Event Management

I went a little different rout with my event management project, and I hope Dr. Epling does not mind. I really wanted to do something that was related to what I want to do after I graduate. With that being said, I chose to help the head golf professional at Battlefield Golf Course run a Thanksgiving golf tournament. I had worked at this location over the summer and received a call this past week saying that they really need my help. The assistant professional had plans out of town and they needed major help with the tournament, so I stepped in to help. This is a great tournament but it can be very overwhelming for the people responsible for running it. Mike Miller, the head professional, and I had our hands full for sure, as there were over 130 players that signed up.

Pre-Event

The pre-event responsibilities actually took place on Thanksgiving, as the golf tournament was on the following day. Initially, we focused on getting the driving range and golf carts ready. After that, we prepared the banquet room for the festivities which included bringing in chairs, tables, and decorations. Lastly, we had to get all the tee times together and set a schedule for the following day.

During Event

When Friday rolled around it was time to get the tournament underway. We got an early start and got the golf carts and driving range set up first thing in the morning. The golfers began to arrive and gather up, so we went over the rules with the players and described the overall schedule of the day. Lastly, we monitored the tournament and facilities to make sure everything went smoothly.

Post-Event

The Saturday following the tournament was by the far the roughest day of the three. I was primarily responsible to cleaning up everything from the previous day, which including taking out trash, putting up the tables and chairs, cleaning the golf carts, and cleaning the banquet room. It was definitely a long day but everyone worked hard and contributed.  

Cite Visit Turner Field

On Thursday our class took their last trip of the semester to Turner Field. This was a great experience and a good time for all of us. We started our tour in the Braves Museum which had a bunch of memorabilia and even had an old school bus that they traveled on in the organization’s early years. After our walkthrough of the museum our guide took us around the facilities. We got a close up look at the stands, the suits, the media rooms, and even the locker rooms. Lastly, we were taken down to the dugout and got an eye level view of the field, just like a player.

Graduate Assistantships 6-10

This time around I found a lot of great schools with some excellent graduate programs. The schools I looked at include: Eastern Kentucky University, University of Central Florida, Northwestern University, Western Kentucky University, and Liberty University. Each of these are fine institutions and offer graduate programs in Sport Administration or similar fields, which I am interested in. Most of these programs carry the same requirements which include a 2.75 GPA, an official transcript, and recommendations. Also, all of the schools I researched had online application processes.  Lastly, there were also some good graduate assistantships offered to help fund the schooling. Some of these included: a teaching assistant, various positions as assistants on athletic programs, and training assistants.

Graduate Assistantships 1-5

I found a lot of great schools that offer graduate programs in my desired field. For the most part, I looked for sport administration degree programs at schools with a good reputation and location. The schools I found include: Indiana University- Bloomington, Valparaiso University, Wingate University, University of Louisville, and Arkansas State University. Most of these schools carry similar requirements like a four year degree with a 2.75 GPA, recommendation letters, and some require a written essay.  Also, there are assistantship opportunities that cover the cost of tuition. Some of these are sport related but the majority of the positions are teaching assistants. All in all, these are some great schools in a good location for me and it is worth considering each of them.

Internship / Career Opportunities 11-15

I found quite a few interesting jobs and internships this time around.  I focused primarily on the southeastern region because I do not want move too far away from home. Also, this time I focused some of my attention on trying to find some internship opportunities in case I decide to attend graduate school after graduation. All of my jobs were found on the Jobs in Sports website and all of them also have online applications.

The Golf Channel Email Marketing Coordinator

This is a great job in a field that I am definitely interested in. The job is golf related but there is also the marketing element that is extremely appealing to me. For the most part, I would be responsible for developing marketing campaigns through an email system which showcases some the aspects of the golf channel and their affiliates. Some qualification include: a four year degree, and a couple of years experience with marketing.

Tampa Bay Rays- Internship (Stadium Operations)         

With this internship I would work with the Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium operations staff to perform basic facility management tasks. This includes both game day and non-game day operations. This is an internship and the organization offers a stipend to cover college tuition. Therefore, this would be a great opportunity if I decide to pursue graduate school.  

Atlanta Spirit (Hawks & Thrashers) – Game Operations Intern

This is another great internship that is very appealing to me. Primarily, I would be working with the staff to prepare facilities for game day. Some of the tasks could include: Assist with creating and packaging entertainment content for Hawks and Thrashers in-game promotions, contests and video vignettes, and manage give-away merchandise for games. The biggest perks for me with this internship is that it is close to home and with a high profile organization.  

New Balance- Apparel Sales Rep       

This is a pretty interesting job with a high quality organization. New Balance has a great reputation and I think it would be a pleasure to work for them. The things that interested me about this job are the facts that it would be different every day and also challenging. Basically, I would be responsible for marketing their products, which includes developing sales and marketing plans for the organization.

Miami Heat (American Airlines Arena)- Computer Graphics Intern 

The last internship I looked at really caught my eye. Working with the Heat would be a great experience and a huge opportunity. As their intern I would help the staff develop visual effects for marketing and media purposes. I do not have a lot of experience with developing graphics or special effects but I think it would be great to learn. This is kind of a dream internship and it might be a little out of league at the moment.

Cite Visit: Georgia Tech Recreation Facility / Georgia Dome

On Tuesday our class went on their second cite visit and our first stop was at Georgia Tech. We were guided on a tour of their recreation facilities and it was amazing to see how much stuff they actually have. There was a huge weight room that included free weights, machines, a rock climbing wall, and several racket ball courts. Upstairs there were numerous basketball courts surrounded by a large walking track. Also, one the most interesting pats of the facility were the numerous swimming pools. The pools were remodeled for the Olympics and they are truly top notch. There is a diving pool used for diving competitions, and Olympic length swimming pool, and also a leisure pool that has a huge spiral slide.

Our last stop of the day was the Georgia Dome. I have been to the dome before but our guide took us to some great areas that I had never been before. He took us to some of their newly remodeled suits which are incredibly nice. Also, he actually even took us down on the field and we got to run around on the turf. Lastly, probably the best part of the tour was when we got to go in the locker rooms. It was awesome to be in the same place where so many great athletes get ready for a football game.

Guest Speaker Bob Pearson

Bob Pearson, a former coworker of Dr. Epling, stopped by our class and talked a little bit about his position and duties at Berry College. He has held numerous positions at Berry, including athletic director, coach, and teacher. Currently, he has a number of different tasks such as advising students, teaching, speaking at schools, and supervising internships.  He has been in the classroom and associated with sports for over 40 years now and he has seen a lot of changes. The main thing he has noticed is students are not as well rounded and are not experienced with hands on tasks.

The most unique aspect of his visit was the interactive portion at the beginning of the class. He handed out a list of quotes and assigned each student to analyze a quote. There were some interesting quotes from some famous individuals, and also some that he came up with on his own. For the most part, these quotes related to sports but could also be related to life and choices in general.  All in all, it was a great experience and I took a lot from the information Dr. Pearson shared with us.