Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME for 15 years in her role as the university's head equipment manager. She and her assistant work hand in hand with adidas to provide gear and uniforms to every Irish team except for the football and hockey teams, who have their own managers. Speybroeck's first ties to Notre Dame came in 1983 when she volunteered Kathy Speybroeck has been outfitting the majority of Notre Dame's athletes EQUIPMENT MANAGER KATHY SPEYBROECK Five Questions With … to break in or a spare for a blowout." Blue & Gold Illustrated: When is the busiest time of year in your office? Speybroeck: "Right now is a real as a coach for the newly formed softball team. She earned a job as an assis- tant coach for five years in the 1990s before moving into her current position in 1997. She recently sat down with Blue & Gold Illustrated to talk about what it takes to prepare Notre Dame's teams for competition. from adidas each year? Speybroeck: "Our budget from adidas is in the millions. …We get a certain amount to spend on apparel for the teams, and if we go over that amount then we have to pay for it at a wholesale amount. But we don't go over. They have everything they need to perform to play — more than enough." Blue & Gold Illustrated: How big is the budget for all of the gear you get in your inventory? Speybroeck: "We order [shoe] sizes anywhere from a size four to size 18. Blue & Gold Illustrated: What are some of the most eye-popping numbers Jack Cooley is a size 18, he's our biggest foot. Track alone orders over 700 pairs of shoes. "There are a lot of shoes in inventory. You're talking about lots of shoes for lots of kids. Tennis players get up to eight shoes per person to use for the year. We have a policy here where we give them three pairs of shoes to have on their person — one for practice, one for games, one to have mainly hectic, cluttered time in here. We have all sorts of gear trying to get it out to the teams. "Then in October we sit down with the coaches and order for 2013-14. … In the summer, from May until August, is when we receive all the gear." best new look Notre Dame will have this year? Speybroeck: "I can only speak for Blue & Gold Illustrated: What's the what I know from my sports, but I know that women's basketball is going to play on the [USS Yorktown] on Nov. 9 in Charleston, S.C. Adidas has come out with a camouflage uniform for them, and shoes, which is pretty cool." Speybroeck, who has been the head equpiment manager at Notre Dame since 1997, started at the university in 1983 while volunteer- ing as a softball coach. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS Blue & Gold Illustrated: Do Notre Dame teams use the new athletic cloth- ing designed to help athletes recover and perform better? Speybroeck: "There are some teams that really like the stuff, and they bought into it. Our women's swimming team is big into the recovery tights. "Men's soccer, they sleep in it they love it so much. After a game, they'll put that on and if you have to get on a bus or on a plane it helps reduce swelling." — Dan Murphy THEUltimate Questions: hospitality@ndsportsproperties.com at The Official Notre Dame Hospitality Village IRISH TAILGATER Experience the fanfare and tradition of Notre Dame Football with the Ulti- mate Irish Tailgater at The Official Notre Dame Hospitality Village. Passes available for each home game of the 2011 football season. THE OFFICIAL ULTIMATE NOTRE DAME TAILGATE EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: • Catered Tailgate Buffet and Full Open Bar • Commemorative Game Day Programs & Access Credentials • Festive Décor, Cable Television, D.J., and Entertainment • Visits from the Notre Dame Cheerleaders & Leprechaun www.und.com/store/hospitality Private Corporate Tent Packages Available With Tickets. Contact: amanda@ndsportsproperties.com 574-631-7724 www.BLUEANDGOLD.com PRESEASON 2012 9