgusting,” McChesney said. “That’s his choice, not mine.”
Luckily for McChesney, he’s often able to combine his loyalty for the Buffs and for his customers.
The owner and founder of Six Zero Strength & Fitness in Centennial, McChesney is a former Niwot High School and CU star and NFL veteran who is thriving in his business of training high school and college football players to maximize their potential and opportunity.
Over the years, McChesney has worked with dozens of players, including Legend High School senior Tate Wildeman (who is committed to Nebraska), Arizona State guard Sam Jones, and more.
He’s also worked with a large number of players who, like him, bleed CU black and gold.
“If you look at that roster up there, every third or fourth guy on the roster, I’ve worked with or put there and had an integral part in them walking in that door,” McChesney said.
“It’s awesome. It brings it full circle for me.”
Several of the Buffs, including defensive linemen Timothy Coleman and Frank Umu, have worked with McChesney since they were in high school. Now, that they are Buffs, they visit McChesney whenever they can to enhance the training they get at CU.
“Matt’s place has been a big motivation for me,” said Umu, who played at Heritage High School before going to CU and will go into fall camp this week fighting for a starting job on the defensive line. “Coming in my junior year (of high school) and not having any offers and then coming in now, it’s changed everything.”
Working with CU players has become easier in the past 18 months since the Buffs hired Drew Wilson as strength and conditioning coach. That move was a significant upgrade, McChesney said.
“He’s done an amazing job,” McChesney said. “Coach Wilson really has embraced the opportunity. He got up there and he’s killing it.”
Like McChesney, Wilson is a no-nonsense trainer, and McChesney loves seeing that style in Boulder.
“You have to have a wild animal to control wild animals,” he said in describing Wilson’s work with the Buffs.
McChesney is a wild animal in his own right, and his work complements Wilson’s efforts.
“If you’re willing to put in the effort and you’re willing to bust your butt, he’s willing to go through and push you, which is something I love,” said former CU outside linebacker Jimmie Gilbert, who is now a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers.
With Wilson, the Buffs are get high quality weight training, in addition to position-specific work. McChesney doesn’t worry about his players lifting weights; it’s all football at Six Zero.
When players come to McChesney, he asks them, “What are you struggling with on tape?” Or, he’ll ask them what their position coach has told them to work on. Most of the time, McChesney has probably already talked to the coach and knows the answer ahead of time.
“Let’s take an hour to try to perfect this and fix it rather than just go out and bench press some more,” he said. “We’re doing football work.
“I love the fact that guys know that I really (care) and that’s why they come back. You can’t fool football players.”
It’s tough to fool coaches, too, and McChesney said it’s been great for him to build strong relationships with CU’s coaches.
“They know I’m not in this for the wrong reasons,” he said. “Everybody who walks through the doors knows they’re going to get better.”
All the while, players are going to hear about McChesney’s love for the Buffs because, as he said, “I have a really hard time keeping my mouth shut.”
McChesney doesn’t push players to Boulder, though. He knows CU isn’t for everyone.
CU was certainly for McChesney, however. He takes some pride in seeing some of his players find success in Boulder and is looking forward to seeing his Buffs put together another winning season.
“I think they’re going to be able to win 8-9 games and be a really good football team,” he said.
Contact staff writer Brian Howell at howellb@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/BrianHowell33.
