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On Game Days, Riley's on the Move

Helmets, pads, shoes, footballs. The list is seemingly endless when your job involves transporting the equipment for 50 or so players to an NFL game. But, whether it is a home game at FedEx Field or a road match up in some faraway place like Phoenix, AZ, someone needs to transport those uniforms and helmets to the stadium on time. Someone has to be in charge of making sure everything the Redskins need from the teams headquarters at Redskin Park makes its way to the site of the game. That someone in the case of the Redskins logistics has for many years been Tom Riley of Eureka Van Lines, official mover of the Washington Redskins. Since 1981, Riley and Eureka have had a part in getting the Redskins equipment to where it needs to be, and they dont stop at just helmets and shoulder pads. From his main office in Herndon, VA, Riley has orchestrated the moving of everything involving the Redskins, including the move to the new Redskin Park in Ashburn from the old facility in Herndon. Each year it has been a different challenge, Riley said. Riley was originally contacted by general manager Bobby Beathard about moving the team in 1981. Since then, he has moved everything from cases of Gatorade to helmets and uniforms. Riley said it used to take three to four truckloads to haul all of the Redskins equipment to training camp in Carlisle, PA and Frostburg, MD. Riley and his crew not only move player equipment, but public relations and staff materials including copy machines and anything necessary for running the Redskins on a daily basis. This year his duties are somewhat different, but no less strenuous, as the Redskins held camp in Ashburn. The summer is always a busy time, Riley said. This year things were a little different. It has changed, but we still had a lot to do. Riley was in charge of hauling all of the products and fan-friendly elements of the Ashburn facility in Loudoun County. The logistics of moving are something not many people think of, Riley said. Basically we are the year-round mover for the Redskins. This year, Riley is in charge of making sure all of the equipment the Redskins will need for the game day arrives either at FedEx Field or at the road site. Riley will also contract out movers in other cities to meet the plane at the airport and transport all of the equipment to the stadium or hotel. Riley also does this service for other NFL teams coming to Washington. The weekends are busy, Riley said. On Thursdays or Fridays we load up. On Saturdays we unpack and set up and then on Sunday after the game we have to load up Redskin Park. And then after we get back to the Park we have to unpack and put everything back in their proper places. No matter if it is 2-3am, we have to put everything away. The system used is so meticulous that nothing essential like a helmet or jersey has been left behind before game time. Riley is also in charge of the five-man game day crew that gives the balls to officials on the sideline, in addition to helping any member of the Redskins with their personal move.