STATE FINALIST 1993 2009
STATE CHAMPIONS 1915 1983 1985 1989 1992 2011
2014 DISTRICT 8A-7 CHAMPIONS
Bradenton Manatee WR Kelvin McKnight dons team's new 2014 UA uniform jersey
2014 Under Armour Uniform Jersey
Hidden inside the foam padding of 10 Manatee High football helmets are miniscule red lights that blink off and on. The helmets are equipped with sensors that measure the intensity and location of hits to the head, and the data is collected by hand-held computers for a study on concussions conducted by Riddell, the manufacturer of the helmets. Manatee is one of four high schools in the country participating in the study by Riddell. It is called ‘HITS,’ which stands for Head Impact Telemetry System.
A helmet from 2009, left, and a new helmet, right, that protects the jaw line and prevents concussions. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Dan Wagner)
A game ball, left, is already broken in and brushed. The new ball, right, is only used in practice. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Dan Wagner)
HURRICANE EQUIPMENT
An electric ball dryer is used on game day, cat litter is also used to dry balls in extreme situations. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Dan Wagner)
When footballs get wet, Manatee has a couple of options to dry them. The team has a contraption that costs a couple hundred dollars that dries up to 12 footballs at a time. They also put wet footballs in a zip-lock bag with kitty litter inside and dry them by shaking the bag. They used to put them in the compartment under the dryer, but they kept catching lint
Assistant coach Dennis Stallart holds shoulder pads from ten years ago, left, and the new, lighter, sleeker pads of today, right. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Dan Wagner)
The difference in shoulder pads between now and a decade ago is remarkable. It is hard to imagine the standout players Manatee has had over the years dominating the way they did while wearing the old bulky pads. The streamlined pads of today are made of hard plastic, cost about $250 apiece and no Manatee player has a pair older than two years. They wear Riddell Power SPX pads, except for Sandberg. He wears a pair of $400 pads from a company no longer in existence. The pads are less restrictive and do not impede this throwing motion.
A four-year-old shoe, left, compared with the new lighter shoe, right, with more ankle support. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Dan Wagner)
Manatee players wear UnderArmour shoes, including the new lightweight shoe called the "Highlight," which is ankle-high and looks like a player has taped his ankle.
