Dexter Pittman
Conditioning coach Todd Wright, had some high hopes for Texas sophomore center Dexter Pittman.
An overweight Pittman chose Texas over other schools like Kansas and Florida State, and it may of had a lot to do with what Wright did, “I showed Dexter some before-and-after pictures of two different players who kind of looked alike,” said Wright. “I was going to tell him they weren’t the same person, but he was so into it, I just couldn’t tell him.”
“I wasn’t really going to come here to Texas, but Coach Todd showed me pictures of guys he worked with who had a weight problem like I did. I thought, ‘I want my body to look like that. That’s the only way I will be able to make money is if I lose the weight.’ ” Pittman added.
Only after Pittman came onto campus did Wright tell him that the before picture was a former walk on at Texas, and the after a was someone Wright had coached at Clemson.
Regardless Wright has now helped Pittman lose almost 100 pounds since leaving high school.
Directed under Wright, Pittman worked out up to five times a day, taking his body fat from 41.6 percent dropping it to 13.6 percent.
Pittman spoke about Wrights influence, “He changed my life,” “I didn’t really think I would be at this point in my life, but he sped everything up for me.”
It has been a hard journey for Pittman working almost around the clock, but emerging as a centrepiece for the Longhorns front line.
He scored 14 pints and snatched seven rebounds in only 14 minutes during a loss at Texas A&M.
Pittman has gone from a huge 366 pounds to a 295 pounds, and his workouts are intensive.
It is a long way from him ordering three Big Macs and three large fries at McDonald’s.
This has come down to dedication and will power, which is a long journey for Pittman, especially while away from home.
“When the team goes into McDonald’s, I’ll stay on the bus or go in and get a fruit salad,” “One time, we were on a trip and went to Carl Jr.’s, and they didn’t sell nothing but burgers. So I had to wait until we got home to eat. I just had to discipline myself.” Pittman said.