A football program like Auburn's would not be as successful as it is without its athletic training staff to keep players intact throughout the season as well as off-season.
"Lots of planning, communication and organization goes into preparing for a game," said Clark Pearson, Auburn's head football athletic trainer. "Everything from preparation of emergency situations to last-minute player treatment, evaluations and physician follow-ups. We work with the strength and conditioning staff on activating our hydration plan as well as deciding on team meals."
There is a tremendous amount of tedious work that goes on behind the scenes for the players' health throughout the week just for a single game.
"We also have to stock trunks, set up the stadium training room and sidelines," Pearson said. "All of this starts as early as Sunday prior to the next week's game. We work as a team with many other athletic department personnel to get the job done."
The players are appreciative the training staff is on call every practice and game.
Wes Byrum, a junior kicker, said for the first game of the season the athletic training staff did an amazing job tending to him throughout the entire game.
"I actually cramped up in both of my calves right at the beginning of the third quarter," Byrom said. "The whole time they were rubbing Icy Hot on my calves and stretching me the whole time until the end of the game."
Andrew McCain, senior offensive tackle, said he agrees and the team cannot thank them enough.
"We can't speak highly enough of Clark and the staff put together all the way down to the students that help them out," McCain said. "They know the best treatment and injury prevention. They keep us healthy and we really appreciate it."
McCain said the offensive linemen tend to get more banged up and bruised, so the athletic trainers help keep them on the field practicing and during games.
Pearson said in order to be an athletic trainer a person must have a degree in athletic training from an accredited institution and certification in CPR and First Aid.
You also need to pass the National Athletic Trainer's Association's Board of Certification exam after the degree is obtained.
Putting in more than 80 hours a week, Pearson said there are some initial evaluation and assessments the staff will do while tending to players injured on the field before they make any decisions on what to pursue from there.
"Once on the sideline we'll do further evaluations and determine whether it's safe for the player to return to the game," Pearson said. "We'll notify the necessary coaches to what is wrong with the player and his possibility of returning."
Not only does the staff tend to players during their season, but they also put in many hours outside of the stadium.
"We will offer transportation to class and physician appointments to student-athletes that are injured and unable to walk or drive a car," Pearson said. "My staff accompanies student-athletes to Birmingham if surgery is needed and will stay with them and return them back to Auburn safely."
The staff makes sure to look after its players and keep family posted on any updates necessary.
"We communicate and work with our athletic academic staff in helping injured student-athletes with their academic responsibilities," Pearson said. "We also communicate with student-athletes' parents with updates and treatment and rehab plans."
Pearson said they also do all of the rehab for the players throughout the entire year.
They work as a team with many doctors in the community as well as physical therapists.
"Our football athletic training staff, Dr. Michael Goodlett and Dr. James Andrews are present during games," Pearson said. "The athletic training staff and Dr. Michael Goodlett are present for all practices, and the athletic training staff is present for all lifting and conditioning workouts."
Pearson said the staff also attends to the day-to- day rehab and treatments.
The Auburn athletic trainers put in many hours of work behind the scenes to help keep the program up and running that most people do not notice.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
