In the heat of June, LSU equipment manager Greg Stringfellow and his staff are already sorting through jerseys, helmets and equipment for the upcoming fall football season.
The uniform is about more than a display of team pride—Stringfellow’s team views it as equipment.
“We want it as tight and form-fitting to the player as possible. It gives us a competitive advantage,” he says.
Uniform design has evolved greatly over the past 30 years. Helmets and facemasks have also been upgraded in the never-ending quest to prevent head injuries.
“The new technologies for facemasks are to absorb shock so it doesn’t transfer to the shell of the helmet. Companies are coming up with lots of different ways to absorb shock and transfer loads with the helmet,” he says.
With constant improvements, it’s important that both Stringfellow’s team and the players are educated on how to select and utilize new equipment. During pre-season, they spend four days on uniform training alone.
“We have meetings into the night about how to maintain and describe the equipment to the players. Maintenance is a big part of what we do. The staff takes a lot of pride in it.”
Equipment manager Greg Stringfellow took 225 through the costs associated with each part of the uniform.
Pants: $150
Gloves: $30
Shoulder pads: $300-$500
Jersey: $180
Helmet: $400
Cleats: $100
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $2,000-$3,000
(Estimated cost includes miscellaneous gear)
