Bucky Irving Vs. Ali Marpet

June 24th, 2024

Retired Bucs guard Ali Marpet.

As a man obsessed with all things Bucs, of course Joe listened to former Buccaneers guard Ali Marpet’s induction speech into the Hobart College Hall of Fame.

Some folks are paid to save lives, impact society or save the world, Joe scrapes together nickels by being obsessed with all things Bucs 24/7.

Marpet’s honor came about a year ago, but it yielded a great story that Joe remembered when Bucs rookie running back Bucky Irving was talking two weeks ago.

Irving said the “high intensity and details” were different in the NFL (in a positive way) versus what he experienced at his college stops at the University of Oregon and the University of Minnesota.

On the surface, that makes a ton of sense. However, Marpet, who played Division III football at Hobart, told his audience of alumni and friends that Hobart training camp was tougher than what he dealt with in the NFL. And yes, it made NFL training feel easy for him.

This wasn’t just a one-liner. Marpet made sure the crowd took note and said it a second time for emphasis.

“I mean, I’ll say that again; my training camp at Hobart made the NFL training camps easy because Coach [Mike] Cragg made them that hard,” Marpet said. “So I’m just putting that into context, ok. That’s real, too. That’s just not me gassing him up.”

Marpet said he believed his Hobart head coach enjoyed watching players suffer — and he’s grateful for that life preparation.

Joe thought it was kind of wild to have such contrasting takes from a D-III guy to the first impressions of a 2024 Bucs rookie from big programs.

But Joe’s not worried about Irving acclimating come training camp. After all, as Bucco Bruce Arians said, NFL summers have turned into “Camp Cupcake” compared to the intensity of years past.

22 Responses to “Bucky Irving Vs. Ali Marpet”

  1. CleanHouse Says:

    Joe, you really are obsessed.

  2. SenileSenior Says:

    Is that a recent photo of Marpet? He has changed. I wish him well. Yeah, he is sorely missed on our OL.
    Yes, Marpet has shed a ton of weight. –Joe

  3. Dude Says:

    Ali looks like a younger, live-action version of the dad from “The Incredibles”

  4. Stanglassman Says:

    Gone are the TC 2 and 3 a day practices with the players staying at the UT dorms. I remember watching all the players show up day one training camp carrying their mattresses and pillows. It wasn’t much better during the season at the old OBP. No AC in the weight room because it was just a covered shed and their practice field was right next to the Tampa airport runway so they’d get nauseous from the jet fumes.

  5. SenileSenior Says:

    🤣😜😇

  6. Crickett Baker Says:

    I wish Ali would stick around with Casey on “Total Access”. He made it much more interesting by the questions he asked the guests.

  7. The Truth be Told Says:

    When is somebody going to be honest as to how/why these guys lose 60-80 lbs in 2 years time?

  8. A Bucs Fan Says:

    @Truth Be Told – it’s not hard to accomplish body composition changes with knowledge and discipline.

  9. WinBuc Says:

    Lineman carry extra weight on joints and bones. And it’s easier to trim tone muscle as a pro athlete than losing fat as is most people’s goal

  10. Travis Says:

    Graham Barton and Bucky Irving are gonna help transform this run game. White will show all y’all he’s a stud too if you don’t see it already after his 1500 yard 10 touchdown 2023 season.

  11. Rod Munch Says:

    CleanHouse Says:
    June 24th, 2024 at 5:39 pm
    Joe, you really are obsessed.

    ——–

    He’s going to prove to everyone that White isn’t a real NFL runningback – no matter how long it takes.

  12. Dave Pear Says:

    I think it was teacher who pointed out the devastation and subsequent wreckage of losing the entire IOL which was among the best in the. gal, losing Gronk, losing BA, and gaining Bowels. All negatives for the offense, and cumulatively- it’s a miracle Baker was able to engineer any TD drives.

    But – things are changing for the better.

    #AsToddEvolves
    #AsRichardDevolves

  13. Rod Munch Says:

    Two people that look better fat, Al Sharpton and Ali Marpet.

    Nothing against Marpet, good for him dropping the weight, but he just looks very very odd now.

  14. Dave Pear Says:

    Oprah Winfrey looks better fat.

    Melissa McCarthy looked better fat.

    For some, fat is the way.

  15. Tom S. Says:

    To the person who doesn’t understand that lineman intentionally have to eat throughout the day to keep weight on when they are burning thousands of calories working out out and participating in drills etc. I mean come on man, do you have even the vaguest clue of what a professional athlete has to do at that level?

    So yeah man, when a person stops gorging themselves for the strict purpose of being 320 pounds combined with the work ethic that made them some of the best and strongest athletes on planet earth, I think they have a better shot than most schlubs at dropping a ton of weight when their careers are over as long as their injuries don’t interfere with life too much.

  16. firethecannons Says:

    Marpet looks so different now, even his complexion is different. He did it his way.

  17. Booger Says:

    The truth be told, I lost 40+lbs in just less than 4-months, after I quit college and went to work the ‘night-shift’ at my Dad’s food service company (like a Sysco/U.S. Foods/etc.), picking groceries and loading trucks. It’s not hard when you’re young. Went from 190 to 150 just like THAT.

  18. heyjude Says:

    Always liked Ali! Good for him in getting healthier and losing weight. Looking forward to watching Bucky and cheering him on too.

  19. The Truth be Told Says:

    So is everyone that Naive that they dont think that steroids and performance enhancing drugs are not prevalent with the Money that can be made at the NFL level? Most of the guys that drop the 80 lbs are the ones that went to college at 180 and got out at 300 and were now lineman. Gimme a break.

  20. A Bucs Fan Says:

    @Truth be told – No not naive and it doesn’t matter much. The athletes recover faster and the NFL makes more money. It’s a win-win. But in Ali’s case if you specifically look at his receding hair line, the large amount of weight loss in such a short period of time it’s indicative of a steep and prolonged caloric deficit.

  21. SlyPirate Says:

    The Truth be Told Says:
    When is somebody going to be honest as to how/why these guys lose 60-80 lbs in 2 years time?

    ^^^^^^

    Huh? I lost 28 lbs in 3 months. I didn’t start my diet as a 6’4, 304 lbs, pro athlete. Ali’s BMR was 2722. On a 1500/day diet, he would lose a pound of fat every two days (my diet was 1000 cals/day). Add a 2 mile walk in and that number goes up. Ali could comfortably drop 60 lbs in 3 months.

    If you want to lose weight: Fast, CUT OUT ALCOHOL COMPLETELY, drink lots of water, eat a low cal diet with lots of raw veggies, and add moderate exercise.

  22. Booger Says:

    When I lost that weight I went from laying back in my chair drinkin’ beer, smokin’ weed, eatin’ pizza, & playing Gamebreakers and NBA Live on PlayStation to working 50-60+ hours a week on the ‘night-shift’ picking over a 1000 cases (5-100lbs per) per night!!!! It just fell off… I was an ex-athlete. I’m not naive as to what a lot of these guys do, either. Hell, most all of them have their own personal nutritionists and trainers, plus access to the very best of the best of weight/athletic equipment, as well. Shoot, just think about it… I rode around on a freakin’ pallet Jack all night throwing around and stacking over 1000 cases literally (mostly boxes typically weighing about 20-40lbs per), NONSTOP for about 12-hOURS per night. I mean, just stepping on and off that pallet jack OVER 2000-TIMES a night (at about 1-1.5ft tall), is like doing over 2000 of those old school ‘step aerobics’ – just try that alone, all by itself. Did that for 3+months, & was solid as a ROCK. Strongern an Ox LoL. So, it can be done. Very easily, when you’re young!