Daily Iowan

Issue date: 10/5/06 Section: Sports

Friendship, camaraderie, dominance on the intramural football field - all are characteristics that have brought a particular group of guys together - the student football managers of the Iowa football team.

Most at the university might think being a student football manager would be an easy task. Think again. As the backbone of the Hawkeye football program, the student football managers, known as team BOFT - an inside Hawkeye football joke, reportedly - are dedicated to the behind-the-scenes work that assist the preparation before each football game. Yet, these dozen are also occupied as full-time students.

From running drills during practice, setting up the locker room, unloading equipment for road games, and charting plays during live action, these guys are definitely put to the test.

Not always busy with the team's numerous tasks, the managers play intramural football as well. Practicing once a day during Iowa football practices, by running routes and going over certain plays, gives them an advantage in preparation over other intramural football teams.

"It has helped us a lot because we are out here practicing every day, and it is no sweat for us, because everyone knows what he is doing, and we are all on the same page," said senior Tyson Benesh.

Dan Wolfe, the captain of team BOFT, said the managers enjoy the opportunity to work with the Iowa football team and spend quality time with good friends - he says the student managers are closer than most teams. Some even live together.

"It has been amazing, because we are such a tight group," he said. "Whether it is football-related or not, we are always spending great amounts of time together."

After having a very successful season in intramural football last season, winning the Recreational Championship, BOFT has brought its past success into a much more intense environment, the Competitive League. The team finished 4-0 and claimed the No. 1 ranking entering the playoffs. The members thought the new league would be more of a challenge, and they wanted to have more competitive games.

"The Competitive League has been a lot more difficult from the Rec, since we kind of whipped teams last year," Wolfe said. "This year has been a lot more competitive, but it is tough to play against us, because we play together, and we all have a good idea on how each of us plays."

Already looking down the road for another possible intramural championship, BOFT uses its weekly practices and intramural games to prepare for its biggest game of the year - their version of Ohio State. Each year, when the Iowa football team battles the Badgers of Wisconsin, the student football managers from each school compete against each other in a flag-football contest the night before the game. The tradition is called The Rusty Ol' Tool Box Game.

Many Iowa football players, such as Drew Tate and Miguel Merrick, even assist the group's preparation and come for support, Wolfe said.

"This game is very important for us, because we put a great amount of preparation, and this is, finally, our chance to go out proving something and not play five on five against each other like we usually do [in practice]," he added.

In the past seven years, the Iowa football managers have won the coveted tradition six times, beating Wisconsin, 33-0, last year. Wolfe and the rest of BOFT are looking to keep the "toolbox" pride here in Iowa City.

For these 12, the Heartland Trophy is secondary.

E-mail DI reporter Charlie Bartlett at:
charlie-bartlett@uiowa.edu

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Click here to check out last week's flag football team featured by the DI, from the world of Greeks.

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