A college basketball team can’t function without its student managers. They rebound for hours, organize equipment and support players, all for the love of the game. But once in a while, the managers get their own chance to compete.
Across college basketball, there is an underground basketball league that despite its informality, is highly competitive. Commonly known as “manager games,” it has become a tradition that the night before a collegiate basketball game, the two programs will put on a game comprised of their managers, graduate assistants and coaches.
Ryan Donohoo, a graduate assistant for Samford, said the games are more structured than many would expect.
“We keep the score every game. There is a scorekeeper and we’ve got rules like the clock stops over the last two minutes,” said Donohoo. “We play a full 40-minute game.”
For student manager Sam Winstead, being a manager gives him the opportunity to stay involved with the sport he loves.
“I love it,” Winstead said. “It’s firsthand access to tons of college basketball. Growing up as a fan, it’s great. I love serving people and helping out anyway I can.”
Donohoo, who played five seasons at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, acknowledges all the labor the managers put into a program.
“If you knew how many hours these guys put into developing players and investing in them, it is unreal,” said Donohoo. “As a player, I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without my managers.”
Playing in the manager games allows Donohoo and Winstead to relive their playing days.
“It’s just fun to play ball,” Donohoo said. “We all love the game. It gives us a chance to relive the old glory days.”
Manager games aren’t just formal pickup games, but sometimes draw in small crowds. Donohoo noted that when Samford played Wofford, the atmosphere was impressive.
“They had their basketball team there, their volleyball team and beach volleyball team,” said Donohoo. “It had a little crowd.”
For everything they do, one thing the manager games don’t get is referees. Because of that, the games are reliant on sportsmanship as they are self-officiated.
“Before the game we just say, ‘have integrity and respect the game,’” said Donohoo.
Some opponents take the game more seriously than others. Donohoo said the power conference programs sometimes treat manager games like the real thing.
“At Arkansas they had nine guys and a coach with a clipboard running plays,” Donohoo said. “We were just hooping.”
Regardless of the outcome, the games provide a bonding experience for staff members and managers during long road trips.
“There is not a whole lot to do on the road,” said Donohoo. “It’s a good way for us to bond through competition.”
For athletes, players rarely know when their last game will be. For managers, these games offer a chance to keep playing the sport they love.
Sports Editor
