“I had no idea how reliant a football program was on its student managers.”
So begins our story of Trevor Cook, our latest Helmet Tracker AEMA Certification Exam Scholarship candidate. His Dad put on the University of Georgia uniform as a back-up kicker. His mom marched in the UGA Redcoat Marching Band. Trevor knew he wanted to be involved in athletics, but didn’t know how or where or in what capacity.
“I Hate Watching Football from the Stands”
Trevor grew up half-a-country away from Athens in Keller, Texas. He was a four-year varsity tennis player, and marched in the drum line for the Fossil Ridge High School Panthers.
After graduating in 2012 and heading to the University of Texas in Austin, he aimed for a job in the football program.
“I hate watching football from the stands,” he said. His dad served a local high school as athletic trainer. Trevor’s view of football has always been from the sidelines. He was, as you might expect, made a ball boy when he was 6-years-old. It was a role he played through high school. Then, Texas.
“As an undergrad, I wanted to be a student equipment manager,” he says. Rules at Texas forced him to wait until Spring football, then he landed a job and stayed until he graduated in December 2015.
“It was cool to be a part of what was happening there. We’ve all seen Rudy (the movie). I wanted to be a part of it and I know it would be a job, but there were some things I didn’t know,” he said.
He began learning the ropes—and the breadth and impact of the job.
“I was surprised about how much we were involved. I had no idea how dependent a football program is on student managers. A program at this level cannot run without the student managers working every day. They are crucial they are to any success.”
Trevor makes this bold statement with a matter-of-fact knowledge. He says it’s true because it’s true. He knows it’s true because he’s seen it, lived it, and now is making a career out of it.
Mentor Coach
The Head Coach at the time, Charlie Strong, made a, well, strong impression.
“This man was making like $5 million a year and took the time to get to know everyone involved. He knew my story, everyone’s story. Coach Strong – I felt like I had a relationship with him. He knew me and knew my family. This is the way I want to be.”
Coach Strong’s character and attention changed Trevor, and offered him a role model.
“I would like to be that kind of attentive person. To be able to say I know everyone I work with at that level.”
Trevor has endeavored to demonstrate that kind of encouragement and personal interaction with those he serves and those he works with.
“I enjoy the student interaction,” he said. “I do consider myself a mentor in some ways. I don’t have the biggest impact right now, but when you are in a locker room for four years with an athlete or a student manager—you see them go from a recruit to being knocked down as a freshmen to being grown up. While I am not that much older than them now, I enjoy working with the student managers and help them experience what I’ve already experienced.”
Back to Georgia as Equipment Manager
After Texas, Trevor headed back to Georgia where he landed a gig at the University of West Georgia as a grad assistant in the equipment room.
“It was a whole new world,” Trevor said. “I went from the rich of the rich to DII football in the deep south. There was, maybe, 10,000 people in Carrollton, Georgia. It was a three stoplight town. I was there 11 months but I learned more there than any other job.”
Through connections, he landed a summer internship at Valley Ranch – with the Dallas Cowboys. For a Texas guy, it would be the pinnacle of jobs, and Trevor relished it.
“I learned a lot there,” he said. “One thing I learned is that I wanted to stay in college athletics. I like the NFL, but I prefer college.”
Trevor says the budget restrictions at West Georgia stretched his imagination and his resourcefulness.
“It was a great experience. It humbled me, and I learned what was possible.,” he said. “I am a better person because of it.”
No Horsing Around
Then, a year ago, Trevor made the move to Texas Christian as a graduate assistant.
“The experience here is great. I’m running my own budgets and have an addition sport.”
Five guesses as to his additional sport.
Baseball? No.
Volleyball. No.
Lacrosse? No. Track and Field? No (and no). Field hockey? No.
Trevor’s other responsibility is the TCU Equestrian Team.
There he reins in the practice equipment, travel gear, and the Nike account. It’s a $60,000 budget.
“It’s an interesting sport, but I’m not too hands on with the program,” he admits. “I’m working 70 to 80 hours a week and have another year until I graduate.”
Of course, the equestrianism is secondary to his work with in the football equipment room. The Horned Frogs made it to the Big 12 Championship game last season where they lost to Oklahoma before defeating Stanford at the Alamo Bowl.
This season they face some big games: Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and more.
“I am the third equipment manager for football and my main responsibilities are with the helmets. We have a practice helmet and five game helmets.” It’s a part of his job he relishes. “Not every job allows you to go to football practice 125 times a year!”
AEMA Certification Exam
Trevor takes the Athletic Equipment Management Association certification exam in June at its convention in Phoenix, Arizona.
“It’s very important. Anyone who takes this profession seriously needs to take the certification exam seriously.”
It’s an exam that is not focused on football, unlike most of its participants. AEMA National Office Manager Sam Trusner tells us that a large percentage of test takers fail to make the mark the first time, usually because of a lack of study. That won’t be the case for Trevor, says Trevor.
“It’s true in other professions—teachers, plumbers. If we want to be taken seriously, and we take our livelihood and our athletes’ safety seriously, we need to take the exam seriously. Certification adds legitimacy to what many still call ‘The Laundry Guy.’”
When he passes the exam, Trevor will finish qualifications for Helmet Tracker’s AEMA Certification Exam Scholarship which reimburses one equipment manager for the cost of the exam and the study materials.
Many colleges and universities require AEMA Certification when hiring Equipment Managers (http://equipmentmanagers.org/certification/exam). Others prefer Certification. Some will pay for the exam and book and if that is the case and a sponsored Equipment Manager wins the Helmet Tracker Scholarship, Helmet Tracker will reimburse the institution.
In 2017, University of Nevada’s Michael Dryer won the scholarship. However, Damien Garnett, Assistant Athletic Director of Equipment at Nevada, asked Helmet Tracker to pass it on as the Wolfpack had paid for Michael’s exam. We did, and Eddie Hardin, now the Assistant to the Director of Equipment Operations at Tennessee State University, received the reimbursement. Read his story here.
““I am grateful,” Eddie told us at the time. “It means a lot going from an intern to my first real job—having bills to pay!”
Outside the Equipment Room
When not building helmets or setting up practice, Trevor enjoys movies and live music—being in Austin grew that interest.
“I love country music, but also classic rock” he tells us. He also enjoys Mexican food, but quickly adds that being in the equipment room is where he wants to be—it’s his passion.
“I like to think we make the athletes lives better. We make a difference for the better and make a difference for a whole bunch of people. College athletics does things no other avenues can. That’s what I enjoy about this job.”
In the equipment room is where Brian Coutras, himself an AEMA Certified Equipment Manager, has relied on Trevor.
“I have the opportunity to supervise Trevor while working in the TCU Athletic Equipment Room during his time as a Graduate Assistant at TCU,” Brian writes to us at Helmet Tracker. “While performing the duties and responsibilities of our GA, Trevor displays characteristics such as hard work, attention to detail, excellent listening and communication skills, and the interest and desire to be great.
“One of the best things about Trevor is his willingness to learn.”
Brian is the Assistant Athletics Director of Equipment Services at Texas Christian University.
As for Trevor, he returns from the barn, from his office, from a concert venue to the equipment room. That’s where he belongs.
“I absolutely love this job. I think it is perfect for me.”