I’m humbled to have gotten to know and interview my incredible roomie and friend Katie DePaolo, a sophomore manager for our very own Fighting Irish football program. And let me tell you, ladies, she ain’t no water girl.
Name: Katie DePaolo
Hometown: Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania
Major: Film, Television, and Theatre or English
Dorm: Pasquerilla East Hall
Dream Job: Writer for ESPN or Fox News
What does your job as an ND football manager entail? Being a football manager, I have a variety of jobs that require my attention. I am first and foremost an equipment manager, which requires me to make sure that the players and coaches have everything they need for practice and games. I issue practice jerseys and gear to the players as well as set up the locker room for game day. I also prepare the football field with equipment for practices. During practices, I am assigned to work with the defensive line, so I help to set up the equipment for the drills that the defensive line coaches, Coach Elston and Coach Brown, have for practice each day.
What has been your favorite part about being a manager this year? Honestly, just having the opportunity to work for the greatest football program in the nation has been a pretty spectacular experience for me. The other football managers have become my family and my best friends, and I really cannot imagine this school year without them.
What is your favorite manager memory? My favorite memory was being able to travel with the football team to Purdue and just getting to be apart of the whole away game process to see how that works. Also, I’ve made tight bonds with the other managers along the way, and we have so many inside jokes with one another that have created such fun memories.
Do you have any favorite players? There are a lot of really great players on the team, but if I had to pick one, it would probably be running back Cam McDaniel. I really admire how hard he runs the ball, as well as his attitude for the game.
With the season halfway completed, what parts of football managing do you look most forward to in the future? I hope that we can just win out the rest of the season and go to a bowl game. It would really make for a wonderful end to a great year of football managing!