During the winter break sport management students and faculty member Patrick Hairston, teaching assistant professor, participated in a field experience learning opportunity at the Duke's Mayo Bowl Game in Charlotte, N.C. The group attend the game between the University of South Carolina and the University of North Carolina on Dec. 30.
Hairston created this practical learning opportunity by connecting with the Charlotte Sports Foundation and other professional contacts. “I wanted the students to learn the lesson of the all hands on deck mentality as it relates to event management.No role is too small or too big in managing a sporting event, especially a college bowl game in an NFL stadium,” he said.
CPASS students experienced leadership practice in working with the Charlotte Sports Foundation staff and auxiliary groups who were involved in game operations at the Duke's Mayo Bowl Game. “I am proud of our students for stepping out of their comfort zone to gain meaningful industry knowledge to build their resumes,” Hairston added.
Undergraduate sport management students Jenna Livers, Alexander Holcomb and Tyler Blohm, along with first year graduate student Ross Miner, joined Hairston for the trip, Dec. 29 – 30.
Miner, from Frankfort, IL offered his thoughts from the event.
On day one, we started with a tour of the stadium. This helped us to visualize and understand where we would be needed during the bowl game. After the tour, we helped with setting up and decorating the Gridiron Club.
On game day, we arrived at the stadium early and immediately got to work. After receiving our game day field credentials, I was tasked with greeting the marching bands and providing them tags to put on their bags so that they would be allowed into the venue.
Once all the bands had arrived, my next task was to escort the color guard onto the field for the National Anthem. After that, we had time to be on the field to watch the game. We assisted the cheerleaders in leading a crowd chant of "EAT" on one sideline and "DUKE'S" on the other.
After once again watching the game from the field, I reported to the main concourse to carry out cases of souvenir mayo that fans could grab as they left the stadium. I helped with that until the fourth quarter when I returned to the stadium to help with more on field setup. I worked with placing tarps in the tunnel to get the area set for the mayo dump. Then, we pushed the stage out onto the field for the post-game celebration. We helped with mayo cleanup and then we were done for the day.
The field experience was a great opportunity to do something different outside of the classroom. Working at an event of this magnitude was an eye-opening opportunity to experience everything that goes on behind the scenes. We were able to network and meet numerous people in the industry.
As a graduate student, I am always looking for opportunities; to step out of my comfort zone. While I may not be involved in event management/operations in the future, this experience helped me better understand what that career path entails. Learning in the classroom can only get you so far. Experiences like this are essential to becoming a well-rounded professional.
I want to thank Dr. Hairston and the Charlotte Sports Foundation for this opportunity. This was the highlight of my winter break. --- Ross Miner
Hairston explains that by being behind the scenes, students interacted with executives from various sectors of sport management operations and learned specifics about the industry. “This type of assignment is detailed oriented. I have personally worked professional and college sporting events. I enjoyed the excitement of planning and interacting with others to have a successful outcome for the teams, coaches and spectators,” he said.
“I believe our students received a taste of that game day excitement and what it takes to manage a national event of this magnitude, from the beginning to the end. I am looking forward to extending our partnership with the Charlotte Sport Foundation so other students can attend next year's Duke's Mayo Bowl Game,” Hairston added.