Last February, Baylor head coach Guy Morriss had a predicament. He needed an equipment manager ... quickly.

Morriss put in a call to Phil Silva, who has been the equipment manager at Mississippi State for more than 20 years. Morriss served as an assistant coach at Mississippi State in the mid-90s and knew Silva would point him in the right direction.

Silva was quick to offer Jeff Barlow, one of his former student assistants.

"Phil does a good job of training those guys to be good equipment managers," Morriss said. "We called asked if he had anyone to recommend for the job. Sure enough, Jeff's name came up."

The 23-year-old Barlow was shocked at the opportunity.

"I was looking for any opportunity I could find, but this was at the high end of anything I expected," Barlow said. "I was just looking for an assistant position or an internship."

Barlow, who interned with the Houston Texans during the summer of 2002, said he had a feeling something would come up.

"I was sitting in Phil's office the day (Morriss) called," Barlow said. "I didn't really know if I was ready for it, but I didn't have much time to think about it."

Despite Barlow's young age, Morriss was confident he could get the job done.

"You could tell during the interview process that while he's young, he's very mature for his age," Morriss said. "He's been well-trained and well-schooled, and he's done a great job for us so far.

"He's very organized, which obviously you have to be in that capacity. He came to work. We laid it out for him, what we expect from him and his duties. He hasn't missed a beat."

Barlow is not much older than the players. In fact, a few players are older than him. However, he does not hesitate to lay down the law.

"I basically tell them that I'm not going to be their mom," Barlow said. "I'm not going to babysit them all the time. They have to be responsible, and most of them are. You can only expect so much from 18-, 19-, 20-year kids away from home for the first time."

After eight months with Morriss and the Baylor staff, Barlow said he feels confident in his job. He also said he has the coaching staff to thank for that.

"It took a little time," Barlow said, "but I know what they want. The season will do that for you. That's what counts. Once you get into the season, you learn better how to handle the coaching staff.

"I should give Coach Morriss and the rest of the coaches thanks for having confidence in me. It's on-the-job training, and they have helped me feel comfortable here."

Part of the way Barlow is made to feel comfortable is by default; Morriss' laid-back persona makes Barlow's job easier.

"It helps tremendously," Barlow said. "He doesn't interfere. Whenever he comes down and visits me and my guys, he usually just shoots the breeze and talks about anything but football."

The responsibility of maintaining equipment for more than 150 student-athletes can be difficult. But Barlow is not alone. He and his staff of student assistants keep tight reins on pads, helmets, shoes, chin straps, jerseys, socks ... you name it.

"The equipment goes through a pretty good wear," Barlow said. "The jerseys are the main thing, getting all that stuff clean and sanitized. The helmets take a pretty good beating; they get some paint from the other helmets."

But for the equipment staff, it is not all about equipment. Along with keeping tabs on who needs a new mouthpiece, Barlow and his student assistants play a vital role in Baylor's practices.

"Each coach has individual drills, and that's where my guys really help out," Barlow said. "All my students are doing something, running ball drills or holding pads or something."

While he has plenty of life ahead of him, Barlow suspects he will be in this type job for years to come, mentioning his love for sports and his desire to work in an active environment.

"I can't see myself sitting behind a desk all day," Barlow said.

That is a good thing, because sitting - period - is something Barlow rarely has opportunity to do.