Football sideline-handling two large lens

Sports Pros:

I have an opportunity to shoot a major college football game in my city, thanks to a friend getting me on the sideline. I have been to football practices to learn using a Canon Mark IIn and Canon 30D. The Mark2n has a 400mm f2.8L lens on it sitting on a Manfrotto monopod, and the 30D with the 70-200 f2.8L lens around my neck. My question relates to when the shots come close.

I am finding trying to manage the big lens on the monopod while trying to shoot with the shorter lens is a problem. What are your techniques for safely getting the big lens out of my way so you can keep two hands on the 70-200 lens?

Today while watching a NFL ballgame I saw the big lenses on the ground, one using the big lens as a prop for his small lens and another trying to one-hand it. The one-hand is difficult because I use the * button to focus. What do you do?

I have never even handled a lens bigger then a 300mm but maybe you could have the Mark II around your neck, so when you are using your 30d, you can just have it rested up against you without having to worry about it falling on the ground. And have 30d around a shoulder?
eh just my guess, it seems like thats a better option then having it on the ground or using the 30d with just one hand while you have to worry about dropping the m2

edit: I definetly saw what you are talking about today, the guy in the end zone, shooting one camera with just one hand, holding his main camera in the other. I don't remember it was Seattle game or the New England game

If i am on my knees, i would just set the larger lens on the ground, but if i am standing, i just lean it on my chest and one arm naturally wraps around it when you start to use both hands on the secondary body.

I shoot baseball so I'm able to anticipate most photo opportunities. In those cases, when I need to shoot with my shorter glass, I lay the camera with the big lens on the ground with the pod up and leaning against something so that I can grab it quickly. When I have to hold the camera with the big lens and shoot with a secondary, I hook my left arm under the camera and around the pod and while cradeling it there I can use both hands to hold and shoot the secondary camera. It's awkward and equipment often bangs together, but I've found it the best way to handle two bodies and one with big glass.

I use a water hydration system called a "mule". It is a water bladder system in a small back pack. On the front shoulder rings I add a small snap link to each side and I place the neck straps thru the snap links. This is a trick I learned when I was a Army Photographer to keep the cameras secure as just placing straps over shoulder was to easy for strap to slid off and fall. I set the straps length so they are in arms reach and let the one your not using dangle. I can try to take a pic of the set up if you are interested.

What is easiest for me is to just lean the monopod and rig against my chest (bring my left arm around the monopod to keep the rig against my chest) and then shoot with the 70-200 around my neck.

If you're on your knees, it's probably easier to put the monopod and rig down and shoot with the 70-200. Best of luck!

If I am kneeling or standing I will rotate the monopod 180 degrees so the glass is now pointed over my right shoulder so the weight is now shifted to the shoulder. If I am kneeling I have the second body laying on the ground with the vertical grip up so I can grab and fire with the right hand. If I am in a standing potion I have the second body over the right shoulder with the vertical grip facing outwards and I reach down with the right hand and I am ready to. If I have to I can use both hands on the second body as once you bring your right arm up with the other body the monopod is stuck between the shoulder and the inside of you elbow. If the action moves away quickly all you have to do is a quick 180 spin of the monopod and you are back shooting with the bigger glass. This works for me and I have never had the monopod get away on me, even while being struck by a ball. I would experiment on what works best for you though.