In college football, the spotlight shines on players and coaches but there is a cog in the athletics wheel that keeps it running flawlessly: equipment managers. 

The Saluki Athletics equipment staff, led by Adam Borts, maintains a 16-person staff, nine for football, who perform tasks such as maintaining the equipment, doing laundry, and helping out during practice and games. 

Mike Whittemore, a graduate assistant hired after emailing Borts seeking an internship before graduation, is one of the longest tenured staff members. 

“During practice I mainly work with the quarterbacks. I occasionally catch passes, snap the ball to them and help out wherever I can,” Whittemore said.

Whittemore also coordinates staff members during practice and ensures they are doing their jobs. 

Paulina Mihelich, a senior from Elwood studying biological sciences, usually has a line of players asking for equipment and laundry. She said she feels like a motherly figure to the team. 

Football coach Dale Lennon said without the equipment managers at practice, things would be chaotic.

“They’re the behind-the-scenes people that do an excellent job of maintaining our equipment and help our players out with whatever they need,” Lennon said. 

Senior quarterback Mark Iannotti believes the equipment managers have an important role on the team, which doesn’t go unnoticed. 

“Mike [Whittemore] does a fantastic job helping me out whether it be snapping the ball to the quarterbacks or doing the little things that need to be done,” Iannotti said.

Lennon said the equipment managers are at home on the field. 

“They are in the team picture at the beginning of the year and feel just like family to all of us,” Lennon said.

Ted Ward can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @TedWard_DE