After volunteering for the New Orleans Saints organization through Loyola, I found myself in a unique situation. I had a chance to go work for the Saints during their training camp at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss.
That’s right, I, a lifelong Saints fan, secured employment as an equipment manager from the team that had made my Sundays … well, kind of gloomy since they always lose. But there were also times when they made me the happiest person on Earth.
Remember the River City Relay against Jacksonville? C’mon, the triple lateral that stretched for 75 yards that won the ESPY for Best Play of 2004? I was happy during that time … until John Carney missed the extra point and we lost the game 20-19. Anyway, I accepted the offer and headed to Jackson on Aug. 18th. I was supposed to stay until this past Saturday, when the Saints faced the Colts.
The key word in that sentence was “supposed,” but more on that later.
When we arrived Friday at about 9:30 a.m., we got our first assignment from our boss, “Chief”. Chief told us, “I know you guys have been up for a while now, so why don’t you go get settled in your dorm room and catch a nap. I’ll have someone come pick you up in time for lunch.”
I loved this job.
Later, we proceeded to learn just how long a day is for an NFL equipment manager. We worked that night until 10 p.m. And just remember, the rest of the crew had been there since 7 a.m. That’s a 15-hour day, boys and girls.
Saturday, it was wake up and repeat. It was another 15-hour day: put out laundry from the night before, pick up laundry after practice (while players are constantly throwing shirts and shorts into the bins as you’re walking away, thinking you’re finished), wash laundry, put out that laundry, etc.
I didn’t know how much more I could take of this.
After a “short” 10-hour day Sunday, Monday seemed like a relief. The team wasn’t there (they were in Shreveport for a Monday night game against Dallas) so there wasn’t much to do … until the next morning.
Tuesday began at1 a.m. as the players were arriving back. Unloading and laundry began. When laundry was finished and the trucks were unloaded, it was about 5:30 a.m.
We were back at work in five hours and then worked until 10 p.m.
That’s when my problem started.
Somehow, I caught the flu …
I made friends with a toilet in the dorm – like incoming freshmen will after a couple of nights at The Boot. After five days, I was sent/chose to go home, depending on whom you ask.
And with that, my dream was over. I was no longer an employee of the team that I grew up around – the team that made me wonder why I had a hole in my closet door or why the horn in my car suddenly didn’t work on Monday morning.
But in typical Saints fashion, they made me sick to my stomach.
