Baldwin Wallace Sport Management students headed to Tampa for College Football Playoff

With the College Football Playoff Championship matchup set, Baldwin Wallace University Sport Management students depart for Tampa, FL on the morning of Sunday, January 1, 2017.

I bet you’re wondering why a Division III school in preparing for the Division I College Football Championship.

The answer lies in the opportunities for Sport Management students to get experience behind the scenes and working major events in and around the Tampa-area leading up to and including the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday, January 9, 2017.

This opportunity was offered to the BW Sport Management program by BW Sport Management alum Evan Helgesen ('10). Helgesen was aware of BW’s previous work at the past four Super Bowls (five in February at Super Bowl LI) and knew the BW Sport Management students, faculty, and alumni would be prepared to help him tackle the task of managing a week of events.

“Knowing the experience the students have had and the emphasis the program places on experiential learning, I didn’t hesitate to contact BW when I had openings on my staff for all of our events this week,” said Helgesen, who is an Event Manager for Sentry Event Services, after previously working for the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns. “Additionally, as an alum, I’m always excited to be able to help the program that has and continues to help me achieve my career goals.”

The Baldwin Wallace students will be busy throughout the week working events and attending meetings with professionals working in intercollegiate athletics, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and the National Hockey League.

The schedule for the week includes:

• Working the Outback Bowl
• Touring Tropicana Field and meeting with Tampa Bay Rays Front Office Staff 
• Attending a Tampa Bay Lightning Game
• Touring Amalie Arena and meeting with Tampa Bay Lightning Front Office Staff 
• Touring the University of South Florida Athletic Dept. and meeting with Athletic Dept. Staff
• Touring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Facility and meeting with Front Office Staff
• Touring McKechnie Stadium (Home of Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliate)
• Touring the IMG Academy
• Working the ESPN College Football Playoff Championship Fan Central
• Working the Eric Paslay & Flo-Rida Concerts
• Working the Florida Cup Soccer Tournament
• Working the ESPN College Football Playoff Championship Beach Bash
• Working the Dierks Bentley College Football Playoff Championship Pre-Game Concert
• Working the College Football Playoff Championship Game

It’s a full slate for our students,” said Assistant Professor of Sport Management Tony Dick. “But we know they’ll be able to handle it. These are the experiential learning opportunities our students live for and we pride ourselves on offering.”

For more information on the Baldwin Wallace University Sport Management program, please contact Asst. Professor Dr. Charles Campisi at ccampisi@bw.edu or visit https://www.bw.edu/academics/undergraduate/sport-management/.

Baldwin Wallace University Sport Management: Experiential Learning from Day One!