The only time most Griz fans see the athletic training staff is when they are huddled around an injured player on the field or court. However, the athletic training staff at The University of Montana offers more than on-field care during games.
“People think we are all glorified water packers,” head athletic trainer Dennis Murphy said. “But there are other things we do.”
Murphy has spent the past 25 years looking over the health care of Griz athletes and says the commitment is year round, starting in the fall.
“Physicals for all athletes are held in the fall,” Murphy said. “There are approximately 375 athletes.”
The training staff uses the Rhinehart Athletic Training Center to treat athletes. At the RATC, athletes receive treatment varying from whirlpool exercises to concussion tests, if necessary.
Murphy said if an athlete shows symptoms of a concussion there is an eight part computer test they run. The test includes thought process exercises and a memory test.
“We look out for athletes’ safety at all times,” Murphy said. “We work closely with academic advisors. An athlete might miss class if symptoms return.”
Along with concussions and other on field injuries, Murphy said treating and preventing seasonal influenza and H1N1 is a focus of the training staff.
“We were ahead of the game with H1N1,” Murphy said. “We have not seen a rapid spread as bad as some schools have had.”
Murphy said by keeping the RATC clean, washing hands, and covering coughs with a sleeve, has kept athletes relatively healthy. If an athlete develops symptoms, Murphy and the staff take precautions.
“If any athlete has a temperature of 100 or more, they are sent home and don’t practice,” Murphy said. “Some teams have gotten regular flu shots to stay on top of it.”
For athletes who become sick while competing on the road, the training staff is equipped with thermometers and masks to get them home safely, Murphy said.
As the head athletic trainer, Murphy is not alone in treating Griz athletes. He works with assistant trainers who each concentrate on certain sports.
While Murphy’s main responsibility is the men’s basketball team, associate athletic trainer J.C. Weida is the primary athletic trainer for the football team.
Weida said being the head athletic trainer for the Griz football team means being part counselor, friend, and health care provider for the athletes.
“The players are tough and want to play, but I also want them to be healthy when they are 25 or 30,” Weida said. “I want them to be able to throw the ball around with their kids.”
Weida has been a part of the training staff for over 14 years. Over that time he said he has built good relationships with the players.
“I was here when these players were getting recruited,” Weida said. “I’ve watched them develop to playing on Saturdays.”
Though game days on Saturday are important, Weida said the rest of the week is just as busy.
“It’s not just Saturday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are high contact practice days,” Weida said. “Each practice goes for two and a half hours.”
Besides attending all practices and games, Weida spends each morning during the week meeting with coaches. At the meetings, Weida explains the progression of injured athletes and informs coaches when an athlete will be able to play.
When an athlete gets injured, Weida records the injury on an injury report. He requires injured players to come in for treatments three times a day.
Weida’s work has been noticed by the coaching staff. Griz football coach Bobby Hauck said he believes beside the players and coaches, Weida is the hardest working person on the field.
With football being a full contact, collision sport, Hauck said the training staff is essential to the team.
“It’s a physical game, nobody is 100 percent, that’s just how it is,” Hauck said. “It’s important to get our players back on the field.”
Keeping the athletes healthy and on the field is more than Weida, Murphy, and the other assistant trainers can handle alone. The training staff also relies on student trainers, majoring in athletic training.
According to Murphy, each assistant trainer has a staff of student trainers working with them. There are three levels of student trainers, and each level means more hands on responsibility with the athletes.
“It’s curriculum for students to gain experience,” Murphy said.
With over 100 athletes on the football team, Weida said the student trainers help the training staff be successful. At practice, they will set up splint kits and have everything ready.
“There’s no way I can do it all by myself,” Weida said. “They understand what I like and need.”
The student trainers’ impact has also impressed Hauck.
“Its fun watching the student trainers evolve and grow,” Hauck said. “By the time they leave, they make good friends with the players.”