By Jakob Nolde
Contributing Writer
From verifying all equipment for every athletics team in helmets and jerseys to arriving at every team's game two hours early, George Silvas is exactly what any school wants and more in an equipment manager.
One of the biggest sports and arguably one of the busiest in the fall in football shows why Silvas was perfect for the role.
Silvas first took the job opening last year, not necessarily knowing what he was getting into. He was presented with the job by a friend of his who had been a bookstore manager at the time at Verrado. The school had been seeking either an equipment manager or a maintenance role, and Silvas wasted no time applying to what would change his path for the better.
“Something I’d never thought I’d come and do,” Silvas said. “I’ve ended up enjoying a lot of time here working with the kids.”
Silva's gameday process is nothing short of restless from someone watching from the outside.
The first thing Silvas does is get uniforms ready. Prepping the uniforms includes getting every single player's laundry done at least a day or two before when the boys play. This includes over 50 jerseys just for varsity tackle and way more including JV and freshman teams.
One of the other key things Silvas on and what has ultimately been becoming more and more important in today's world is their safety and making sure helmets are good to go. Silvas has to follow a strict protocol when it comes to these helmets and if anything seems off with a certain helmet, that player cannot play.
Not only does he focus on equipment, but also focuses on sideline prep which is the reason he arrives early at every single Verrado game as he makes sure the boys or girls have everything they need including water, benches, any extra trainer gear in case of injury, and about anything you could think of during any sporting game or practice.
Athletic Director Barry Cromer talked about Silvas and his impact on the athletics department and how since taking the job it has been something he takes a lot of pride in.
“He does what he can to make sure the coach's job a little easier,” Cromer stated.
Cromer stated his relationship with Silvas as great as the two are key pieces to Verrado’s entire athletics department and keeping it running.
“When I go out to a game or a match, he is who I first call to see where we are,” Cromer Stated. “He knows where all of the equipment is, he is the person that gets things set up and can fix anything fast.”
A career as an equipment manager at any level is one of the busiest ones that one could have regarding the athletic department yet is something that is always overlooked. Most of those who just watch games at either high school, college, or even the pros, never take into account why there are always so many people on the sidelines and why there are always people on the field hours before the game even starts.
It’s a position that should receive a lot more recognition than what it gets now. What happens behind the scenes is the only reason everything going on in front of the camera is possible.
“I love it,” Silvas stated. “It’s a lot more fulfilling than I thought it would be.”
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