By Lee Feinswog
Special to LSUsports.net
(9/13/00)
There aren’t that many high-ranking female athletic trainers in Division I-A football.
LSU senior associate athletic trainer Shelly Mullenix is pretty sure she’s one of the very few pregnant ones.
Mullenix, in her fourth year at LSU, is carrying twin girls who are due in mid-December. But because they’re twins, her doctors don’t expect a full term. Accordingly, this Saturday’s game at Auburn will be her last on the road this season. Her doctor won’t let her travel anymore until the babies are born.
While also handling all the normal day-to-day chores of a trainer, Mullenix works largely with the diets of LSU’s football players.
She changed LSU’s system in the cafeteria to match what head coach Nick Saban’s staff used at Michigan State. Coincidentally, MSU also has a women on its training staff.
“What coach (Nick) Saban was used to up there was having food labeled red, green and yellow, so the players were able to identify that red is bad, green is good and it makes my job easier,” Mullenix said.
“And it makes my job easier. Now instead of teaching them above and beyond, I tell them, ‘Anything green is good. Go ahead.’ On the road we label stuff in the hotel, too.”
That previously mentioned women on the MSU staff, Sally Nogle, also went through a pregnancy.
“It help me, because Nick understands what I’m going through,” Mullenix said. “He wasn’t there while she was pregnant, but he was there with her and her kids. She worked closely with him. So he was comfortable working with me.”
Saban provided Mullenix with one of the more humorous moments of the pregnancy.
“Coach Saban went over to coach (Sam) Nader and asked him to find out from Nike if they make any maternity coaches wear,” Mullenix said. “That was the start of many comments to come. And because they’re twins right now I’m the size of an eight- or nine-month pregnancy.”
Mullenix, 31, grew up in North Miami Beach, where she played volleyball and was a cheerleader. She went to Florida State, graduating in 1991 and earning a master’s degree in 1993. She worked with the Florida State football team that won the 1993 national championship.
“As far as her being pregnant, it hasn’t slowed her down at all,” sophomore linebacker Trev Faulk said. “She’s still out there doing the same things and is dedicated to her job as ever. We really appreciate having her around.”
Actually, Mullenix admitted she’s had to slow down some.
“In the heat during two-a-days, I really couldn’t be out there,” Mullenix said. “This year I decided it wasn’t worth it and got into the shade.”
Not that anyone would blame her.
“She’s a great person and really helps us a lot,” senior defensive back Fred Booker said. “She also knows a lot about nutrition, so
I’m sure she’ll have some healthy babies.”
At LSU, Mullenix also works with the volleyball and softball teams in addition to football.
“I hope that I’m worth more than just a trainer to them,” she said. “A lot of the athletes don’t have real strong family ties and a lot of them are looking for someone to talk to. As a trainer, that’s one of our main jobs, being there and letting them get their frustrations out or congratulating them when they do something good, because they don’t get that feedback at home.”
In the case of her own kids, you would expect plenty of attention from her and her husband, Matthew, but she’s not taking any bows yet.
“No,” Mullenix said with a smile, “I’d say when they’re 18 and out of the house, I’ll pat myself on the back.”
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Lee Feinswog is a sports reporter who lives in Baton Rouge. Contact him at 225-926-3256 or lee@sportsbatonrouge.com.