The Foundation of Tennessee Football: The Equipment Room
Max Potter
As a hundred-thousand fans rise to their feet and the Pride of the Southland Band begins their march to the middle of the hashmarks, a slew of orange jerseys start to gather behind the goalposts of the north endzone—jumping around and counting the moments till they can take off and make the iconic turn right behind their fearless Bluetick Coonhound leader.
There is a special glisten to the muscular, well-prepared men in orange. The helmet has a shine like it is fresh out the box, the Power T perfectly positioned on the side of the helmet, displaying to the world the proud university they represent. It has been a constant since 1964, a uniting symbol for a community, a town, a region, a state, the block-lettered T on glistening white plastic.
It’s got to be the helmet. I know we are doing some different things, that’s cool and all, but the one thing that stands out nationwide is the helmet. Just that white helmet with the Power T and that orange stripe down the middle, man it’s just iconic.Associate Director of Equipment and Apparel Allen Sitzler, or “Hawk” as he is affectionately known as around the program
You take a lot of pride in the uniform, especially when we start decaling and getting the helmets ready to go for games. The standard that we have and the pride that we take in what we do. It’s a really good feeling when you see it take the field.Director of Equipment and Apparel Roger Frazier, or Fraz
There are just a handful of schools that even have something like that. When we do our helmets, ‘T’ing and striping the helmets, just seeing the finished product – that’s the one thing that has been forever.Hawk
Forever is an appropriate term to describe a room, a family within a family, a group that has meant so much to the program for such a long time. These hard-working Vols For Life grew up bleeding Big Orange and even after years and years with the program, that love has yet to fade.
My dad went to games for 69 years. He took me to games when I was four. I think there is still that connection – he was very proud. To have the background that me, Max and Fraz have, and for this to be your job? We’ve got keys to Neyland Stadium. If you would have told four-year-old Allen that he would have the keys… it’s pretty cool.Hawk
The season, for the equipment room, is essentially a calendar year. Be it the daily grind of fall camp, or ensuring newcomers are perfectly fitted to a fresh helmet and set of pads. All the preparation, all the hours, the meticulous work, it all becomes worth it when the team rushes on to the field clad in Big Orange for the first time in a season. It is in that moment, dreams are made.
With the freshman managers every fall, I tell them to remember the date. September 1, 2022 will be their date. That is the first time they run through the ‘T’. You can go through and ask all the guys, ‘What’s your date?’Assistant Director of Equipment and Apparel Max Parrott
My date is September 2, 1980, I ran through the ‘T’ against Georgia and Herschel Walker, we lost 15-16 and I still remember it like it was yesterday, it still hurts. That’s the fun part, go up and ask managers, ‘what’s your date?’ They will all know that answer.Max Parrott
Some of these moments take on a life of their own.
One of our former managers, Nick Trail, he had cerebral palsy and him getting to run through the ‘T’ for the first time. Growing up they didn’t know if he would ever walk. His dad wrote a poem the night before and, man, it’s hard to not cry thinking about it.Hawk said, noting his favorite memory as a Vol
That showed the power of Tennessee football, not just in playing the game, but the perspective of the fan with all the love, passion, and the father-son element. Coach Fulmer got the poem after the game and read it, of course he broke down. He asked if Nick could get to the team meeting on Monday, then he gave Nick the game ball.Hawk continued
That was one of the most powerful moments ever, because it encompasses what Tennessee football means to so many people.
As night falls on Neyland Stadium for one final time before the season, the glorious palace on the banks of the Tennessee River holds within memories to last a lifetime, stories that become passed from generation to generation, and a bond that unites a community, a region, a state over one common bond: The Vols.
The greatest part about my job is the relationships that I’ve built over the years with staff members, to student-athletes, to student-managers – that’s for life. I have a hard time even describing it because it makes me emotional, but it’s really special.Fraz
We are getting former player’s sons and former manager’s sons here. It’s a family for certain. By far, that is the best part of it. When guys come back and see you, making a point of coming back, that’s special.Fraz
While Tennessee football is a uniting force across the country for families that bleed orange, the team is a family of its own. The backbone of that family is the hard-nosed, full-effort work done by the equipment room. Without them, that T on the helmet would not have the same shine and the orange jerseys would not deliver the same magic as they burst through the walls of the band, delivering moments that become enshrined in the memory of individuals and fans for ages.