Interview With Wes Pickell Who Is The Director Of Equipment Operations For Duke

When fans walk into a stadium and see the players run out of the tunnel on to the grid iron dressed in their helmets uniforms cleats and pads to the sideline before a game do they ever think about what goes into preparing for practice or a game or who helps prepare for practice or a game?

My guess is that is something that never crosses their mind! There just there for the entertainment and the game itself.

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview someone who does this for a living and learned about what his routine is like from preparing for practice and games at home verses on the road and how his job is different or the same from a practice environment to a game environment and learned some things along the way.

Who was it?

Wes Pickell who is the Director Of Equipment Operations for Duke where I attend football games regularly with my Dad, who made me the Duke fan I am today!

1. What is your routine like as far as getting ready for a home game at Brooks Field @ Wallace Wade Stadium verses getting ready for a game on the road?

Home games are obviously much easier to get ready for compared to road games.

I will say that road games are less distracting. Most of the time in the visiting team locker room there is less traffic and the amount of people in the locker rooms are less than home games. Home games, we have everything in there already so you don’t have that worry on if we forgot to pack something.

2. How do you decide what uniform combination the team is going to wear each week?

We have a uniform committee that comes up with what they want and then we get the approval from the boss man. He has the final say in uniforms but he has given them the freedom to pick and choose what they want to wear.

3. Do you prefer home or away games and why?

I prefer away games myself. There is something about beating an opponent in their stadium and the hush of the crowd. I like that feeling of we just came into your house and beat you.

4.Favorite stadium to visit in the Atlantic Coast Conference? And Why is it your favorite?

Virginia Tech, the atmosphere there is unreal. They have a great visiting team locker room plus throw in the fact that we have won there a few times has helped!

5. What are your responsibilities during practice as well as during a game?

Are they the same or are they different? If they're different how do they differ from a practice environment to a game environment? Practices are a lot of fun because we are out running around with the guys. We are there to make sure everything runs smoothly and there are no hiccups. For games I handle all the Staff gear as far as packing goes. Setting up the coaching staff locker room and making sure they have all they need. Who does the coaches locker room include? David Cutcliffe who is the head coach, Zac Roper who is the Offensive Coordinator, Ben Albert who is the Co Defensive Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator Matt Guerrieri, Kirk Benedict who is an assistant coach who also coaches Special Teams and defense , Re’quan Boyette who is the an Assistant Coach as well as the Running Backs Coach , Jeff Faris who is an Assistant Coach, Recruiting Coordinator for Offense and Tight Ends, Greg Frey who is an Assistant Coach as well as the Offensive Line Coach, Lanier Goethie who is an Assistant Coach as well as the Linebackers Coach, Chris Hampton who is an Assistant Coach as well as the Cornerbacks coach, Trooper Taylor who is the Assistant Head Coach as well as the Wide Receivers coach, Austin Davis who is a Graduate Assistant Coach as well as Offensive Line Coach, Joe Kasper who is a Graduate Assistant Coach as well as Defensive Coach Once the game starts we just sit back and watch and fix things when and if they break!

6. What is your travel schedule like for an away game? Do you leave with the team or do you leave a couple days before them?

We send one of our guys early with the truck but I normally travel with the team. Leave on Friday afternoon and then return home after the game on Saturday.

7. What is a typical off-season like for you as far as preparing for the next season?

First off… there is no offseason in College Football! As soon as the season ends we go into recruiting and then preparing for the next season. Ordering helmets and shoulder pads for the next year. There is a lot that goes into getting ready for a season.

8. How did you get interested in this profession?

I actually worked with my high school team as a manager before basketball season started because that was the sport I played in high school. From there I decided I wanted to be a student manager in college at The University of Tennessee. I worked my way into a full scholarship there in the equipment room. The rest is history

9.Talk about your history with David Cutcliffe. Why has he been the ideal fit for Duke after someone didn't work out?

I knew Coach Cut from my time as a student manager at Tennessee when he was the offensive coordinator. I’ve known the family for quite  while cause I went to school with two of Coach Cuts nieces. My dad had Cuts wife Karen as student in high school where he was a teacher so there has always been a connection. He was the right choice for Duke because they needed someone with a plan on and off the field. Coach builds leaders with his team and he always has their best interest at heart.

10. Favorite Bowl Game Memory?

My favorite bowl game memory was without a doubt winning the Pinstripe Bowl. We were in the Yankees Clubhouse and it was just a special experience. It was my son Caleb’s first Christmas and he got to spend it in NYC. My family got to come down to the field after the game and be a part of the celebration

Thank you, to Wes Pickell who is the Director Of Equipment Operations for Duke for contributing to this article and to Kat Castner who is the Director Of Sports Information for Football for her help along the way! I learned a lot from my interview with Wes Pickell about what his job is like, what his routine is like as far as getting ready for home games verses away games, What his favorite stadium is to visit in the Atlantic Coast Conference, What his relationship is like with Head Coach David Cutcliffe and I hope those who read this article will too!