Episode #18 - GO AGGIES!!!

On episode #18 it's all about the Utah State Football team. At time stamp 5:03 we talk with Mike Larsen and his son Britton, about Mike being a crazy Aggie fan. Then at time stamp 24:11, we get the inside scoop on what gets hauled in the equipment truck and how it all gets done from Bo Bates, head equipment manager for the Utah State Football team. 

Transcript

0:11

Welcome to driver, to driver, a Stokes trucking podcast on driver to driver. We will discuss everything related to trucking. And put a stokes trucking spin on it stokes trucking doing the right thing since 1979.

Mark: 0:33

Hey, welcome everybody to episode 18 of driver to driver a Stokes trucking podcast. I am your host mark lava. I am joined again by my part-time cohost full-time producer,

Grace: 0:45

grace lover.

Mark: 0:46

And this episode is going to be themed around Utah state. football go Aggies. Mike hates it

Grace: 0:57

I do too. It's dumb.

Mark: 1:00

So we've only got a couple segments. Uh, the only driver in this episode of the podcast is going to be Mike Larson. We are going to talk to him about his Aggie fan. and I'm pretty excited. I'm a, I'm a Nebraska Cornhuskers. fan Through and through, they are my team. I mean, I cheer for the Aggies because I drive the football truck, the Aggie football truck. I want them to do well. They pay the bills, around this joint really, but I am a Husker at heart and always will be. Mike makes my Husker fandom look amateurish. Mike is without a doubt, the biggest Aggie fan. I know I'm really glad that we did get the contract to haul Utah state's football equipment. And he's had the opportunity to do that for, for this'll be the second year. Hopefully this year, it goes a little smoother than the first year, which coincided with COVID. That was a bit, um, how would the kids say it? A shit. show? It was a show. Not through anybody, with equipment's doing by the way. They, they have been wonderful

Grace: 2:13

just last year.

Mark: 2:14

It was just, can we erase 2020? Can we just. Get a do over

Grace: 2:21

your calendar.

Mark: 2:22

Well, it doesn't seem to be trending quite. how we'd like it to trend grace. Anyway. Grace, any comments on Mike segment? Did you have you listened to it yet? I, uh, I'm not sure that I'm done editing this a hundred percent. So we may be recording this prior. To the edits being made. Grace does a lot of the heavy lifting on um, sound quality and things like that. And I edit for content quite often to make sure we don't put anything out there that we, as a company maybe shouldn't be representing. So yeah, I've been talked to a time or two, about a couple of things I've fled slip out there, maybe. Yeah, Like, because I'm involved, I'm involved. There has not been a recording on here that I haven't been involved in in one way or another. So I tend to think it's all good. Right. Um, obviously there's been some things recorded that I'm not going to make public. but For the most part, most of what we record, um, I'm really excited for other people to hear since I'm in it. I think it's awesome. Like Tony

Grace: 3:41

soprano.

Mark: 3:42

Yeah.

Grace: 3:45

You may dress like him.

Mark: 3:46

I, I wear shorts The boss didn't wear Nope. That's even like, it's part of the Sopranos. If you look it up on IMD B, there's a whole thing, you know, boss, the Dawn doesn't wear because You wouldn't be caught dressed like The boss, the boss is supposed to dress. nice

Grace: 4:09

In a striped shirt

Mark: 4:11

Yeah. there are several episodes of Sopranos where Tony's in like a tracksuit. Nope. That's not acceptable as the boss, not out in public, you wear that, you can wear that stuff at home, you don't wear that stuff out. in public. So by me wearing shorts often, that's that's a, no-no One of the captains might get me. All right. So, yeah. The first segments with Mike Larson. And I'm not going to get too much into telling you how how he became an Aggies fan or why? Because quite frankly, I don't understand it at all, but it is what it is. And I love Mike to death. So here we go with. a Segment with Mike Larson grace,

Grace: 4:58

let's roll.

Mark: 5:08

So the next, this is the fun topic too. We've got to talk about the super fan,

Mike: 5:19

The USC.

Mark: 5:19

the super USU fan. That is Mike Mike

Mike: 5:22

How did, how did, how did that come about.

Mark: 5:24

Because

Mike: 5:26

We, we, I remember the first thing I asked them, we should all do the USU equipment and you're like, we all need rescue equipment

Britton: 5:35

and

Mike: 5:35

slowly and gradually here we are.

Mark: 5:40

So let's rewind a ways, uh, in 2017 when my son was walking on at USU. at one point in time, I had tracked down email addresses for the athletic director in charge of equipment. And Mike bear, And I didn't know. I didn't know who Mike bear was at that point in time. I just found him on the website somehow. I had an email opening composed to those two guys asking about hauling their equipment. But you know, in the spring of 2017, I thought my son was going to be walking on the football team and probably be playing 20 18, 20 19. So I figured I had some time here, but I really wanted to do that.

Mike: 6:32

Yeah.

Mark: 6:34

And it was one of those nights. and It was like one of them Wednesday or Thursday nights. when I was there until seven or eight o'clock at night. And I was like, I'm not going to have time to do this. There's just, I'm not going to have time for this. So I deleted the email I closed it. So then you come to work for us super fan, How did that go down? You asked me and I pretty much give you the finger. And then pretty soon you got Mike bear's phone number from your brother, right?

Mike: 7:11

His email, Yeah. And so I emailed him and I said, Hey, what are we going to do to Holly equipment? And then he emailed me back and he says, all the contracts that we'll send out for bid in, in, uh, February, March something. And, uh, he says, I'll, I'll get you on the list. Make

Mark: 7:32

It would have been like, what fall of 2019, right. November. Wasn't it. November or December when we had a phone conversation with him.

Mike: 7:40

Yeah. Yup.

Mark: 7:42

yeah.

Mike: 7:45

Yeah.

Mark: 7:46

I let that brew for a couple of months, I was trying to figure out how to bring that up with Valen Tyler and sell them on it. Right. I had to sell them on it and that was, I don't think I did a very good, well, I must've done a good enough job, selling it. But I think there is a little bit of, there's a little piece of Al where he was like, okay, I'll just let these two. idiots do 50 50 chance they don't get the contract. And if they do, I'll just let these two dumb asses deal with it. I don't know why they want to do it, you know,

Mike: 8:25

see where it

Mark: 8:25

like Maybe they'll just keep him happy and shut them up. But then when, when he got the bid and um, we got the the RFP, the request for pricing know, And Becky went through it and um, bless her heart. She knows how to put together a proposal way better than I do. because it would mine. Would've looked pretty ugly. It looked pretty nice. And she was all done. And What do you know? The day I got chased out of Detroit because COVID hit was the day I found out we got the contract.

Mike: 9:06

That's right. Yeah.

Mark: 9:10

the COVID year sort of sucked. It was fun. Boise was fun. I'm really looking forward to the Vegas. game this year.

Mike: 9:19

Yeah. That'll be fun in the new stadium.

Mark: 9:21

Yeah. I think, I think that's going to be, I can't wait to see what the facilities are like for the truck.

Mike: 9:30

Yeah. How about there? Like, um, Colorado Springs. I mean like back in the bay and yeah

Mark: 9:39

yeah,

Mike: 9:41

I only got some good games and Washington state. That'll be fun.

Mark: 9:44

I'm looking forward to going to New Mexico twice. I love New Mexico.

Mike: 9:50

I lived there Clovis. I lived there for two years, so.

Mark: 9:53

but you lived where you lived is barely New Mexico. That's pretty much it's you lived right next to Texas is asshole. That's where you, lived.

Mike: 10:05

it felt like

Mark: 10:12

I I, I really like Albuquerque. I like Las Cruces too. You know me and Becky went down there a couple years ago for a conference and

Mike: 10:19

yeah, I remember

Mark: 10:20

extra day

Mike: 10:21

he went to white sands

Mark: 10:22

yeah, I really like it down there.

Mike: 10:24

and we Went down there. Once we went down there,

Mark: 10:29

I could totally move down there and make meth.

Mike: 10:32

yeah,

Mark: 10:34

absolutely.

Britton: 10:36

We went down there for the New Mexico bowl and we went to this restaurant where like all the athletics people were at and we got these burritos. They were like complimentary. My dad had to ask the waiter for me. Cause he was, cause it was so spicy to him.

Mike: 10:51

They were hot. They were hot. I bet I

Mark: 10:53

Has he, has. He told you I make fun of him all the time. we're going to get Mexican, I'm like, make sure you get a side of sugar for Mike It's not, it's not spicy. Is it?

Mike: 11:07

Oh my gosh. That's so

Mark: 11:09

You're such a wimp.

Mike: 11:11

that was so hot. I probably, I probably drink like six beers and like a half an hour trying to cool down.

Mark: 11:17

You just do that anyway.

Mike: 11:21

Holy cow.

Mark: 11:22

So, um, how did you become a, a super fan?

Mike: 11:27

I don't know. I, well, I wasn't really, when I was young, I mean, when I was younger, uh, my grandpa and my dad, we always, they always just rang us over to games, but I wasn't really a super fan. Um, I wasn't really a fan until. JC Carol watching JC Carol and we, we, uh, me and my brother bought

Mark: 11:52

kinda of recent,

Mike: 11:54

well it

Britton: 11:56

what 20 11, 20 10

Mike: 11:59

maybe. now it was, he was there 2008. I want to say 2008.

Britton: 12:07

tell

Mike: 12:07

me that me and my brother got season tickets. We started buying season some basketball or football still sucked, but we might football season tickets, um, Brent guys last year and we were horrible. We were horrible, but then we hired Gary Anderson. So, but, but that ran guys, I say it was kinda cool. Cause you know, he hadn't stayed into herself. So it was nice. Sit, sit wherever you want.

Mark: 12:33

less people there. Then the bear river game.

Mike: 12:35

Yeah, it was, it was great. So then Gary Anderson show us up. And that was, and then from then on, it was like, we, we turned to switched and we were the first couple of years, we weren't great, but we were competitive and like every game

Mark: 12:52

kicked the is that the first.

Mike: 12:55

You know what? That was a year I was gone. I was driving for pride cause I was watching it in, in, uh, de Moines, Iowa or no Davenport, Iowa and him and Angie went to the game and the check Keaton, we kicked the shit out of him. No, no, no. It was the under the Burrell, Deandre brown Chuckie Keaton committed that game.

Mark: 13:17

The first USU game I remember watching was the Auburn game, that they almost won but like They were going to win. So I remember texting with a guy that was in my wedding, one of my best friends. And he's like, oh my God, I think they're going to win this game. And I was like, oh my God, I think they're gonna win this game. And I was like, No, they're not,

Mike: 13:40

Yeah.

Mark: 13:42

hurts.

Mike: 13:44

That still hurts. Yeah, that was, that was Chucky's first game.

Mark: 13:47

We went to a game not long after that. Maybe the week or two, after that, we went to our first Aggie game and it was stadium was pretty full and we sat right by the students and it actually really impressed me. how into it? The students were.

Mike: 14:05

Yeah. Uh, like I say, it was just like Gary Anderson brought this energy. I mean, it was like, you knew we were going to be something like we weren't winning like those first couple of years, like I think we only won like four games a year, but we were competitive and we knew it. We were like right there. And so, yeah, I mean, ever since I just. I love it.

Mark: 14:36

For Nebraska. I mean, everybody, almost everybody who grows up in Nebraska is a Nebraska. fan. I know like five people, but I know one guy that actively cheers against them, but he does it just cause he's an ass. Like that's his, that's his deal. He's an asshole, you know? Um, and it's different out here. We've talked, we've had our talks about how it's weird. Cause there's three, three schools in state and one is tied to the predominant religion. So you're going to have like in Nebraska CA there's where I grew up. I went to school with as many Catholics as like my kids went to school with LDS kids right there. It was 65, 70% Catholic. So there's a lot of people in Nebraska. there. Notre Dame This star. They cheer for Nebraska too, but really hit it hard. they're Notre Dame fans. So I sorta get it.

Mike: 15:43

Yeah. It's uh,

Mark: 15:46

but you have this hatred for BYU that I almost can't describe. I'm more. I worry about you. I think it's dangerous for you Yeah,

Mike: 16:02

it probably is. Yeah.

Mark: 16:04

deep. they don't hate you, Mike.

Mike: 16:08

Oh, I hate them though. I hate them with a passion. I hate him. No it's because if you look back like the villain, which is an egg. And then he went down there and then they got a fake national championship. I mean

Mark: 16:28

well, it's not fake. they actually have a trophy. and everything.

Mike: 16:35

Did they find anybody

Mark: 16:37

have a stronger claim to a national title than Utah state does.

Mike: 16:41

Well, yeah.

Mark: 16:43

okay. then It's all right. But Hey, Michigan says they're national champions in 1997. I strongly disagree with that assessment, but I don't hate Michigan because of it.

Mike: 16:57

I hate it. I hate it. It would have been Utah, Utah state. That's how it should have been. Like, but Utah partnered with BYU will Vye is.

Britton: 17:08

always they

Mike: 17:10

better than Utah state. They've always tried to keep us down. They would never let us join the conference. They would never let us, you know, they never wanted us. They won't play in a conference with us. They would never come to the mountain list. Never because they're better than us.

Mark: 17:26

Is it

Mike: 17:26

So it's that attitude that drives me batshit crazy

Mark: 17:29

Is it because of the colors. Is that why

Mike: 17:32

they still aren't colors? But I think they're going back to their original colors. I don't know

Mark: 17:38

What are their original colors?

Mike: 17:39

the, the light blue,

Britton: 17:42

Royal blue.

Mike: 17:42

Royal blue. Yeah. I mean, it's just, no, it's that overall arrogance of that there's so much better than everybody else. You just kicked her ass. What? Nine 90 in row, nine years in a row now. And they still think they're better than Utah. So, so what stadiums have you been to

Mark: 18:04

like to actually watch a game?

Mike: 18:05

Yeah. Have you just spent in Nebraska and here

Mark: 18:08

Yeah, yeah,

Mike: 18:10

you don't go to away games.

Mark: 18:14

Missouri

Mike: 18:17

Yeah. Cause you live down there.

Mark: 18:18

Yeah. Um, I went and watched, not just Nebraska. play at Missouri. We watched several games there. Um, I hardly, went out. we went to Nebraska games though, I was always working

Mike: 18:31

Wouldn't have Lisa, if we signed to play at Nebraska, we'll get to drive out there.

Mark: 18:39

that'd be great.

Mike: 18:40

That'd be awesome.

Mark: 18:41

The first here's a little piece of trivia for you. So I graduated high school in 93, went to college at UNL from 93 to 97. The first Nebraska football game I ever went to was in 2004. I'm a huge fan. I was always working. It was too expensive. to go. I was working weekends and so, you know, and every game was on TV. So I'd just drink beer and watch it on it. But even when I was in college, though, I was working,

Mike: 19:15

That's why these guys don't know how good they got it here. You can go to a game for 20 bucks.

Mark: 19:20

they don't, they don't have a clue. They don't the, so and so in Nebraska, you know, you've got 80,000 plus people in the stadium, 8,000 of them are students. There was 8,000 students at an Aggie game too, but there's only 20,000 people at the game.

Mike: 19:39

Tops. Yeah.

Mark: 19:41

Right. So the students have such a big influence on these games compared to what I know. And There's a big, you can find it on Nebraska. message boards, everybody bitching about the blue hairs? Cause the blue hairs are the only ones that have enough money to buy the good tickets. but Then they just cause they're 90. Like you know, they can barely walk the way it is. You're not going to get up and scream. And so that that's every year that gets talked about how they need to get rid of the blue hairs,

Mike: 20:16

Just let them sit in their own special section.

Mark: 20:21

I don't know. There's some pretty serious talk that this year might be the year the sellout streak ends there. so

Mike: 20:32

I would doubt it.

Mark: 20:33

So are you a fan of college football or are you just a fan of the Aggies?

Britton: 20:38

I'm a fan of college football. I usually watch most of the games just on Saturday to just turn on. Whatever's on. Yeah. Yeah. I don't follow like religiously and just like monitor what every team is doing and whatever, but like, I think there's a few teams that I keep it close to watch. Like I'm Washington. I like to keep a look like I should ever Washington. And then Tennessee, like, those are the two schools outside of Utah state that I actually cheered for.

Mike: 21:00

And coincidentally, those are two winged games. So we went to.

Mark: 21:07

I want to take you maybe this ball's the time to go Nebraska. Uh, the, on the 9th of October, they have a home game. us use by weekend. They play Michigan.

Mike: 21:21

Oh, that'd be fun.

Mark: 21:22

Yeah. It'd be a good game to go to because it is kind of an exp it's like going well, you guys went to Tennessee and LSU, right? It's like, it's like that 80,000 people all cheering for the same thing. It's, it's something. Um, especially since Nebraska suck so bad.

Mike: 21:42

LSU w w it wasn't, it was somewhere early in the morning. It was like a 10, 10 in the morning game.

Britton: 21:47

that'd be tough. So

Mike: 21:49

crowd, like really wasn't it wasn't full

Britton: 21:52

No tailgating. You

Mike: 21:53

really get to tailgate. I mean, I was weak spiced ramen seven in the morning.

Mark: 22:00

Of course you were my

Mike: 22:01

they had it at the tailgate.

Mark: 22:09

I don't know. does he know the Nebraska history? The sellout streak?

Britton: 22:15

I know the cell Drake. I know it's been going on for like a long time.

Mark: 22:18

1962

Britton: 22:19

Dang. That's crazy.

Mark: 22:21

they get 80,000 idiots to buy a ticket to every game. since 1962. Even when we lose, we're still buying tickets and I'm talking about buying tickets. Like I told him, it's like some neuroses we we all have or something. that Why? Why am I still a fan of them? They suck. They've been terrible. don't get it.

Britton: 22:43

That's how it was last year. Well, like, I mean, there's been a few years that they've been pretty bad and Utah state. Yeah. But like it's cold and it's raining, but for some reason I still go, I haven't missed it. I haven't missed a home football game since 2012. No kidding. Yeah. Well, since we've had season tickets, like even when my mom was in the hospital, what 2016 and my dad was down there with it, or me and my cousin chase and I haven't missed a game set.

Mark: 23:10

Hey mom, get, well, I gotta go. oh, that's outstanding. Well, Mike, um, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for coming over. Thank you for, for coming to work for us. Thank you for learning how to dispatch. Thanks for driving goad me into applying for the Aggie. gig. And uh, I could go on and on all night long, about all the things I need to thank you for

Mike: 23:46

look at us now. Everything has changed since I came on.

Mark: 23:51

Yeah. I'm like locked into your top for the rest of my life. Thanks buddy.

Mike: 23:58

you're welcome. I try.

Mark: 24:11

Next up on the podcast is going to be Bo Bates. This was a segment that Mike Larson and myself recorded with Bo earlier this summer when he had a free minute, Bo is the main equipment guy at Utah state. I don't know. I don't know exactly what his title is or if he has, it, I'm sure he has a title. Um, but he takes care of essentially he's the head man in charge of all the football equipment for the. team. year round, right? It's a year round gig for him. He's got a couple helpers that are full-time, but mostly it's student assistance that just worked during season and all these folks put in monster hours, like during the season, it's, it's stupid. The amount of time. they work. Every day, seven days a

Grace: 25:10

I saw on Aggie handshake that you can make$10 an hour doing the football team's laundry.

Mark: 25:18

No way, no way would I do that job?

Grace: 25:22

Mom said I should do it so I can get a boyfriend.

Mark: 25:25

So the reason they do that and they can get people to work for that amount of money is there's fans. They're fans. right. And maybe not Aggie fan so much as they want to go work somewhere else. And we get into that with Bo a little bit, how he got started working in equipment when he was at Oregon at the university of Oregon and how his career has progressed. He's, he's a younger fellow he's in, uh, I don't know if we talk about his age in this, but I, I'm going to say he's late twenties, maybe early thirties. And like, this is going to be Most likely his life's work is working in equipment and it might not, you know, might not stop at Utah state? He Think about all the professional teams teams that exist. Right. Um, it's a fairly small group of people that work in equipment. There's about 130 division one football program. There's about 800 total college football programs, But then, you know, everybody aspires to work in the pros. There's 32 pro football teams, and that's how you get there is you work your way up from Utah state to a power five program, and then up into the pros. So here comes a segment with bow Bates, the equipment equipment manager for Utah state. football. Did I ever tell you about the, the light up a, that he bought?

Bo: 27:13

No.

Mark: 27:14

Did you ever hear about the light-up a, that they

Mike: 27:16

those things are cool?

Bo: 27:17

No,

Mark: 27:18

Okay. So the

Bo: 27:19

the only light up I know

Mark: 27:20

is the one on campus, right in old Maine. Yeah. So somebody got the bright idea and it's cool idea. We're going to sell this light up this little miniature. What, how tall is it about that tall?

Mike: 27:31

It's modern. It looks like four by

Mark: 27:33

it's only four inches tall.

Mike: 27:35

four by four something

Mark: 27:36

So, so you take this thing and then you plug it into your computer and you hook it to your wife and you can put it in your window and whenever the Aggies win. It turns blue. Just like old man, right? Yeah. It's kind of cool. And I S I read it it's like, how much was it?

Mike: 27:55

I don't remember. It was like 25 bucks. I'm like, that

Mark: 27:58

about it. I'm like, who is going to spin good. Hard-earned money on this thing, that guy, that guy right there.

Bo: 28:04

Hey you never know, man. There's a lot of true Aggies. That's well we'll take, you know, the small trinkets and give it to kids and stuff like that.

Mike: 28:14

yeah, it sits right. in my foyer. So the game gets over. I walk upstairs and it's lit up blue.

Mark: 28:20

Usually when the game gets over, you walk upstairs and it looks just like it did when you walked downstairs.

Bo: 28:25

it'd be shocking. It'd be shocking to see how much people, um, want, you know, just different things. Because even in our program, like whenever we run into some family members, um, ask him about gear. I mean, everyone wants exclusive gear. Everyone wants exclusive gear. Doesn't matter what it is. I mean, I've seen some people buy some things that. Seemed like, does it matter to anyone like at Oregon they do a surplus sale. I've seen them sell like a little tiny punch buggy car that was like decked out in Oregon gear. And they, they sold that or like old lockers, old, old locker room.

Mark: 29:13

I, if the Husker sold old blockers, like it's beyond whose it was,

Mike: 29:18

Yeah. they sell, they sell them like in the auctions and stuff. Yeah,

Mark: 29:21

I'd probably buy Alright

Mike: 29:24

anyway, that Aggie's 22 is Brian Phillips.

Mark: 29:26

Brian Phillips. See, I told you this, Brian,

Bo: 29:28

I don't know who

Mike: 29:29

met him. He always says like interviews with the new recruits.

Mark: 29:32

Yeah. Whenever somebody commits

Mike: 29:33

like the first to break it. He's pretty good.

Bo: 29:35

not, too sure. Which that guy is. I only know Doug Hoffman.

Mike: 29:40

Now He doesn't work for the university. He does his own. thing. Well, I think it works for 2, 2 47 or whatever that recruiting

Mark: 29:47

24 7. 2 47. It's the same

Mike: 29:50

It's the same. It's

Mark: 29:51

Semantics. It depends on where the slashes. We're joined by Bo Bates. Who's the equipment manager for the Utah state football Aggies. Do you get into the other sports at all or is it just football?

Bo: 30:09

football,

Mark: 30:09

just football I'm really, I'm really excited. You're here. the Aggie project for us has been kind of a little. Pet project for me. it's been sort of hard at times with COVID as you well know. but I think we're past that and we're ready to go pretty excited for the 20, 21 season. So, Beau, uh, how long have you worked in that role at Utah state?

Bo: 30:40

right now? The role has started somewhat of last year in July. I was assistant, for the last two seasons and then it rolled over to me too. Take a bigger role and really just take care of the whole football team. And right now it's just me doing just football.

Mark: 31:00

just football. And there's one other gentleman that works with you full time. Yes. Uh, Brady then how many you have some interns, some staff that works for you?

Bo: 31:12

Yes. Uh, 10 student equipment managers.

Mark: 31:15

Wow. How many players are on the team?

Bo: 31:19

Um, roughly on a roster it's anywhere from 1 0 5 to one 20.

Mark: 31:26

So here's a, I'll be surprised if you know the how many pairs of socks do you guys go through in a season?

Bo: 31:34

That is a tough one. I'm sure I can go look it up on our sports off system and find out how many SOPs we go through. I mean, I know how much socks I order for, you know, the new season and what comes in. Cause our sports, our system calculates it exactly to the tee of what we issue out and what's with us. So I would just have to go home. My sport socks

Mark: 31:58

So, so you're talking about is that that's the system. You keep track all your inventory on your

Bo: 32:03

inventory system.

Mark: 32:04

Okay. Every player gets a whole bunch of swag players and coaches Managers what's everybody get for four or five different shirts, two or three pairs of shorts.

Bo: 32:18

for the most part, usually they get a care package for fall camp, especially with the. Whole new team, whole new staff. we really want them, especially since we're a Nike school or a Nike school, so we're supposed to wear the swoosh and, um, all our gear has our Utah state logos. so that whenever we do. Any type of training, running, lifting, we're in the right attire, um, that has Nike deer and the Utah state logo on it.

Mark: 32:53

You're working off season two all the time, but a lot of, you know, most your average fan thinks, what do these guys do the rest of the year? How is that a full-time job? But especially at college, I think college may be even more short. So than the pros it's year round with all the off season training that you do. And because. It's so big. It's so much bigger than the pros. You're probably two to three times more people than a pro team. Is there ever a slow time for you?

Bo: 33:27

for the most part, there isn't really a slow time, especially with the whole COVID going on. the COVID year was very, very different. it was a lot of ifs on what was going to happen. So a lot of times we're, we, we, in, in the equipment industry a lot, a lot of what we do is based on time. So there's always certain things that come in on, on certain times, there's certain things that we have to meet, like deadlines for equipment gear for orders. So throughout the year, you're, you're constantly trying to chase what's going to happen. So if you're in season, you're always chasing to the next thing. So while we're playing and getting, or getting ready for one game, we're already trying to look forward. To the next two or three games and try and piece it all together so that we're always ready for whatever is coming up next

Mark: 34:31

And you do quite a bit, even like right after the season gets over in December, January, you're probably ordering for spring camp, summer fall camp, right?

Bo: 34:41

Yes. Yeah. So we do our big orders, usually around October, October, September ish. And, um, we always order a year before

Mark: 34:52

or

Bo: 34:52

the whole new new year. So everything comes in usually within June and July for football. And then we're pretty much trying to get everything ready for the season and fall camp. In that time

Mark: 35:10

who decides alternate, alternate uniforms.

Bo: 35:14

usually we have a few guys or the past teams is you, you. I'll talk to the, the main, leadership committee. there's usually a group of guys out of the whole team that the coaches all pick. there's your captains on it? And then there's a leadership committee and they'll usually I'll ask them in the beginning of the week, what they would like to wear for this upcoming game. And they'll all kind of collaborate on what they feel like. Would fit them the best and I'll give them some input and sometimes they take it, sometimes they don't, but you know, usually we just work as a team to figure out what they want to wear. And we'll go from there.

Mark: 35:58

What about some of the special logos? Like a lot of times teams will do red, white, and blue for, um, different holidays. W how is that decided?

Bo: 36:08

usually Dell, the players will decide if they want to do like a different type of logo. And, um, usually once, once they figure out what they want to do, we'll get it approved by the university and then, uh, move forward on that.

Mark: 36:25

The university has approval on everything don't they?

Bo: 36:28

definitely. Definitely.

Mark: 36:32

It was like, so when we were putting the football truck graphic together, I had to get special permission to use the Utah state font. For our, for the DLT number and, and the VIN number on that truck. Yeah.

Mike: 36:47

it was all

Mark: 36:48

It was a deal like putting the graphics together for that truck was, uh, one of the most challenging things I've ever done in trucking. And that's saying something, so

Bo: 36:58

yeah there's a committee, there's a committee that, Pretty much, you turn in everything too with logos and any type of stickers or uniforms and they have to give you approval to do anything,

Mark: 37:13

Utah. I honestly, since we've moved here, I have, they have some of the best alternate, just different graphics. They use that. I think it's wonderful. Some of the things that they do with their So even when they're not winning Mike

Mike: 37:31

Kind of down a couple of years, we'll be all right.

Mark: 37:33

I'm so excited to have the head equipment manager and the biggest Aggie fan I know on the podcast together. It's great.

Mike: 37:42

All right. Aren't we do for a local change though.

Bo: 37:45

I'm not too sure right now. I'm a big fan of the Utah state logo that we rock right

Mike: 37:51

now. We got right now. It looks

Bo: 37:53

I like that one. and we do use the ball a lot, so I liked that logo as well. So I'm not too sure how that process works on getting new logos, but I'm a big fan of the logo right now.

Mike: 38:08

Yeah. Because I think we got this one in I don't know, 2011. I think I want to think back Yeah So it's been about 10 years.

Mark: 38:16

Yeah. When we first moved out here, it was still a, the U with the state down the side and the a

Mike: 38:24

No, it's kind of like the Ohio state look with these to you today.

Mark: 38:30

So you had a question before we turned before I pressed record for him.

Mike: 38:35

Yeah. I was just asking. um, If you were started with Matt Wells or with Gary Anderson?

Bo: 38:40

I started with Gary Anderson.

Mark: 38:43

I was

Mike: 38:43

I was just wondering what the difference between with, with Wells and with Anderson, you know, something

Bo: 38:52

I'm not too sure. I haven't worked with coach Wells. Um, so I'm not too

Mike: 38:57

So where were you, Where were you at before when Gary Hannah?

Bo: 39:01

Before I was with university of Utah.

Mike: 39:04

So you came here when Gary Anderson came here and then he just said, Hey, Bo. I need you to come with me.

Bo: 39:10

when Gary Anderson got the head coaching job at Utah state, um, it kinda just worked out in the timing. That there was a spot open at Utah state and I just applied for it and ended up getting it.

Mike: 39:25

I see.

Mark: 39:26

well, I guess I'd never put that together that you weren't here under Wells. That's when Caleb got recruited.

Mike: 39:33

was it under Wells.

Mark: 39:34

Yeah. Yeah. He committed, you know, Stacy Collins was the coach, but he was the special teams coordinator. Matt Wells

Mike: 39:41

Yeah.

Mark: 39:42

I never, that never tripped with me. That's why you didn't know who he was Yeah. He would have been playing,

Mike: 39:48

and that's how I ended it back here. because I come over to a spring scrimmage and Caleb was playing and I ran into

Mark: 39:54

yeah there you go. That's a good little. Story for you? The only way he ended up back at Stokes trucking was because Caleb played in the spring game that year and that goofy frickin Aggie fan. I ran into him at the point

Mike: 40:09

game. Yeah, the suites were open him. of course he sitting up there in a suite. And So me and my kid, are we're like, the sweets are off. We're going to go sit in the suite, check it out. And then we're walking back and here come there's marks then right outside the suite.

Mark: 40:25

After I ran into him. So he had driven for us after I ran until I'm like, we needed a dispatcher, man. I think Mike would, he could do the job. Maybe we ought to. So then I, I tell Val and pretty soon we contact Mike. And what was it? Three, four months later, you were in the office.

Mike: 40:44

Yeah, pretty much. Yeah.

Mark: 40:47

About that. so I probably wouldn't even have gone to the spring game, but I knew that the handwriting was on the wall. He wasn't, this was going to be the last time I ever saw him in pads was that spring.

Mike: 40:59

That's

Bo: 41:00

Yeah that's okay. If I was there earlier, maybe he would, uh, he became a student equipment manager, you know?

Mike: 41:07

know.

Mark: 41:07

You, you work hard. How many hours, how many hours a week do you put in during season a hundred? It's a lot

Bo: 41:16

Hard to say it's a lot, every week is different. I'm over 40, for sure. I'd say that much over 40, for sure.

Mark: 41:27

I, I have never. Other NIF, like dropping the trailer in the middle of the night. We did that a couple of times last year. I have never been to the locker room when you weren't there. Not once. Not ever

Mike: 41:42

Yeah, That's true.

Bo: 41:46

So second home equipment room is a

Mark: 41:50

I didn't know you had a home. I thought it was, you just have a cot there don't you?

Bo: 41:53

It's a second home for

Mike: 41:54

yeah, during the season it Seems like you never leave.

Bo: 41:57

Yes, definitely. Um, like I said, we're always trying to get ready for the next thing. So we work in the shadows and what we do and, um, honestly, that's a good day.

Mark: 42:13

It's one of those, it's one of those jobs. If some, if they know your name, it's a problem.

Bo: 42:17

If, if they're, if they're calling for something, it might be a problem. And usually is. So if they're not calling your name, usually, uh, things are going good. Yeah.

Mark: 42:30

So you're from Hawaii originally. And tell us how you tell us the route, how you ended up sitting in my basement on a Saturday night, talking about Utah state football. Cause that's a good story in itself.

Mike: 42:43

right?

Bo: 42:44

I mean, I grew up in Hawaii. I was there for 18 years. Um, grew up on the island of Maui. I was from Louisiana, still am from Louisiana, but you know, currently living up in Logan, Utah, um, went to university of Oregon, the ducks, graduated. Um, was it a student equipment manager for them?

Mark: 43:06

Hang on a minute. I want you to tell a story about how you ended up as an equipment manager because I think I think, this is one of the best. This is the best story about you.

Bo: 43:16

I mean, it was just crazy going up to Oregon. I pretty much went blind. I never really knew what the ducks were.

Mike: 43:27

Did you have a scholarship there, or what, when did you chose choose Oregon,

Bo: 43:31

just, out of the blue, you know, I'm

Mark: 43:33

did you choose them because they have cool uniforms?

Bo: 43:35

Well, actually I didn't really know anything about them. Um, at first I wanted to go to school for, uh, architecture. So their, their program at Oregon is really good. And. It was either between Oregon state and the ducks and, uh, former alumni from my high school came back and he was talking to me about the schools. And he was just saying, you know, just trust, trust your gut feeling of where you want to go. And he was saying, you know, he was alumni from the doc. So he was kind of pushing me to go there. He was saying, you know, their architecture program would fit me and. I remember asking him, like, what's, what's the thing that everyone talks about when you say Oregon, like what's the school that pops up the most. He said the ducks. So I said, okay, that's, that's it. And I'm going to go to the ducks. so I went up there pretty much a small fish in a giant ocean had no idea what anything was up there. couple of weeks into school walk out of my dorm. Couple of Hawaii guys, run into me and, They, they said, uh, looking kind of lost. And I said, yes. Is it that obvious?

Mark: 44:55

So did they ask you if you're from Hawaii?

Bo: 44:58

yeah, there was like, oh you from Hawaiian? I said, oh yeah. It was like, you looking kind of lost, man. You know where you're going? And I was like, no, Um, so I met up with them and they said, why don't you follow us? You know, we'll show you the ropes. Um, the two guys was a Bronson yam. He's a quarterback and Marcus Mariota was a quarterback. So was it called resist, became friends instantly, you know, people

Mark: 45:22

Mary Mariota went on to quite a bit of fame,

Bo: 45:26

Yes. Yes, he did definitely. Well, he definitely, he was a tremendous quarterback in college and went on to the NFL and is still awesome, but it was being from Hawaii. It was nice to know that, older Hawaii guys, that's usually the thing. Uh, everyone in Hawaii is, is very, um, And giving and, uh, they want to help each other out. So they, you know, they seen another Hawaii person kind of lost and they helped me out through, through a tough times.

Mark: 46:00

so, so Mariota that, that those two guys were the football connection that how you ended up.

Bo: 46:08

So those two guys, you know, being from Hawaii, usually whenever other Hawaii guys meet other Hawaii guys, you know, you, you want to introduce them to all the Hawaii boys. So that's how, I pretty much met all the Hawaii guys on the football team. So, you know, we all started hanging out. in college and having a good time and one day, you know, they're like, man, you should just try and be one of us. And I was like, come on now. Like I definitely don't have the speed

Mark: 46:39

not quite

Bo: 46:39

Yeah I'm not, I'm not like a division one athlete in, in height or any of that, but they're saying no there's different opportunities. Um, as a. Equipment manager. So one of the boys that was really good friends with all of them, they're all best friends. They're all equipment. they're equipment managers too, from Hawaii. what's it called? Uh, another player core Chi, you know, helped me, getting to contact with, uh, the head di over there at Oregon. They had the equipment manager. So although pretty much all the Hawaii guys. You know, spoke on my behalf to meet the head guy. So eventually, I met the head guy at their Oregon surplus. and you know, it was just a short, brief, pretty much, you know, hi, how are you? You know? my name is Bo and, eventually, you know, the year came around and they had, kind of openings. For trials. So did the application got to the trial and, pretty much made the squad.

Mark: 47:43

hang on a minute. What's the tryout.

Bo: 47:46

Um,

Mark: 47:47

or for an Oregon equipment

Bo: 47:49

So the first thing is first, you know, you turn in your resume cover letter, and being what Oregon is as a really, really good, football program. You know, you catch a lot of eyes, you get a lot of people that are trying to be a part of the team. So one step. To get onto the team is being an equipment manager. So you turn in your applications. there's tons of people that apply from year to year trying to get on. they usually select, around eight or 10 to come on for spring ball, to see how well you work in your specific player position. So out of the eight to 10 guys, you worked the whole spring ball, spring camp, and then they try to figure out if you know, you're cut out for the job, how well you gel with the former managers that have been there for awhile. and just see on a day-to-day task on how well you work out on the field,

Mark: 48:52

So what's, a daily task, the equipment. One of the equipment managers, one of the students would do.

Bo: 49:00

well, first thing is first, usually report time is 6:00 AM. so the biggest thing,

Mark: 49:06

got a few truck drivers that wouldn't, they

Mike: 49:08

Yeah They wouldn't know where to make it

Bo: 49:10

The biggest thing, um, is definitely being on time. Um,

Mark: 49:17

we need to hire former equipment managers, drive truck. That's what we need.

Bo: 49:20

Yes, uh, being any equipment, like I said, everything is on time. So that's the first thing they look at is, um, you know, if you're prompt and excited and bring a lot of energy, 6:00 AM for a lot of people are, is tough to report. usually if guys are late, that's already, you know, kind of a red flag that that person won't fit, fit the crew. And being a student you're there at different hours, you know, you're a lot of times we say we're the first ones in last ones out, so we're there to set up, practice. So we'll report 6:00 AM, get a briefing on what practice is going to look like. Go over scripts. Usually on most teams. Script out practice and pretty much tell you exactly what's going to happen and when it's going to happen and where it's going to happen. it's pretty much just a skeleton.

Mark: 50:15

So you're talking about like you're getting out balls and pads,

Bo: 50:18

Yes

Mark: 50:19

yard any cones, anything they're going to use

Bo: 50:22

position. So usually we'll. Before that we'll talk to each position coach and they'll tell us exactly what they want. For a lot of times, the coaches will even give us diagrams to show us what the specific drill looks like and the name of the drill. So as time goes on, they can just tell you what drill they want by name, and you can set it up on the fly.

Mark: 50:47

That makes sense.

Bo: 50:48

Yeah. So, um, when I was a student, they're definitely blessed to have three practice fields. So we'd set up all three practice fields, offense on one side defense on another and special teams on the other one. And, uh, pretty much every location where player specific position is, needs to be set up. Properly, whatever droves are doing throughout the day. So as a team comes out and the coaches comes out, all the drills are set up. So all they have to because there's a time constraint based on, uh, NCAA rules that they can practice per day. So the coaches. Definitely want to get the most reps in for each individual player so that, um, there's no wasted time on them.

Mark: 51:38

Yeah. Cool. So after practice is done, you also take care of all the,

Bo: 51:45

clean it back up.

Mark: 51:46

yeah, all the, all the cleanup and

Bo: 51:48

you know, the field, make sure everything's put away neat and nicely and pretty much ready to go for the following day. and then we go in and do laundry for all the players. You know, a big thing is, sanitization, you know, trying to make sure everything is clean. we give each individual player, a loop that they can put their clothes on, they turn it into.

Mark: 52:11

okay, so you gotta, you gotta explain, I know what it is, but you gotta to explain what a loop is.

Bo: 52:17

a loop is pretty much just a

Mike: 52:20

like a laundry bag, right? A laundry

Bo: 52:22

bag. Some people have laundry bags or it's kind of just like a piece of rope that has clips to it. And you can put. clothes anywhere from shorts, shirts, compression shorts, socks, gloves onto it. And, what you do is you string it, string it on kind of like, um, a fishermen. stringing on fish, on their, their little rope loop and, they'll clip it on. And then each individual loop has a designated number that corresponds to each player.

Mark: 52:53

the player. Yep.

Bo: 52:54

So we'll wash it, wash it, dry it, as soon as they're done or take each individual loop and turn it back into each players, laundry bin, Every equipment room usually has a laundry bin, area where they can have individual lockers, like tiny ones so that the towels and the loops can fit in so that every time they have a run or a practice or a lift, the players have clean clothes so that they can train it.

Mark: 53:29

so the players pretty much, they dirty the stuff up, they put it on a loop or in a laundry bag, dump it. You guys take care of it. And then it goes back in their locker where it was

Bo: 53:41

Yes.

Mark: 53:42

Logistics. I'm a logistics guy. I'm fascinated by it. I think it's really cool. What the equipment people have figured out to take care of that amount of, of. People while yours and make it run efficiently.

Mike: 54:00

not, mix up their laundry

Mark: 54:01

Yeah, I it's it's to me, it's pretty fascinating. That was one of the things. When Kayla was being recruited, we always went and saw the equipment people, and I didn't understand why the hell we wanted to see the equipment people after the first couple of times totally made sense because everybody has their own thing. Utah had everybody has a bag. And you had a locker and you shoved your dirty laundry in this locker. You were there when he was being recruited by Utah. And then you'd go back to that locker and pull it back out when he was clean. Like it was, it was amazing to me how, how everything was kept track

Bo: 54:40

definitely, definitely. Um, it's just a lot of moving parts, a lot of moving parts. And, like I said, with the, with the players, we, we want everything. Moving at the right times. So they, they, they have a lot of things they got to do too. Cause at first, you know, there are students, so they're, they're in school. They got to take care of business, you know, in the classroom study for tests, do homework, do papers and also being an athlete. So we try to make it easier for them. You know, so that, uh, they can be in the right place at the right time.

Mark: 55:17

How'd you end up in Utah

Bo: 55:20

I Oregon, you know, I graduated and then, um, I realized

Mike: 55:24

that

Bo: 55:26

in? I graduated in psychology. after graduating at Oregon, I realized that. You know, I had some former equipment managers that are older than me that, um, became professionals, you know, went to the NFL and went on to other universities to be full-time dyes. So I realized, you know, wow, this is something you can be a, you know, a professional guy and, um, turned into career. So I realized, you know, that'd be something cool. So, Started putting out my feelers through, um, NFL teams, got a few NFL teams contact me to go to their OTAs and, uh, Summer camps.

Mark: 56:08

so it's like, it's almost like tryouts, just like you're going to

Bo: 56:11

definitely play. It's definitely tryouts. I mean, there's a lot of people that try and get onto the teams. and there's a small number that make it

Mark: 56:21

It's amazing how hard people work to, to land one of the hardest jobs you could possibly have.

Mike: 56:27

Right. But it might be one of the hardest fidelity. One of the funnest too,

Mark: 56:31

well, I, yeah, I mean, I, driving the equipment is it's cool,

Mike: 56:37

but Yeah,

Mark: 56:39

it's cool. It's just cool. It's just different, but still you you're trying out to land this job. That's going to be a hundred hours a week when you're done.

Bo: 56:51

Right. Right. Um, this, this job is, is, uh, a lot of people say it's a thankless job, you know, but. I don't see it that way. I, at the same time, yes. There's a lot of them. Ours is a lot of things we do that makes no sense to people, but you got to love what you do. And I love what I do here as an equipment manager, uh, every equipment manager, pretty much in the whole country. If there are any equipment managing, they're a full-time person. They love it. They do. You, you can't love, you. Can't do this job without loving it.

Mark: 57:29

You gotta, you gotta, you have a passion

Bo: 57:31

it Definitely.

Mark: 57:32

So you try it out with some NFL teams.

Bo: 57:35

yes. Sent it out, was picked up. I was going to go down to the chargers was signed onto them So after that I got contacted, you know, by my head guy at Oregon and said, Hey, you know, university of Utah is looking for a guy. So I applied got the call from Utah and, they offered me the job as their full-time intern. And, pretty much I took, I took that job and went to university of Utah.

Mark: 58:02

So you, you, how long were you at Utah

Bo: 58:05

For two years.

Mark: 58:06

And then USU was looking for not an intern, a full

Bo: 58:12

full-time guy. Yes. There was an opening for a full-time guy. I applied and went through the process and ended up getting picked up.

Mark: 58:20

So when we first met you, there was. I guess my impression was there was three people that were full-time and equipment and a couple of things happen in COVID and now there's only two,

Bo: 58:34

there's just two of us.

Mark: 58:35

So, so you just, you, you and Brady, did you split up the hours of the third guy? Is that what you did?

Bo: 58:41

Pretty much. We just, you know, put our heads down and work as a team in the equipment room to get things done throughout the whole COVID season. it was, it was definitely, definitely a challenge, but we got it done with some, help from. People are on that administration. They definitely helped us out a lot on the administration side. And, definitely gave us, you know, encouragement that we can do it and get it done. And we got it done for the whole class,

Mark: 59:12

So Brady takes care of all the Olympic sports

Bo: 59:15

Olympic sports

Mark: 59:16

So pretty much everything except football.

Bo: 59:18

everything except football.

Mark: 59:20

And then you've got eight to 10 staff that helps. So w w we really ought to probably talk about Mike, is the truck, how that goes. Cause I didn't know And when we got into this, I have a pretty good understanding about it now, but our audience, is going to be most interested in. The truck, what goes in there and why we need a gigantic 18 wheel semi to take this traveling circus on the road to wherever we happen to be going. So let's talk about a week of an away game. me and Mike have seen the inside of the trailers and they're chucked full when you're all done. At what point during the week, do you start packing?

Bo: 1:00:04

So the week before say we have a Saturday game, as soon as we fly back, we're ready getting ready for the next. So Sunday

Mark: 1:00:14

you're starting to prep for,

Bo: 1:00:17

We're kind of prepping already the weeks ahead, usually like, yeah. So,

Mike: 1:00:23

so do you, so you pack that so that like you're already, so you, ain't got to unpack everything. It's some of the stuff you can leave on the trailer for the next a week. game.

Bo: 1:00:31

Some, some stuff, some stuff you can, we're very blessed at Utah state university that we have multiple color uniforms, multiple color helmets, multiple color face mask. Multiple color, different cleats and socks and accessories. So based on each week, when we pretty much come home from a game, we have to change out everything if we're changing a color. So if we're changing color, we literally have to change out. No, pretty much almost the whole truck, because not just the players gear gets changed. Coaches too. So the coaches are tire will change because we try to get offset from the players so that you cannot, so that you can see them on the sideline. You know, it's a lot easier to see

Mark: 1:01:24

You want, if all the players are wearing blue, you want the coaches and white,

Bo: 1:01:28

Yes.

Mark: 1:01:29

so they stand out. Yep.

Mike: 1:01:32

So you, you take care of all the coaches stuff too?

Bo: 1:01:34

Yes

Mike: 1:01:35

Oh, I didn't

Mark: 1:01:36

So how many people are you dressing?

Bo: 1:01:38

Um,

Mark: 1:01:39

hundred, 120

Bo: 1:01:41

normal game, uh, usually we'll dress out about 75 guys, you know, give or take. Yeah.

Mark: 1:01:48

but then the coaches and staff are another 10 to 20, right.

Bo: 1:01:55

Uh, around, I would say 30 guys, 30, 40, 30, 40 bodies

Mike: 1:02:02

cow

Mark: 1:02:02

got a question for you. So there's always, this is something I've always wondered. There's always. Let's say we're playing Boise. There's a Utah state person on the Boise sideline with footballs. Is that part of the equipment staff?

Bo: 1:02:15

Yes. That is a part of the equipment staff. Those are our students Yes. There's usually students from our team that are on our side and the opposing side. And then, uh, the opposite team, you know, has the same. They have guys on their side and they have guys on our side so that they can feed in the balls to the

Mark: 1:02:38

because you guys have your own

Bo: 1:02:40

Yes. We have

Mark: 1:02:41

your office plays with.

Bo: 1:02:42

Yes. Each quarterback is different.

Mark: 1:02:46

So here's a question for you. I've always wondered. Is there ever any concern about the ball boy, listening to strategy and trying to feed it to the.

Bo: 1:02:59

um,

Mike: 1:03:00

I don't know if he's standing that close to the coach

Bo: 1:03:02

Yeah, no

Mark: 1:03:03

know. I've seen, I've seen, it's always the damn Ohio state ball boys standing like right next to Scott Frost.

Mike: 1:03:09

Yeah.

Bo: 1:03:10

I mean, For the most part, their, their whole job is to make sure they focus. They focus on where the ball's goal and they focus on the riffs. I mean, that's their whole life

Mark: 1:03:23

are telling them feed. They, they gotta feed the

Bo: 1:03:25

Yes So the whole time they're bowed into the refs and wherever the balls goal. honestly, there's, there's so much moving things that happen during the game that if you're not concentrating on those two things, You're going to get lost and not be able to do what you

Mike: 1:03:41

need to get jackass out there. So I did they check the inflation of the balls?

Bo: 1:03:47

Yes,

Mike: 1:03:49

Tom Brady, rule

Mark: 1:03:50

Tom Brady Tom Brady is not quarterback for the

Bo: 1:03:53

Yeah. It's the beginning. The beginning of the game. We'll turn in our balls to the head referee. Usually we'll check in. Anywhere from 12 balls to 10 balls. Um, and then the refs will check the air pressure. They usually, uh, initial the ball to make sure that the ball is checked

Mark: 1:04:14

who checked it

Bo: 1:04:14

Yes. Yes And then once the balls are good, they'll bring it out to the field and give it to the ball boys and let them know that these balls

Mark: 1:04:23

So how many balls will you take to a game

Bo: 1:04:25

I would say we take a lot 80 balls.

Mike: 1:04:30

Wow.

Bo: 1:04:31

Yeah, we take about 80 balls, especially. You don't know what kind of weather you're going to deal with it. So, especially if it's a, if it's a rain game, the balls, once he gets soaked, they're pretty much done for, you can't play with them anymore, especially camp roam. Cause they're they get waterlogged. So we bring, we bring them on 80 balls. One, the team will go out in the beginning to warm up. So every, every position needs balls, not including. Those balls are not a part of the balls we check in because the balls that we're checking them

Mark: 1:05:08

in the game balls are different than the balls are practicing with pregame and

Bo: 1:05:12

Yes. And then we also have on an extra set of game balls just in case it rains out or snows out. And the balls that we originally checked in, get all water logged and crushed. If they, if those balls. Are bad in the first half then, or if we knew it was a rain game, then we're allowed to check in more balls. So some, some teams, you know, we'll, we'll check in, we'll check in like 40 balls sometimes we'll check in 60, just, just in case if it's a rain rain game. Yeah. Just to have fresh new balls to the courtroom So

Mark: 1:05:52

so where you said check in, where do you keep them after? Like do the refs have him somewhere?

Bo: 1:05:59

Once they check in the refs album

Mark: 1:06:00

and then once a bar ball gets waterlogged, can somebody on Utah state staff say, we don't want to use this one anymore, get us another one out of our stock,

Bo: 1:06:09

whatever the balls that are signed, by the initials, by the referee, those are the balls that are legal, to play with. And any of the balls that are in those bags are pretty much leave it to play with if

Mike: 1:06:21

You can swap man as much as you want.

Bo: 1:06:23

yeah, you can play cause we, in a normal game, you're playing with multiple balls, due to each sideline. So some balls will fly out. Auto bounce. And you're just going to toss in another ball that you played it, especially if that ball went into the stands and you can't, or it's a, it's a hurry up play.

Mark: 1:06:42

Mike caught it and he's never going to give it back to

Bo: 1:06:44

Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes, sometimes we lose balls that go up into the stands and, you know, they, they never come back. So you gotta have extra balls just in case things like that happen.

Mike: 1:06:58

So how many games will you use a ball for before it. goes to be a practice ball or gets retired altogether, I guess

Bo: 1:07:07

it just depends. Just depends on how, how much the ball is played with. and usually from week to week, we'll have the quarterback Come and check out all the balls that he wants. you'll pick and pick each ball that he wants to play with for the game. And then we'll set that aside in the game bag. And then when we get to wherever the location is, we'll give it to the head ref. So he can,

Mark: 1:07:32

this whole thing is fascinating. So how many balls a year. Do you go through a couple hundred?

Bo: 1:07:40

Yeah, a couple hundred for sure.

Mark: 1:07:43

And they're like, I don't know if you've ever bought footballs before, but these game balls are using 100 bucks a

Bo: 1:07:50

They're expensive. Um,

Mark: 1:07:52

we're talking 20,000 a year on footballs that we haven't even bought a helmet. That's two or 300 bucks and pads that are

Bo: 1:08:00

the ball, the ball, and in general is very expensive. And there's things you can do to the ball. Now, you know, you can put logos on it, you can do different colors. some teams. I've seen have multiple balls that have different logos on it. So if you're a school that is blessed with a lot of money, usually they'll have different emblems on each ball. So they'll play with different balls.

Mike: 1:08:29

Hmm. Interesting. so

Mark: 1:08:32

when we load up to go to a game, Apparently we have a hundred balls or so seems like somewhere in that neighborhood, we'll have or 30 helmets. Cause we have 70 plus backups. We have all the shoulder pads and

Bo: 1:08:53

backups with those two or four

Mark: 1:08:56

pants and undershirts and stuff, socks and cleats,

Bo: 1:09:01

everything you see on the field during a football game, the equipment managers pack, all that stuff that you see. So. For equipment managers, a player, and a coach on the field, our bodies, and we pretty much dressed him out and everything they possibly could need for a game. We give it to them anywhere from pens, clipboards, um, headsets towels,

Mark: 1:09:32

and it all goes in the truck.

Bo: 1:09:34

Yes. All goes into

Mark: 1:09:35

an away

Bo: 1:09:36

And then, From the helmet, shoulder, pads, everything you see on the field, we pack all of that, an extra Justin Case. Um, I mean equipment manager, we pretty much play the if game like no other, and we always want to be prepared for whatever may be thrown. any type of curve ball comes our way. We want to be able to get on top of it.

Mark: 1:10:01

So, so anything you see on the field that can include a bike? Stationary bike or two, heated

Bo: 1:10:10

yup Heated benches, uh,

Mike: 1:10:12

the heated benches we had to deal with last

Bo: 1:10:14

all the trainers, all the trainers,

Mark: 1:10:16

the trainer table. Uh, if you see the coach wearing a headset, calm systems in the trailer, uh, I, I don't know about Mike. I am scared shitless when I am driving that equipment. I am scared to death. It is the most precious thing I have ever hauled on my truck.

Mike: 1:10:38

You don't want to be. The guy that wrecks with the equipment truck

Mark: 1:10:42

and we came over,

Bo: 1:10:44

a tough one,

Mark: 1:10:45

So, so the, the Le the Wyoming game that got canceled for COVID last year, we sat in Laramie waiting till the wind went down, and we sat there so long. By the time we got to Logan canyon, There was. Two or three inches of snow on the ground. And I was driving. I got a great, he took a great picture out the windshield.

Mike: 1:11:11

Yeah. Yeah,

Mark: 1:11:13

it was, it was a snowy bitch, like But I was, I was pissing my pants all the way down. Logan canyon. Don't be the guy that wrecks Utah state's football Don't don't be the guy. Don't be that guy.

Mike: 1:11:29

Yeah. That trip was something else. Well, cause we had to, we left early. We left the night before because we didn't want to catch the wind. So we, and we still got stuck in the wind, but we ended up driving

Mark: 1:11:41

so Well that night he, you know, we, we left probably 10 hours earlier than you really wanted us to leave, trying to beat the wind. And we actually got off the interstate about a hundred miles before Laramie and took highway 30. He was driving. And I was sitting in the passenger seat, pretty nervous. It was, it was bad the wind was, bad that And I was like, I don't want I don't want to be the guys that lay the sober. It probably won't be too bad.

Mike: 1:12:18

Yeah

Mark: 1:12:18

It's it's, it's so much fun though. It's um,

Mike: 1:12:22

Yeah.

Mark: 1:12:23

It's the neatest thing I've ever done in trucking. No doubt. No doubt. It's so cool.

Mike: 1:12:29

Yeah. Then it's all. Anyway, after we got to Laramie, we went asleep cause it was like two and two, three in the morning and we slept for like four or five hours. Got up, went to breakfast and that's when you text this and said, You can come on back to games canceled, but of course the freeway was closed because of wind

Bo: 1:12:48

Yeah. That's a tough call. That was a tough call to call you guys and let you guys know that the game is canceled and you guys have to drive back after you guys just got there. So that was a tough one. That was definitely the first one I've ever had to deal with before. Like at all,

Mark: 1:13:07

that? I did want to ask you this question. What's the most, Challenging thing you've ever had to deal with as an equipment manager, not, not the COVID stuff, you know, last year, last year was an exception. Like, um, somebody needs this or we don't have that. You know, a lot of times I'm, I'm a big football guy, so I'll hear, oh, they've got the wrong cleats for the conditions. Like what's the most challenging thing you've had to deal with as a, as a football equipment

Bo: 1:13:44

I see. One of the toughest things as equipment manager is, is one dealing with everyone. You know, you deal with a lot of different personalities. So, you know, anywhere from 150 people you see in a day and you're trying to take care of everybody. Um, but sometimes, you know, things, a player is having an off day. So, you know, you just want to make sure you take care of them as much as you can with whatever they need. And, Just go to practice and try and give as much energy as you can. So that's, that's always a tough one is dealing with all the different personalities. Everyone's so different.

Mark: 1:14:27

So are the, do the equipment guys almost become cheerleaders during

Bo: 1:14:32

for the most part we're helping. So each. Student of mine is designated to a player position. So one kid is at online. One kid is at D line. One is at wide receivers. One is at QB and so forth, and each kid is helping the player specific coach. For whatever drills that need to go on. So I wouldn't say they're cheerleaders. Cause most of the time they're quiet. and just doing whatever needs to be done for the coach anywhere from snapping balls to setting up popups and agiles and helping them run the drew as best as they can in the timeline.

Mark: 1:15:17

are they, this does like the student. They're online all year long or or the So they almost, they probably become a little attached

Bo: 1:15:28

definitely

Mark: 1:15:28

that position. Yeah

Bo: 1:15:29

Yes. Um, being in this career, you know, when I was, when I started off at a student, whatever position you're in, you pretty much become family to them. they realize that you're there all the time with them. Throughout the whole fall camp of grinding throughout the whole season through the off season. So, you know, you build a big relationship with the coaches and the players of that position. So at the same time, you know, yeah, you work for them, they look at you as family. So they, they make sure that everything is taken care of whatever you need. You know, people aren't blatantly trying to make things harder for you. As a student. So you, you spend so much time with them that they look at you as family, instead of just, just, uh, anybody

Mark: 1:16:23

in a, a fragile state too, that I've moved away from home. you know, 20 18, 19, 20, 21 year gold. It's it's a weird time. College is colleges, hard super hard. and it's gotta be 10 times worse trying to be a student athlete. And then your students are the same age. Your, your Trainers are the same age as these players too. So I can see how they, I suppose you become lifelong friends.

Bo: 1:16:57

Yes. They definitely build a tight relationship with the players and, um, you know, usually go on with life afterwards and you know, some people stay in touch.

Mark: 1:17:10

Well it's it's awesome. I, I can't say enough. Good things about you, The program up there. we've had a blast doing it. I love, I love hauling the equipment. We're not making a damn dime. doing it. we're we're we, we get some exposure. I actually, I brought the trailer over to govs and I dropped it off today Cause I'm gonna use it on Wednesday, mountain crest and Ridge line are having driver's ed classes. And I had a guy today. Going up 10th west past me and he's staring, no, I, could. I looked cause he was kinda going slow coming up alongside of me and then he gets up, gives me the bull horns. It's so cool. Driving that truck and trailer. it's so cool. So much fun. Thanks so much for coming on the podcast.

Bo: 1:18:06

Hey, thank you for being, you know, our, our truck drivers, you know,

Mark: 1:18:09

You got more questions, Mike?

Mike: 1:18:11

Well, maybe

Mark: 1:18:12

Your wife's

Mike: 1:18:12

need to go grab another drink. Tell him we'll come

Mark: 1:18:14

Well, I need to pee and your wife is here.

Mike: 1:18:16

Okay. Just call time out. We'll be right back.

Mark: 1:18:19

Okay. We can call time out. That's fine.

Mike: 1:18:22

All right.

Grace: 1:18:32

That was a really good segment with bow Bates.

Mark: 1:18:35

So one thing that, uh, I didn't realize even all year, last year when we were hauling the equipment is everything you see on the sidelines. If you watch a game on TV, every single thing you see on the sidelines, except the human being himself was hauled on the truck there. Right? The, the away team. So we have every stitch of clothing, a coach's wearing, uh, the sideline personnel, all the players, obviously all their equipment. So it's not just, you know, helmet, shoulder pads, pants, all the radio equipment, everything they drink that that's one thing that. Me and Mike about killed ourselves last year at the first game in Boise trying to unload drinks at the hotel, we didn't have any help to do it because of COVID. It was last year. It was totally weird. Mike, about got crushed by a cart full of Gatorade. The first game. no, no. joke. I told him, man, if we lose control of this thing, you gotta bail. And I bailed And He didn't, He was trying like crazy. He's a super fan.

Grace: 1:19:44

They would have had to honor him.

Mark: 1:19:46

He would have had, well, anyway, held up? three fingers for how tall he

Grace: 1:20:02

That's so mean?

Mark: 1:20:04

Larson. Mike Larson is one of my favorite human beings. All right, grace, we got a question from the road

Grace: 1:20:16

The question from the road comes from the man himself, Val Stokes. In truck 6 78

Mark: 1:20:24

does have a truck assigned to him

Grace: 1:20:27

And the question is, is the USU truck going to be at the Utah state games? Is this referring to home? Yeah,

Mark: 1:20:35

homey? well, yeah, it's going to be at every game. So obviously we're going to haul the equipment to the away games. Stokes trucking is sponsoring Utah state football. this year. We're actually one of the quote, big eight sponsors, they call them. So we're going to have signage in the end on the pads. There's going to be a Stokes, trucking emblem there. If whoever scores, whether it's Utah state or, or the visitor team, if they score in the south end zone, you'll see the Stokes trucking logo. We're also going to have radio ads playing during the game. Uh, pregame post game in game, there'll be an end game read. We're going to be sponsoring some thing, like, you know, keys to the game something like that during the pregame and one game during the season. We'll actually, I'll pro op it's probably going to be me. We'll do like a radio segment right in game, you know, talking about Stokes trucking but. We're also going to be in the fan zone, they call it. So in front of the stadium, on the west side of the stadium the street, that runs between the stadium and blue square apartments. They closed that out off for the home games and they have like kids games, you know, there's like little kids zone.

Grace: 1:21:56

Uh, I think that's where they might have like. Stuff or USU

Mark: 1:22:02

Yeah There's a radio station set up things like that. We are going to have the Utah state football truck set up in that fan zone. And we're also going to have a couple of tailgate spots adjacent in the parking lot to the truck. We're planning on you know, having hot dogs and hamburgers and all that good stuff at our we're going to have a tailgate for every game. Unfortunately this year, there are three games that are Fridays. So we have several drivers that won't be able to make it to the, I'm there Friday afternoons. or Friday evenings, one of the, so that only leaves three Saturday games. One of those Saturday games is a 10:00 AM game. It's the Boise state game, which is also the same day. as your brother's wedding. So I'm going to be able to go to the tailor.

Grace: 1:22:58

Will you,

Mark: 1:22:59

I will and then come home. I won't be able to go to the game that day. Come home. After the tailgate's all done and cleaned up,

Grace: 1:23:07

you could have it playing in the living room.

Mark: 1:23:11

Well, the game will be over before the wedding starts the wedding isn't till three in the afternoon. The game's at 10. It's going to be over by one or one 30. Yeah, no, the game will be long over. I could actually probably almost I might get in a little tree. if you're a Stokes, trucking employee, um, we are going to have a Stokes trucking day. So hopefully the weather's good. And this is going to be for them and their families. We're going to provide tickets for whoever wants to come to that game. Now, for whatever reason you and your family can attend that game. Just get with me or Mike Larson. We'll get you tickets for a different game, whatever game you want to go to. Some of those might be pretty costly. Like They play both Boise, state and BYU at home. Those are going to be the most expensive tickets all year long.

Grace: 1:24:01

I am not excited to play BYU.

Mark: 1:24:04

BYU

Grace: 1:24:05

campus. I'm not excited for

Mark: 1:24:07

a Friday night game. It should be a fun game, especially

Grace: 1:24:10

it will be a fun game, but

Mark: 1:24:11

if, if Utah state is winning and they, the week before is the Boise state game. If they happen to be. You know, Three and two or four and one going into the BYU game, that's going to be a big, like, that's going to be a big game for Utah state. Now they opened the season at Washington state power five school Uh, it's going to be a toughie. Next game is North Dakota on a Friday here. So

Grace: 1:24:42

have I been to North Dakota?

Mark: 1:24:44

You've never been to North Dakota, but. they're coming.

Grace: 1:24:47

I was just, I was talking about the states I've been to, with a coworker of mine and I was like, I've been to South Dakota. She was like, have you ever been to the north? And I'm like, no, she's like, I've never been that far east.

Mark: 1:25:05

Jesus. That's not east. we do a week. off. Me and Mike are traveling to Nebraska. that weekend to Watch Nebraska play Michigan

Grace: 1:25:16

Mike is going to watch the

Mark: 1:25:17

Mike and Mike and his son Britton, who were both on the podcast are going to come with me to Lincoln to watch Nebraska. Anyway, drivers, employees, any game you want to attend you and your family, not just you get with us, we'll get you tickets. So anyway, what a Great podcast. Right.

Grace: 1:25:39

go Aggies

Mark: 1:25:40

hashtag go Aggies. Uh, Thanks again for downloading and listening to another episode of driver to driver Stokes trucking podcast. This was episode 18. Episode 19 is probably going to be, uh, an interview with our insurance actually agents Rand and Mark father son. Yeah. Yeah. So Ron's been selling valve insurance since the beginning 40 years. No joke. And Rand is starting to slow down. Um, mark has an officially taken over our account, but it's trending that way. So I'm interviewing those two, week and a half. If looking forward to that one, brand again, just like Val, Jim target, some of these guys I've had on, you know, a wealth of knowledge, way back to the beginning, all right, everybody. Thanks for joining us. Uh, Be sure to rate and review driver to driver, It helps more people find us and help more listens, equal more drivers. We'll see you all next time.

1:27:03

Thank you for listening to driver to driver. Uh, Stokes trucking podcast. For more information on Stokes trucking, please visit our website Stokes trucking.com. You can also learn more about us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram at Stokes trucking. The intro and outro music is I can't keep still. The bumper music between segments is fetch me another one, Both performed by the caffeine creek band Driver to driver is a frankfurter studios production