Fans sitting inside Sun Devil Stadium cheer as the ASU football team takes the field for the opening kickoff. Kicker Jesse Ainsworth launches the ball into the air, and it sails 5 yards deep in the end zone.
The play is over, but a chant erupts from the student section. "Tee Guy! Tee Guy! Tee Guy!" the fans chant as a man runs onto the field. He quickly grabs the football tee, rushes back to the sideline and does the Heisman pose for the fans. Outside the stadium, he is known as Mike Crowley. But during football season, Crowley is the Tee Guy.
The football tee is a small, orange stand used to hold up the ball during kickoffs. Crowley runs out to get the tee to make sure it isn't left out on the field before the next play begins.
"Being the Tee Guy is awesome," says Crowley. "It gives me the opportunity to be immature for six Saturdays out of the year."
Tee Guy was born in 1994. Crowley was volunteering for the football team and helped the ball boys deliver game balls to the officials. The previous tee person was retiring and Crowley happy to help. The 2005 football season is Crowley's 11th year as Tee Guy, and he says this year is just as fun as the first.
"Standing on the field during game day is an unbelievable experience," he says. "Seeing all the people in the stands is great. I am so glad that I can be a part of this atmosphere."
As for his fame, Crowley credits a couple of die-hard Sun Devil fans. A few years ago, during the Sun Devils' Rose Bowl run, a fan held up a sign that read, "We smell roses." On the back was another sign that said, "We love Tee Guy."
"I was running back from midfield after the kickoff, looked up at the student section and almost fell over," says Crowley. "That sign made the Tee Guy official."
During the game, the players must be aware of the field conditions. It's no different for Crowley either. He has his technique down to a science.
"If the field is wet and slippery, I almost have to tippy-toe it," he says. "But on good days I can go full out."
To make things more interesting this season, Crowley's runs are timed by former ASU quarterback Paul Justin. Crowley says Justin approached him before the season opener to time his runs to see how fast he could run. Crowley says his best time is 7.9 seconds and acknowledges that can no longer complete his runs under eight seconds.
"It [timing] gives me something to aim for," says Crowley. "But now 7.9 seconds might be a little too hopeful."
Besides speed, Crowley says the amount of kickoffs during games takes a toll on him.
"I look at the schedule and check off games that I think will be shootouts," he says. "Then I make sure I don't do any strenuous exercises during the week."
During one such shootout this year against Northwestern, Crowley ran for the tee more than seven times.
"It felt like my legs were noodles," he says. "But if I'm running out to the tee, that means we're scoring points. And that's fine with me."
When he is on the field, Crowley converses with every person he meets. And his personable nature is evident beyond the bleachers. During the week, Crowley is a speech language pathology assistant for the Phoenix Elementary School District. Crowley's job includes working with students who have speech impairments and says he enjoys every minute. For now, Crowley will continue to volunteer with the ball boys and remain Tee Guy. He plans to keep going for five more years, as long as he stays healthy.
"I'll keep going as long as my knees want me to," he says. "That or until I gain too much weight."
Reach the reporter at gabriel.trujillo@asu.edu.
