Equipped for the job

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Robby Rasco is too busy to settle down and start a family right now, but he would no doubt make some woman a fine husband one day.

The guy sure knows how to do laundry -- and plenty of it.

"I'm pretty familiar with a washer and dryer," a smiling Rasco said.

As Southeast Missouri State University's football equipment manager, making sure all the Indians' practice gear and game-day uniforms are spick-and-span is one of Rasco's primary functions.

But doing laundry -- which takes several hours virtually every day during spring ball, summer practice and the season -- is only a small part of Rasco's job description.

While several people play important behind-the-scenes roles for Southeast's football program, probably nobody is more vital to the Indians' day-to-day operations than Rasco.

"Our football program would go downhill without Robby," defensive end Adam Jones said with a laugh. "Our uniforms would probably be in our lockers upside down."

Said assistant coach Andy McGill, "Robby is a one-man show. He does everything for us. People don't know him, but he's a big part of making our program run."

The 29-year-old Rasco, a native of Southhaven, Miss., is in his fifth season with the Indians. He graduated with a degree in sports management from Florida State, where he was a student football equipment manager from 1995-97. He said he first became interested in the profession while in high school.

"I played baseball and when I was a sophomore, our head coach, who was also the football offensive line coach, asked if I wanted to help the team out," Rasco said. "I grew up around football. I was never big enough to play, but I always enjoyed it, and I'm fortunate I've been able to make a career out of it."

Most days the majority of the year -- particularly during summer practice that began Aug. 5 and during the season that kicks off Thursday -- find Rasco busy from early in the morning to sometimes well after midnight.

Although doing laundry is a big part of Rasco's job -- "A lot of people think the players wash their own things, but I'm responsible for all of that. Laundry is done every night, and I'm washing gear for from 90 to 110 players to have it all ready to go before the next day's practice" -- it's certainly not the only part.

Prior to every practice, Rasco is responsible for getting all necessary equipment on the field.

During practice, Rasco is responsible for keeping track of the time allotted for each of up to 25 periods, and he must be alert to possible player equipment problems that might crop up.

After practice, Rasco gathers up all the equipment that he had originally brought out to the field, then puts up all the players' pads and helmets before beginning his daily laundry routine.

Prior to each game -- home and away -- Rasco places all of the players' uniforms, pads and helmets in their lockers in an orderly fashion. The helmets are always freshly polished.

"I try to set up all the players' lockers for games exactly the same. I try to make them feel special," Rasco said. "I try to take care of them as much as possible at all times, from their helmets down to their shoes."

For road trips, Rasco rents a Ryder truck to haul all the uniforms, equipment and the trainers' equipment to the game site. Once the contest is over, everything is loaded back onto the truck for the return trek to Cape Girardeau.

After the season ends, and after Rasco has checked in all the equipment, he said he has about two months prior to the start of spring practice to organize what will be needed for the following year and to order new equipment.

"Plus, I'm always on call in case something comes up," Rasco said. "There have been times I've been here all night and slept in my office."

Not that Rasco is complaining. Despite the long hours and being basically a one-man staff -- many Division I-AA programs like Southeast have several student equipment managers, but Rasco has none -- he said he loves his job and wouldn't trade it for anything.

"I really do love what I do," he said. "I never wanted a job sitting behind a desk. Doing this, I'm outside half the day and I usually don't do the same stuff every day, except for laundry."

He relishes the relationships he has with the players -- and they seem to feel the same way.

"They love to harass me, but it's all good natured," Rasco said. "I seem to work with them pretty good. If they need something, like special equipment, they know I'll do my best to get it. I try to take care of them as much as I can."

And it shows, according to wide receiver Chris NesSmith.

"He always has everything ready for us," NesSmith said. "When it's game day, everything is hanging up and in order for us. We really appreciate it."

So will Rasco's future wife, no doubt.