 "Photo: Keri Goff / The Daily Gamecock")
The Daily Gamecock: What's a typical day like in the life of an equipment manager?
RM: Well, first you wake up and go to class like a normal student, I guess. After class, you try to get out about 2 o'clock, and head to the stadium. During the football season you have to start getting your duties ready for practice and make sure your coach doesn't need anything else other than what you already have. Basically, you're just making sure the players get what they need and when it's time for practice, you go out and do what the coaches need you to do.
TDG: Have you been able to meet any of the running backs and become friends with some of them?
RM: Yeah, some of them are only a year younger than me, guys like Brian Maddox and Eric Baker. Then you got guys that just came in like Jarvis [Giles], who I got to talk to a little bit, but not as much as the other guys, because we've kind of been here together.
TDG: So what's a benefit of being a student manager?
RM: Basically, it's just the background work. You know, you get to see what happens at practice, what happens behind the scenes at games ... traveling with the team. You get a relationship with the players, you get to see them grow before they get to the NFL, so it's kind of cool because you can see them before they're big time.
TDG: What's a downside to the job? Do you wish you were student going to tailgating events?
RM: Well, I don't know. I wouldn't say tailgating is a big deal. If this job doesn't work out as a career, I've got the rest of my life to tailgate and do that. So that's not really a big deal. Sometimes when all the other students are gone on breaks and you have to be around during Christmas and stuff like that, that's a bummer. My freshmen year I had to miss Christmas with my family, so that was bad.
TDG: What's your favorite road venue to visit?
RM: I'm a real big fan of Knoxville. I like Tennessee. It's a fun place to watch a game. I have to say, LSU, was probably the craziest thing though ... it's one of the bigger stadiums, that and the Swamp in Florida, both were pretty wild.
TDG: What's your favorite thing about being a Gamecock in general?
RM:I don't know, man. It's a family thing. Grew up that way. I love it, love Columbia, love the University and love working for the football team.
TDG: Any plans after college?
RM: Well, right now I'm trying to get a seasonal or full year internship with an NFL team. Or maybe go to grad school and be a graduate assistant for another university.
Reid McAteer is a fourth-year sports and entertainment management student. He's currently the intern for the equipment staff in the athletic department. He'll be a senior in the fall, and is looking forward to a great season of Gamecock Football.
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