1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to The Giants Huddle Get him in New York 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,559 Speaker 1: Giants Podcast. I'm John Schmulkin. Welcome to another episode of 3 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: the Giants Huddle podcast. Training camp is right around the corner, 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: so we're gonna do a little bit of a special 5 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: episode today and talk to two of the behind the 6 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 1: scenes folks that make sure the players, coaches, facility and 7 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: fields are ready to go for the start of training camp. 8 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: We'll be talking to Rob Davis, the Giants heads groundskeeper, 9 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 1: and we'll be talking to Jackie Miles, the head equipment manager. 10 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: But first, I want to remind you if you're listening 11 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: to this podcast on Giants dot Com with the Giants 12 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: Mobile Apple, appreciate it, but go to your favorite podcast platform, 13 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: subscribe at us to your fee, put us on your favorites, listen. 14 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: If you're on Apple podcast, make sure you leave a 15 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: positive review and a high rating, and that will help 16 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 1: this podcast go bigger and better than ever. We're gonna 17 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: start Rob Davis, who's been with the Giants for more 18 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: than a decade. He makes sure the fields are perfectly 19 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 1: manicured when practice begins at the end of July. Rob, 20 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: thanks for being with us. I know you're really really busy. 21 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: Why don't you give the fans an idea. We're having 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: this conversation a little bit more than a week before 23 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 1: the first practice. What's your focus right now in terms 24 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: of trying to get these fields ready for when the 25 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: guys show up. They have their first rookie practice on Tuesday, 26 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: and then they have their first full team practice next Thursday. 27 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: This is the Wednesday prior to that, so they've been 28 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 1: off the field since the middle of June. UM We 29 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: do a lot of stuff right away when they finish 30 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: up mini camp, including aarification and top dressing, and then 31 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: sort of let it rest for a couple of weeks. 32 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 1: Standard fertilizer, standard watering, stuff like that. This year appears 33 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 1: to be a little bit unusual. If you see the 34 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: forecast for the next couple of days, we've got some 35 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: really high temperatures coming in, so it's gonna be a 36 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: little bit unusual this year. We just got a limp 37 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: through the next couple of days and then get back 38 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: to our normal program of fertilizing, watering, and and and 39 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: mowing and painting and striping and getting it ready for Thursday. 40 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: What we aim for, I know Tuesday the rookies will 41 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: be here. But Thursdays are big day. So what would 42 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 1: be a bigger impediment for you? Rain or the hundred 43 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: degrees stuff we're gonna get. What's worse? Hundred degrees is 44 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: much worse. Um Grass does not survive in the Northeast. 45 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: If you get down into Florida and Georgia and those areas, 46 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: they like the high temperatures a little bit more. But 47 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: in our Northeast we have a cool season type grass 48 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: on these fields. It's Kentucky blue grass. It doesn't do 49 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 1: very well in those temperatures. I'd rather have eighty five 50 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: degrees than a hundred degrees. So interesting, alright, not just 51 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: some logistics, because this is stuff that I really don't 52 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: know the answer to. When you guys paint the fields, 53 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: how do you get the line? Straight? String line? So 54 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: the last string line down and the paint machine will 55 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: follow a string line. Um that works good the first time. 56 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: After that we just follow the old paint line and 57 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: it does start to wander a little bit. Um camp 58 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: is a different beast because they're on it. While they're 59 00:02:57,720 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 1: gonna be on nine of the first ten days. Somebody's 60 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: gonn you're out there practicing once you get into season, 61 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: you know, you only got really three three and a 62 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: half days of practice during the season, so that the 63 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: painting has time to diminish a little bit so you 64 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: can get another string light out there and get them straight. 65 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: So it does sort of wander a little bit and 66 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: get wavy this time of year because we're just following 67 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,239 Speaker 1: the old paint line because we don't have the time 68 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: to do it the way we need to do it 69 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: during the season. The one thing that's different about Pat Shermer, 70 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: and both of us are here for Tom Coffin and 71 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: Ben Magadoo, they did not like to practice in the rain. 72 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: Pat Shermer, when it rains, he's okay, you know, if 73 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: it's pouring or bring him inside, But if there's a 74 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 1: little bit of a drizzle or or a light rain, 75 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: he's outside with these guys. What kind of challenges is 76 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: that cann make for you trying to keep these fields 77 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: in the shape they are when these guys are chopping 78 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: up a little bit. What it's a little bit money 79 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: out there. So when it does get wet, it does 80 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: chop up, as you say, and does wear a little 81 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: bit more, and it's just you increase your intensity of fertilizing, 82 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: you increase your intensity of overseating stuff like that. Now 83 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: they have three fields out there that are that that 84 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: are full grass, three natural grass fields, yet they rotate them. 85 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: Is that so you can keep the fields kind of 86 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: even and make sure they're all good correct, it's just 87 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: for where just for play, just to make it last 88 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: longer into the season. We rotate the fields, rotate the practices. 89 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: What's the last thing you do before the guys go 90 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: on there next Thursday and have their first practice. What's 91 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 1: your finishing touches being putting a mowing pattern and so 92 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: you see the light and dark of every five yards. 93 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: That'll be the last thing to do. And that's more 94 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: visual than anything that will help the fans out, just 95 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:29,919 Speaker 1: makes it look pretty. What how do you get the 96 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: different the look of the different colors with the pattern? 97 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 1: What's the direction of travel of the mower? So you 98 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: look at the light pattern, Actually you travel the more 99 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 1: will have traveled away from you. In the dark pattern, 100 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,559 Speaker 1: more head will have traveled towards you. It just lays 101 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: the grass blade over just a little bit and then 102 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: then it lays back the opposite direction for the dark 103 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 1: pass it's just the way the light reflects off the 104 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 1: grass when it's laid over. Now Here at the Giants, 105 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: nobody does just one job. No one does just one job, 106 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: or at least most people don't. But or in practice 107 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: you're running around doing a million different things, and it's 108 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: not taking care of the field. Talk about your role 109 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: once practice starts and what you're doing to help out 110 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: the ball boys, the equipment guys, and and everybody out there. Well, 111 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: that really all started the first year I was here. 112 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: My first year was two thousand and nine. First year 113 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: this building was two thousand and nine UM at the 114 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 1: old Giants Stadium, the Giants did not have a full ground, 115 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: full time groundskeeper in place. The state of New Jersey 116 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,840 Speaker 1: really took care of their fields for them. So the 117 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: first time I met Coach Coughlin, I was brought up 118 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: by the equipment staff and they introduced me to him 119 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 1: and we asked the question do you want me out 120 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 1: there for practice? And his response was yes, just in 121 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 1: case something happens, I'd like you to be out there 122 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: for practice. So that was you know, obviously they still 123 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: want the Albany for training camp that time year, So 124 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: they all went away came back that first the night 125 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,919 Speaker 1: before the first practice, I talked to the equipment staff. 126 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: They said, yes, he wants you out there, but he's 127 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 1: the type of guy doesn't like people really standing around watching. 128 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 1: So at the very least, just to walk around to 129 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: look busy. If a football is laying around, pick it up, 130 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: if there's a bag, just just look busy. It'll make 131 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: you in his eyes, it will make you look like 132 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 1: a lot stronger employee. So I did that for the 133 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: first week or two. Round about the third week suddenly 134 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: one of the equipment staff said, hey, um, what's his name? 135 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 1: Coach Palmer needs help with the quarterbacks. Run over there 136 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: and help him. Okay, I'll run over there and help him. 137 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 1: And again, that was ten years ago, and I've sort 138 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 1: of worked with the quarterbacks ever since. What do you 139 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: do with the catch balls? Were? I've run patterned for him, 140 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: I've given them water whatever they need. I just saw 141 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: him there for for them. And then pre practice, I 142 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: see you out there with the forklift. You're kind of 143 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: in charge also of setting up the field, so all 144 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: the equipment, the blocking pads and stuff are in the 145 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: right place. How does that work logistically with you the coaches, 146 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: the equipment staff to make sure everything has to be 147 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: where it needs to bake. So the coaches will have 148 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: schedule of field rotation like we talked about, so we'll 149 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: know the morning of which field you know, the emphasis field, 150 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,359 Speaker 1: which field the offenses on which field, the defensive on 151 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 1: defense is on. So by the time I finished mowing, 152 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 1: now you're about an hour and a half from the 153 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: start of practice. Two hours from the start of practice, 154 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: and then we start moving the equipment out on the field. 155 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: Like you said, we know offenses on field to let's say, 156 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: so all their stuff we know to move on the 157 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: field too, and defense is on field three we know. 158 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: The other thing we have that's sort of unique in 159 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: our environment is that we don't have permanent goal posts. 160 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: So at the start of every practice, we have to 161 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: know where the goal post has to go, and we 162 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: have to carry that with a forklift and set it 163 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 1: in place. And you really can't leave that stuff on 164 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: overnight or for days at a time because it'll just 165 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: kill the grass where it sets. So we pull everything 166 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: off at the end of practice and set it off 167 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: to the side or on the turf field so it 168 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: doesn't kill any of the grass. What's your day like 169 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: a camp? Everyone's days are long a camp. It's just 170 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: the way it goes. Uh, what's your day like? Like? 171 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: What do you do to to keep the field going 172 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:49,239 Speaker 1: and how do you mix that in with your schedule 173 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: over the course of the day with the other responsibilities. 174 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: Tough question. Um camps unique again because I know they're 175 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: not two days, but they will do a job through 176 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: in the morning and then have a real practice in 177 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: the afternoon. So you just sort of have to fill 178 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: in where you can. If you if it has to 179 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: be mode, maybe you mote from six o'clock in the 180 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: morning you get here and start mowing then. Or if 181 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: it's too wet, if it's raining the night before, maybe 182 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: you wait till after the walkthrough and come out eleven 183 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 1: o'clock and mode then. So sort of depends on the 184 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: weather a lot, and you just sort of fill in 185 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: where you can and then at the under practice, breakdown 186 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: the field, which takes about an hour, hour and a 187 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: half somewhere in there, get dinner and go to the 188 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: hotel and fall asleep, start it all over again the 189 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: next day. How is it different going from kind of 190 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: coach to coach? And we've had a couple of different 191 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 1: general managers here as well. How how was your role 192 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: changed since you got here? And I guess it's what 193 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: your eleven season now coming up? Yeah? Season, Um, I 194 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: think it was great starting with coach Kauflin. You know 195 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: everybody's heard how coach Coughlin is very stern, but what 196 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 1: a great guy. He appreciated what you did, he appreciated 197 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: the hard work, um, and he just didn't want any bs. 198 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 1: If I can say that, just give him a straight answer. 199 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 1: If it was too wet to go outside, tell me 200 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: it's two what to go outside, and we'll go inside. 201 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: No knots ends. And I've sort of carried that along 202 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,719 Speaker 1: in the next two coaches, um, and it's worked out 203 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: fairly well. I just, you know, try not to lie, 204 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 1: to tell him the truth tom as quickly as I possible. 205 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: They have enough on their mind worrying about game management 206 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: and all prepping for the week's games, and it just 207 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: they just don't need to hear from me. So I 208 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: felt like it is give them my opinion and earn 209 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: their trust pretty quickly that I sort of know what 210 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: I'm talking about out there. What do you enjoy the most? 211 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:27,839 Speaker 1: What what part of the when you get to work 212 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 1: on I can't wait till I can do this. Really, it's, 213 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: to be honest with it's sitting on a mower at 214 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: seven o'clock in the morning and nobody around you and 215 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: my headphones on listening to a podcast or whatever, and 216 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: all by myself, and just making known at the end 217 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:42,719 Speaker 1: of the two and a half hours along that the 218 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 1: field is gonna look pretty darn good when you're all 219 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: setting done and you can go stand up on the 220 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 1: roof of the main building and look down and say 221 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: take pictures and say wow, for the middle of September, 222 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: after having fifteen twenty practices on it already, it looks 223 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: pretty darn good. Now, you said, you've caught a lot 224 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: of passes in the quarterbacks that have been here. Who's 225 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: thrown the easiest ball to catch? Tough question. I don't 226 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: know how to answer that. The toughest ball to catch? 227 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: How about that one without fail David Carr? Why hard 228 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: this ball? It made a noise when it was coming 229 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 1: at you. Yeah, it sort of whistled as he threw 230 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: it so hard and whistled at it coming at you. 231 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: And the other one was I can't think of his 232 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 1: name Josh Johnson. Johnson somehow he got a ton of 233 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,319 Speaker 1: spin on the ball. It would spin so fast coming 234 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: at you. And I think he said that somebody actually 235 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 1: tested at one time and it was spun a lot 236 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,199 Speaker 1: faster and whatever else. What other quarterbacks he was throwing 237 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: with it spun a lot faster than anybody else. That's funny. 238 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,319 Speaker 1: Final question, I guess this is going to kind of 239 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: be how we'll close it out. I know, you go, 240 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: I've seen you at road games talking to other groundskeepers 241 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: and stuff like that. What are some of the advancements 242 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: that you know, you've kind of come along with over 243 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 1: the course of the last ten years doing this with 244 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: the Giants, talking to people around the league? You know, 245 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: teams of grass fields in indoor facilities. Now the Cordinals 246 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: have the one that rolls out on the palette. You know, 247 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 1: what are some of the cool things that have changed, 248 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: and maybe what are some things on the horizon in 249 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: terms of what you do that that are coming down 250 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:15,079 Speaker 1: the road there maybe fans wouldn't even think about, not 251 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: really want I do. But the field in itself, the 252 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: NFL has really stepped up and tried to make the 253 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 1: fields as safe as possible for the players and be 254 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,079 Speaker 1: trying to get them more consistent, so you can have 255 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 1: a Green Bay play the same in December as of 256 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 1: Miami plays in September. Interesting, So the NFL is really 257 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: working hard at normalizing field conditions, if you will, and 258 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: making them a safe and be more consistent. Do you 259 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: have to manicure the indoor practice facility with with the 260 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: tire mulch? What goes into that? It's really just a 261 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 1: grooming procedure where you drag a pretty much a brush 262 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: across it and just relevel the rubber back out up 263 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: and then then then the robber sort of sticks to 264 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: the surface, so you have to knock that back down. 265 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 1: You need to sprite with fabric softener, put a piece 266 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: of carpet upside down and drag it with that. No 267 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 1: more near near as much maintenances indoors is the outdoor 268 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: grass fields, but there is maintenance that goes into it. Well, folks, 269 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: if you show up a training camp, you see the 270 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: big guy in the long mower, You see the big 271 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: guy catching passes from quarterbacks. That's Rob Davis. Wave say 272 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: hello and tell him what's up. He does a great job. 273 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 1: He's one of the hardest workers in the building and 274 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: really thank them for being with us today on the 275 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: Huddle Podcast. Robbie, thanks a lotting man. Thanks you. I 276 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: appreciate it. I can't wait to see all fans out there. 277 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 1: And now we think Rob Davis first time, and we're 278 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 1: gonna turn it to our second guest, and that is 279 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: Jackie Miles, who runs the show down in the equipment 280 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: room here for the New York Football Giants. There's no 281 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:46,959 Speaker 1: one you want to be better friends with. And the 282 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: guy that runs the equipment room trust me, and he's 283 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: kind enough to give us a few minutes on the 284 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 1: Giants Little Podcast. Jackie, I know you're really busy. We 285 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:56,839 Speaker 1: appreciate the time. All right, talk to me. What do 286 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 1: you guys doing? We'll have we're recording this interview. Uh, 287 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 1: you Wednesday before the rookies show up, which is next 288 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: Monday afternoons, So you're less than a week before the 289 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,319 Speaker 1: players are back. What are you doing right now? What's 290 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 1: your priority? Well, the process starts right after the draft 291 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: when we when we're up to ninety players and we 292 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:18,439 Speaker 1: already had we we gather stand sizes, shoe sizes, head sizes. 293 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: You know, we fit everybody for equipment down through through 294 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: the end of T A S. And so over the 295 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: summer we break out all the brand new clothes for 296 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: the coaches and UM and for the players and shoes 297 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 1: and hats, and we get that already for them. You know, 298 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: we have lists and lists and lists of sizes and 299 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 1: um you know, we mark them all with their names 300 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 1: and put them in their lockers, and so when they 301 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 1: show up on Monday, you know they have all their 302 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: new stuff for two thousand nineteen. Now you talk about 303 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: the players, you know, are they're gonna put the pads 304 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 1: on the real pads for the first time the second 305 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: week or the end of the first week of training camp, 306 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: give or take. How much have you done with the 307 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: players in terms of getting the real pads ready to 308 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: go for UM Dorn, O T S and and dorn 309 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: the off season O T A S. We we got 310 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: everybody fit for helmets and shoulder pads and and all 311 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: their protective equipment is already intact. And then we just 312 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:15,439 Speaker 1: sat them down individually and asked their preference on shoes 313 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: and gloves and sizes on clothes. So then you know, 314 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: we got them going all through O T S and 315 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: then over the summer, we got them a new batch 316 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: of everything to last them through preseason and you know, 317 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: to close the last and through the season. How much 318 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 1: you do players end up changing their minds because I'm 319 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: sure you guys think you're set right, you got good pads, 320 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: you've got the helmet, you're all good to go. How 321 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: many last second adjustments do you get once the players 322 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: put them on, they go out there for a practice, like, 323 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: I'm not sure this is I'm thinking this. You know, 324 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 1: you might have one a day on one. I like, 325 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: it's it's pretty accurate now. And they're you know, they 326 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: even using their helmets um for a couple of months now, 327 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 1: their shoulder pads, you know, the guys from last year, 328 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: or using their shoulder prods I used last year, and 329 00:14:57,720 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: we checked them out once they got back from the 330 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: recondition and all the new guys are all the rookies, 331 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: you know, they'll they'll feel them out and then I 332 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 1: you know, it's not that it's not as bad as 333 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: as you would think. You might have guys changing the 334 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 1: T shirts, eyes or something like that, or or shoe style, 335 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: but there, you know, it's it's pretty um, it's always 336 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: pretty accurate with the information to give us. I would 337 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: think from the outside looking in, that training camp has 338 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: got to be the worst. You got the most players here, 339 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: you got the most practices, and you have games and 340 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: you're trying to manage all this stuff. You get to 341 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: the regular season, it's it's one game a week, it's 342 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: three practices. It's only fifty three guys. You know they 343 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: practice quad makes up to sixty, right, But in training 344 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: camp is that your toughest part of the training Training 345 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: camps it's a grind, and you know the seasons are grind, 346 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: but training camps like a double grind. You're you're working 347 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 1: sixteen eighteen hours a day, seven days a week. You 348 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: prepare for we we usually come back a week or 349 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: two early before the staff gets back and and then 350 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: we we kind of you know, hump it through the 351 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: summer and then uh when we hit training camp. Its routine, 352 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: but it's a lot of preparation to get ready for it, 353 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: and then it's a lot a lot of to stay 354 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 1: on top of it all through preseason. And then after 355 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: the last um preseason game, you cut down the fifty three, 356 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: so you have a weekend to kind of clean out 357 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: lockers of the guys that that uh, we're waived. And 358 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: then um, then you break out all the players new clothes, 359 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: so you know, you do that after you get down 360 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: your numbers. And then when they come back from there 361 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: three or four day weekend, they have a new locker 362 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 1: full of gear like the like the coaches did and 363 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: the staff that you know, when they came to training camp. 364 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: How do you work with the players? You know, they 365 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: all have their own separate deals for shoes and they 366 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: thinks of that nature. How do you work with them? 367 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: So though everyone make sure they had exactly what they're 368 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: supposed to have. Once you get into the well, we 369 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 1: we bring them in you know, two or three times 370 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: storing the off season and then you know, and I 371 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 1: work with Nike and on their armor and they let 372 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: me know who's under contract. Then I sit down with 373 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: the player and it's my job for the contract players 374 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: to when they're running low on a certain to get 375 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 1: them the style they asked for and then when they 376 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: running low to replenish it. And it's kind of a 377 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: once a year process, you know, like you'll tell me 378 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 1: who's and then we'll get the guys in that, you know, 379 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: show them the new styles, let them pick well, we'll 380 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: actually scan their feet to make sure we're giving them 381 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:32,399 Speaker 1: the correct style and correct size and stuff like that. Yeah, well, 382 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: a lot a lot of guys, you know, they you know, 383 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 1: probably myself included. You know, your your shoe size is 384 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: sometimes it changes sometimes, you know, the shoe style runs 385 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,199 Speaker 1: small or whatever. So you know a guy could be 386 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: a twelve and a half, tell you he's a twelve 387 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: and a half, would actually wear a size thirteen. Well, 388 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: now the NFL has a program and a you know, 389 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: we're required to measure their feet and then it's, uh, 390 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 1: it's kind of a computer program that will tell you 391 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: this is how the shoe runs. That the guy takes 392 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: a twelve and a half in this particular style, he 393 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: has to wear a thirteen. So you know, there's there's 394 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:09,679 Speaker 1: more to it then asked in a guy's shoe size 395 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 1: and what position he plays, But you know his shoes 396 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: are based on what position their weights and you know 397 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 1: they're with their foot in the length of our food Saday. 398 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:21,360 Speaker 1: There's a lot more goes into it, but it's kind 399 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 1: of the equipment manager's job to kind of educate the 400 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 1: guy and give them the best possible fit for all 401 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 1: the protective equipment, shoulder pads, helmets. Now, this is your 402 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 1: second year, Jackie with the Giants. How long have you 403 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: been doing this in general? And I believe this is 404 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: my forty second season. Maybe. Yeah, I would have been 405 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: a full time head equipment guy at seventeen years old, 406 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:46,199 Speaker 1: and uh worked at seven different places. And I've been 407 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: in the NFL. I was with the Carolina Panthers for 408 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 1: twenty four seasons, and way back when I was with 409 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 1: the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons, and you know then 410 00:18:56,200 --> 00:19:02,160 Speaker 1: I have three Yeah, it's it's kind of my boys 411 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: from Philly don't like me as much as they did 412 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: when I when I work from Carolina. Pathers. Absolutely, let's 413 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: talk about some of the other stuff you guys do. 414 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: And I don't think a lot of people realize this, 415 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: but you know, I'm out there a practice and yeah, 416 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,399 Speaker 1: you guys are worried about getting stuff set up. I 417 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:19,679 Speaker 1: see your guys running around doing stuff with the players 418 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: door and walk through here and making sue the equipment 419 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 1: needs to be where it's gonna be. Take me through 420 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 1: a typical day for you at training camp to take practice. 421 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: How early are you and your guys out there on 422 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: the practice field and what do you do and to 423 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 1: help practice run smoothly. Well, my my guys get out 424 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 1: there early, like an hour or so before practice, and 425 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: they set up the field and you know, there's there's 426 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: about five or six guys and uh, then me and 427 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:46,919 Speaker 1: my assistant Tim Sliman, we'll stay in and kind of 428 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:49,439 Speaker 1: get the players out out of the locker room and 429 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:51,360 Speaker 1: you know they're gonna come in last minute and need 430 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 1: some for practice. And and then Tim will go out 431 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: to the field and you know, he'll go to the 432 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: quarterbacks and he kind of runs the practice. But they 433 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: all come in, Rob Davis, Tim Um, you know, Kyle Lynch, 434 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: Terry Mansfield, how Harrison Ezing. You know, we sit around 435 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 1: the table and it's more so then and they you know, Timmy, 436 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: and then they map out the practice plan and then 437 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: they get out early. They set it up there and 438 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 1: we all have our different positions and so I'll even 439 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: go with the linebackers and help them out during the 440 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: individual drills just to kind of be helped to the 441 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: coach while he's trying to teach them. After individual you know, 442 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:32,640 Speaker 1: we kind of go into like team drills, and that's 443 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,479 Speaker 1: when my guys will be spotting the footballs and holding 444 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: the down markers, and so it's it's part of the 445 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 1: operation where you know, you get out there and you 446 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: just help the coaches kind of run practice. Uh, but 447 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,439 Speaker 1: it's more Timmy running practice. More. You have an outside 448 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: guy and an inside guy, and I'm more the inside guy. 449 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,640 Speaker 1: Timmy's more the outside guy. But we definitely help each 450 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 1: other out in both areas. Speaking of Tim, is he 451 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 1: the best snapper in the building? Oh yeah, yeah, he 452 00:20:57,359 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: apparently he's been doing it for a long time too. 453 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: He has been. And Tim Slaton, by the way, if 454 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: you see during seven on sevens and stuff, folks, the 455 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 1: guy that's snapping the ball to the quarterbacks, that would 456 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: be his assistant. Uh, Tim Slaman, what do you enjoy 457 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:10,920 Speaker 1: most about the job after all these years? What's the 458 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: most fun for you? Game day? You know, I think 459 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 1: we all work through training camp. I think we all 460 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 1: worked during the week to get the game day and 461 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: game days, you know, when the intensity levels up and 462 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: the adrenaline is going, and uh, you know, you just 463 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,119 Speaker 1: want to make your team as comfortable as possible from 464 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: an equipment standpoint so they can concentrate on winning those 465 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 1: football games, and then uh, you know, same with the coaches. 466 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: We want to kind of we're in the service in 467 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:37,640 Speaker 1: history when we want to kind of a catered everybody 468 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 1: so they can kind of have one less thing to 469 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: worry about and concentrate on what they need to do. 470 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: And and then when those football games. I was talking 471 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 1: to Rob Davis about this coach Shermer, I don't know 472 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 1: about the coaches you've worked for previously. He's not afraid 473 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: to stay outside on the practice that would to start 474 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 1: the rating. Does that put a little bit pressure on 475 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:55,440 Speaker 1: you guys to make sure everyone's got what they need 476 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: to have their footing. One of one of the first 477 00:21:58,040 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: things I noticed I came in memorre all day we 478 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: can And that was last year. You know, I spent 479 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 1: the whole weekend in here by myself, and I noticed, 480 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,119 Speaker 1: you know, nobody had ring gear in our locker, and 481 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: I was, you know, it's kind of so one when 482 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: Timmy and them got back, I said, guys, why do 483 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: you not issue ring gear for for They said, well, 484 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: you know, for rains, we go inside. And I just 485 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: saw to myself, well, you got a new coach. I 486 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:25,720 Speaker 1: don't know if so. I immediately dog and dog and 487 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: try and found ring gear in order some just in 488 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:33,439 Speaker 1: case good thing. Yeah and uh and sure enough, coach coach. Uh. 489 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: But you know, I'm with the Carolina Pather which we 490 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 1: never had an indoor facility, so I was yeah, it 491 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 1: was it was automatic, you know, to go out and 492 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,160 Speaker 1: practice in the rain. Without dropping any names, I don't 493 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: want to get people into trouble. What were some of 494 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:53,160 Speaker 1: the funniest player either superstitions or intricate details that they 495 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:55,439 Speaker 1: needed either with their practice uniform of the game day 496 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,120 Speaker 1: uniform that you've had to make sure you delivered over 497 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: the years, you know, over the years. You know, guys 498 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 1: are they're they're good, good guys. They're all they they 499 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 1: have their little idiosyncrasies and all that. But just right 500 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: off the top of my head, I mean, I I've 501 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 1: had players that just insist on like skin tight jerseys 502 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: that they could barely breathe in. But you know, um, 503 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:21,919 Speaker 1: and then you have um, you know you guys like 504 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,639 Speaker 1: you know, their shoes, they like to they want their 505 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 1: shoes to match. So if we're wearing blue uniforms, they 506 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 1: want blue shoes. They were wearing white and and it's funny, 507 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: it's like I'm I'm worried about traction and I'm worried 508 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 1: about fed I'm not worried about color. But sometimes, you know, 509 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 1: these these guys will quote a great lengths to make 510 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:45,399 Speaker 1: sure they they'll even go uppsize or downsize if you 511 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 1: don't have the color they're asking for. Yeah, I've seen that, 512 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: and you don't really wanna you know, it's all about 513 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:57,239 Speaker 1: the swag, Jackie, you didn't he know. Yeah, they can 514 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 1: be uh yeah, not so much here as you know 515 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,199 Speaker 1: other places I've been, and the guys here, you know, 516 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 1: if you recommend this kind of shoot, I don't care 517 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:07,919 Speaker 1: what color it's. Now, I've never been with other organizations. 518 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: Why like asking people that have been in multiple organizations, 519 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 1: what's different about the Giants? Oh, the traditions like no other. Um, 520 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 1: it's been around for almost a hundred years, so the 521 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: growing pains are gone. We've probably been gone for seventy years, 522 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 1: you know, where being being you know, being with Carolina. 523 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: It's a wonderful organization. But I was there from the 524 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: start of the franchise, and and they were growing pains 525 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:39,239 Speaker 1: and and it's very normal, you know, And but I 526 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: went through all those growing pains were here those growing 527 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 1: pains were pretty much you know, ironed out years ago. 528 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 1: Were you there at the starting Carolina when you build 529 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:49,840 Speaker 1: everything from scraps. Yeah, I was one of the first 530 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: people they hired once they got the franchise. Like it was, 531 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:55,439 Speaker 1: you know, it was a quick match of Boston College 532 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 1: for Tom Coughlin, you know, the old Giants coach, and 533 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,119 Speaker 1: uh it was you know, I went. I went to 534 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,440 Speaker 1: the Carolina Panthers, and Tom and all the staff from 535 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 1: Boston College went to Jacksonville Jaguars and we kind of 536 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:10,640 Speaker 1: came in together. So we had like a rivalry going 537 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: going on between me and m and it it was fun. 538 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 1: But just to start an NFL franchise from scratch and 539 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 1: and build it, you know too. We we had a 540 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 1: good six team months, you know before we played our 541 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 1: first game too, to get all the equipment designed and 542 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: ordered and purchased and uh distribute it and it was 543 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,560 Speaker 1: it was neat. I got to design the locker room 544 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: um at Bank of America Stadium down there, and the uniform. 545 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 1: I was involved heavily with designing that, and uh it 546 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: was I was only thirty three years old, and it 547 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 1: was like a dream come true. It's just a neat 548 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:50,679 Speaker 1: experience to be on the ground floor. And I know 549 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: you're not gonna be able to answer. But if if 550 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 1: I don't ask, if the fans will come after me. 551 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:57,080 Speaker 1: So feel free to say no comment. But should giant 552 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: fans be expect expecting any other uniforms ranges, pants, jersey? 553 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:04,440 Speaker 1: Is anything like that down the road? Uh? Not this year? 554 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 1: I I, uh, that's that's you know, that's totally not 555 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: my call. But uh, this year, we're sticking with the 556 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 1: same combinations. Yes, yes, And I see the tradition here 557 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:19,440 Speaker 1: and I I love the tradition. I don't want to change, 558 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:21,680 Speaker 1: but you know, if if I'm told too, I will. 559 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: I feel like there was really good reaction to the 560 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:26,920 Speaker 1: color Rush jerseys, the old school white with the white pants. 561 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 1: Did the players seem to like those twos? Yes? I 562 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:32,199 Speaker 1: actually like that myself. That was kind of a very 563 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:35,360 Speaker 1: classy look. And uh, you know it's it's ah, well, 564 00:26:35,359 --> 00:26:37,959 Speaker 1: we're we're wear it again this year. What reaction did 565 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 1: you get for blue jersey gray pants versus blue jersey 566 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 1: white pants, which was kind of like the old one. Well, 567 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: I when I came in, I was under impression it 568 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 1: was just blue Jersey's white pants, and I didn't realize 569 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: that they had worn gray pants with I guess against 570 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:57,679 Speaker 1: Alice when they play in Dallas. UM, so that was 571 00:26:57,720 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 1: the only time last year. I think we wore them 572 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 1: with our blue jerseys. But I didn't hear any any 573 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: reaction whatsoever. But I know' mind switching it op ocasionally. Jackie, 574 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:09,640 Speaker 1: great stuff, um, best of luck. I know you're really 575 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,640 Speaker 1: really busy. Thank you for taking the time. Good luck, 576 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 1: and training camp fans. If you're a training camp, you 577 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: look for the guy. He's always wearing the baseball cap, 578 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 1: staying on the stile and watching practice. That's Jackie. Say Hi, 579 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 1: appreciate it, Jackie, good times. That's Jackie Miles. We thank 580 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:26,400 Speaker 1: him for joining us, the Giants head equipment manager, and 581 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: we thank Rob Davis as well, the Giants head groundskeeper, 582 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 1: for joining us on the Giants Huddle podcast. Thank you 583 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 1: so much for joining us. Again. A quick reminder, if 584 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:38,360 Speaker 1: you're on the Giants mobile apper Giants dot com, that's great, 585 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,199 Speaker 1: thanks for being with us, but it's easier if you 586 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 1: better for us. Go to your favorite podcast platform subscribe 587 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 1: at us to your favorites. If you're on iTunes, Rapple Podcast. 588 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,160 Speaker 1: Leave a positive review and that will help us out 589 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 1: a whole lot. That's today's episode of The Giants Little Podcast. 590 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,959 Speaker 1: We thank Jackie Miles and Rob Davis Again. I'm John Schmilk. 591 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:57,400 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time. Everybody, Audios.