During the holiday season, Florida International University (FIU) athletics staff are preparing for the Panthers’ participation in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, which will take place in Dallas on December 26. This marks FIU’s first post-season football appearance in six years.
The preparations involve transporting up to 12,000 pounds of equipment and gear needed for both practices and the game itself. Athletic trainers and equipment handlers are checking lists to ensure nothing is left behind. The items being packed go beyond just uniforms and protective gear; they include technology, medical supplies, and sideline operations equipment.
The inventory includes 80 game helmets, 150 jerseys, 180 pairs of pants for games, practice uniforms, 180 pairs of cleats, and 80 travel shoes. For protection and accessories, there are 90 shoulder pads, over 100 padded compression shorts and knee pad sets each, as well as up to 200 pairs of gloves and socks.
Communication systems such as headsets with backups—36 in total—sideline communication hubs with cables and antennas, along with tablets or iPads (10–15), chargers, printers, replay equipment, and a video cart are also part of the shipment.
Other essentials being transported include a dozen game balls plus about fifty practice footballs, rain gear trunks, kicking nets, approximately three hundred towels for players’ use during the game or practice sessions; coaches’ apparel like polos and jackets; footwear for coaches; laundry bins specifically for dirty jerseys and pants.
The team’s comprehensive packing process reflects their preparation ahead of this significant bowl appearance.
