On Feb. 5, East Tennessee State University will begin an online auction of equipment used in the football program, which ended after the 2003 season.
Everything from practice jerseys to tackling dummies will be up for auction on the Internet.
Fans seeking memorabilia or other football teams in need of equipment can go to www.govdeals.com to place their bids.
Some of the equipment up for auction will include practice and game jerseys and pants, both used and new grass and turf shoes, face masks for helmets, an assortment of pads, tackling dummies, running ropes, ponchos and hand shields.
Marty Harvey, who is overseeing the auction in Central Receiving, said that none of the players’ helmets would be up for bid in the auction.
The 2003 team was able to keep their helmets and home jerseys after the final game.
“It’s just not pleasant,” said ETSU Equipment Manager Allen Haney.
Haney, who is in his 21st year as equipment manager, said getting rid of the equipment is just part of the job, however.
Haney said he hopes to see some of the equipment going to local high schools and other Tennessee Board of Regents schools.
“I expect most will go to schools within a 100- to 200- mile radius of here,” he said.
Harvey expects there to be a lot of participation in this particular auction.
“We’ve had numerous calls on it already,” he said. “We’ve even gotten a call from Oklahoma.”
Kathy Kelley, director of Purchasing at ETSU, said before the equipment is auctioned off, all other departments on campus are made aware and have the right to it first.
Since the equipment was bought with state money, it only makes sense, she said, to try to make use of it at the university.
“Generally all proceeds from (auction) sales go to the general fund,” Kelley said.
But due to the special circumstances, all proceeds from the equipment auction will go back to the athletic department.
Auctioning off surplus items has been a common practice at ETSU. ETSU follows Tennessee Board of Regents policies in determining how surplus items should be dispensed.
“If we ain’t using it, then why not?” said Adam Gustaitis, a senior biology major who was a member of the Buccaneer football team for three years.
However, Gustaitis has a differing opinion of where the proceeds should go.
“I do think that Mr. Haney should get the money,” Gustaitis said.
“He has done so much for our sports team and gets hardly anything. The man bleeds blue and gold as much as Doc does.”
“Doc” is in reference to Jerry Robertson, the former head trainer of the Buccaneers who left the position in June 2003.
It was not until May 2003 that all items began to be auctioned off over the Internet.
Some items auctioned off by ETSU include old computers, printers and office furniture.
The auction site is set up like eBay, but the winning bidder must pick up the item(s) at Central Receiving on campus.
The auctioning of football equipment will continue until March 5 or until all items are sold.
For more information on the auction, its merchandise and details as to how to pay for or pick up the items , go to www.etsu.edu/centralreceiving/football_surplus.htm.

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