The role of the ball boy in college football is crucial, yet often unseen. People like Bennett Vest, a student manager and ball boy for the Georgia Bulldogs, dash between players and officials during the game to deliver the football. Without their quick, calculated movements, the game could fall into disarray. Responsibilities range from running the ball in-play to setting up practice and cleaning equipment during the week. Among the student managers, competition to serve as a ball boy is high due to the unbeatable, front-row view of the action.
Standing on the sidelines and interacting with players, managers, and coaches can also offer unique and memorable experiences. Some ball boys, like former Auburn team member Jake Longenecker, have been known to add a dash of mischief to the mix. Longenecker confesses to obstructing rival team members signaling plays, triggering disgruntled reactions. Other ball boys share anecdotes of playful interactions with coaching staff and moments of unintentional humor on the sidelines. Despite the occasional feisty episode, opposing teams usually view this tradition of having an opponent representative on the sideline as harmless.
Being a ball boy is not always an easy job. When Penn State quarterback Tony Sacca threw an interception at a crucial juncture against Syracuse in 1989, he blamed it on the ball being wet. Seeking an explanation, coach Joe Paterno called out equipment manager Bradley Caldwell, unaware that the Syracuse team was handling the footballs. Caldwell wasn’t even at the sidelines when the interception happened, triggering a humorous confusion about how the ball could get wet in a dome. Paterno’s demand to have Penn State managers control the balls on both sidelines led to a strategic adjustment in the number of traveling ball boys.
While ball boys may not boast the physical stature of the players, their roles often require athleticism and bravery. For instance, Auburn ball boy Longenecker went viral after he kept pace with a wide receiver on a 49-yard touchdown run. Similarly, Frankie Grizzle-Malgrat, famously known as “Red Lightning” at Florida State University, won hearts when he defended his team’s players despite being much smaller in size. Sometimes, the commitment can lead to unexpected confrontations, as experienced by a Vanderbilt ball boy who reportedly was assaulted by an opposing team’s strength coach.
Being a ball boy offers fun and memorable experiences that stay with them well beyond their college years. Bennett Vest recounts friendly banter with Ohio State players during a crucial game and Grizzle-Malgrat, now an equipment manager, still gets recognized by fans a decade later. There are challenging sides to the job, including long working hours, managing various tasks, and the unpredictability of games and weather. But former Vanderbilt manager Dan Leben insists, “It is a ridiculously fun thing to do.”
