Name: Erin Russo
Year: Senior
Major: Athletic Training
Hometown: Ventnor, New Jersey
Her Campus (HC): Tell us about your role on Saturdays with the FSU Football Team.
Erin Russo (ER): On Saturdays myself and the other athletic training students arrive at the stadium four hours before kickoff. Once we get there we set up the training room for pregame treatments of injuries, help athletes with their rehabilitation exercises and set up the field for the game.
HC: How did you become involved with the football team?
ER: As an athletic training major we have certain graduation requirements, one of which is to do rotations with each FSU sport. Last fall I was lucky enough to work with Women’s Soccer and helped them prepare to win the National Championship! This semester I was chosen to work with FSU Football. Hopefully my good luck will continue and we can bring home another national title.
HC: Is athletic training something you are passionate about? Why?
ER: I am extremely passionate about athletic training. This is a career I’ve wanted to be involved in since high school. Seeing the appreciation and happiness on an athlete’s face when you get them back on the field ready to play after an injury is an amazing feeling.
HC: Does being so involved with the team interfere with your school schedule at all?
ER: When it comes to scheduling classes it is pretty tough. We are asked to not schedule any classes in the afternoon since we have to be in the training room for treatments before practice so my mornings start pretty early. This semester it has been rough finding time to study for exams too since we have to break down the practice field as well as help out with post-practice treatments. I don’t usually get home until around 8 p.m. every night.
HC: So tell us, are the football players really as cool as they seem?
ER: They are pretty awesome guys. I work specifically with the defensive backs and they definitely find ways to make practice more entertaining.
HC: Is there anything about your role on the team that you want Her Campus FSU readers to know?
ER: I think that it is great the community will finally realize exactly what we athletic training students do! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told people what my major is and they’re response is always, “So you lift?” No, I do not train the athletes; that would be the job of a personal trainer, and our strength and conditioning team does an amazing job at that! The main responsibilities of an athletic trainer are the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. We do all we can to get an athlete ready to return to play!
All images courtesy: Erin Russo