Northwestern University Athletics
Camp Kenosha: Day Six
8/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 16, 2004
KENOSHA, Wis. - Northwestern football had a long day Monday at UW-Parkside -- two practices, with the first one starting at 8 a.m.
However, there was a group of students whose day ran even longer than that of the players. Meet the student managers at Camp Kenosha: juniors Josh Mallon and Amanda Balen, and senior Emily Mraz.
The three of them are on the field well ahead of the players, setting up cones and getting the equipment out and ready to go. Following each practice, they have to store it up and get it off the field.
In between, there is running around -- a lot of it. The three of them are constantly on the go during practice, shagging balls, snapping to quarterbacks, catching field goals...you name it, they have probably done it.
"There is definitely a routine," said Mallon. "We go to eat breakfast, we get out here to set up and go to work during practice, and then afterward we break everything down. After dinner, we go put up laundry.
"Then we go home and go to bed, and in the morning we wake up and do it all over again the next day.
According to equipment manager Bill Jarvis, an ideal situation is to have seven or eight student managers -- three on offense, three for defense, and a few to float toward whatever other needs may arise. But this is Northwestern, and sometimes even the managers have other things come up. Two juniors who have been managers in previous years are gone this fall, studying abroad. And with classes not starting until mid-September, the chance to recruit newcomers has not yet arrived.
So Josh, Amanda and Emily soldier on, and they do it with a smile. When asked what the best part of Kenosha is, different responses pop up.
"I don't know if there is one best part," said Mallon. "If you love the sport and are addicted to it, like I am, I guess it's just all football all the time."
Mraz echoes that statement, saying, "it gets you into the football mentality before school starts." However, she also admits to one other perk: "It is great to be in the sun -- I have been behind a desk all summer, and now I get to be outside."
Ask what the worst part is, and both women chime in together: "Early mornings!" After a laugh, Balen says, "it is summer; you're supposed to be able to sleep in!"
What kind of qualities does it take to become a student football manager? Jarvis talks about loving the game and having a bit of a thick skin (those football coaches like to get after it, even at practice). The student trio uses words like punctual, hard-working and efficient.
"You have to be dedicated and attentive," said Balen. "A lot of things change out here, and there's a lot of action going on."
"We have had great kids as managers," said Jarvis, who enters his 29th year at Northwestern. "They are fun to be around and they really care about the job they do."
To watch Mallon, Balen and Mraz, that passion extends to those 12-hour days up in Kenosha...and even those that are more than 12. Because as a student manager at Camp Kenosha, you would be hard pressed to find days that are less than 12.
For more information on becoming a student manager, contact Bill Jarvis at (847) 491-8872.
CAMP KENOSHA NOTES
The afternoon practice (in shoulder pads and shorts) featured some outstanding plays on both sides of the ball. During 11-on-11 drills, freshman receivers Ross Lane and Ryan Cibulka both caught some long passes that went for touchdowns ... One of the day's best passes was a perfect 45-yard strike from Brett Basanez to Mark Philmore ... On defense, the play of the day came when Bryan Heinz, with his back turned on the play, deflected a pass that Dominique Price, the Wildcats' other safety, caught while falling to the ground ... Running back Terrell Jordan busted loose for an impressive 50-yard TD gallop during team drills ... The Wildcats will practice just once on Tuesday -- a morning session at Carthage College.
