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My two cents on what looks like a conditioning issue that causes cramps . I don't think that it is, it's an eating plan issue.
Living in the South for 21 years and playing in the heat and humidity requires attention to a couple of things primarily.
Hydration - water, water, water, electrolytes (magnesium, chloride, sodium, small amounts of potassium) the night before and early morning. Gatorade isn't enough and has artificial sweetners that aren't helpful in any way. Yes there can be some stomach issues for some due to higher magnesium and salt, so tolerances should be understood long before gameday. Salt isn't going to hurt any 20 year old who is physically fit. Potassium can increase heart rates and BP if you take too much.
Diet - If you are eating a lot of simple carbs a.k.a. sugar, you're body retains too much water in a non-usable state that actually leads to dehydration. I don't eat any simple carbs at least a full day before engaging in rigorous activity of any type outside in the sun, heat and humidity. When I do, I look like our defense did in the first three drives of the game... slow, unfocused, unbalanced and it is difficult to recover to a optimal state... Eags nutritionist doesn't seem to be aware that these young men would be better served with a light meal with some protein, fat and a salad instead of what appears, to outside observation, to be a carb bomb. Again, haven't seen the meal plan. The recovery meal can have as much pie as they want, although protein, fat and nutrients from vegetables would be better. Sugar is the body and mind killer.
I often play in a fasted state after a big salad the night before. The body will make energy out of what it has available and the liver is particularly good at creating glucose from glycogen in the glucose cycle.
Per Wiki: The glucose cycle is required for one of the liver functions; the homeostasis of glucose in the blood stream. When the blood glucose level is too high, glucose can be stored in the liver as glycogen. When the level is too low, the glycogen can be catabolised and glucose may re-enter the blood stream.
Due to my Type 1 Diabetes, my liver usually floods my blood with glucose (a bad thing) and I have to do many things to reduce adrenaline and cortisol levels to stay under 200. Double normal sugar levels. All T1D's engaged in energetic exercise or competitive play suffer this condition. If I stay around 160-180 I play well without too many issues, over 200 and things stop working correctly and damage can be done to organs, muscles and mindset. I don't think our student athletes have anything to fear by eating less before games.
Whatever Eags are doing, isn't working. Didn't see any Leathernecks on the field with cramps yesterday. Last thought, flying can cause a certain amount of dehydration but this should be accounted for by any nutrition professional.
