Equipment managers and their respective head coaches work very close to one another. For example, Matt Campbell came up with a request for the chrome helmet for the bowl after the Kansas State game.
In 1977, equipment manager Paul Brunkow got a request from Earle Bruce to put a sewn “BEAT IOWA” on a road jersey for the first game against Iowa since 1934. Unfortunately, the Cyclones didn’t win that game, but they showed that big brother had bigger balls too. According to the Des Moines Register, something was missing from this game.