Championship Monday

A week later and all of the students, faculty, and staff are finally recovered from Clemson’s 35-31 last second win over Alabama allowing us to detail the group’s last full day in the Tampa Bay area.

Monday, January 9th began with a 7:00 a.m. departure from the hotel to get to the staff parking lot for the game. Arriving at the staff parking, everyone boarded a shuttle that took them to the event check-in at Raymond James Stadium. By 9:30 a.m. everyone was checked in and assigned duties for the College Football Playoff National Championship Tailgate Party at the Raymond James Stadium parking lot.

Students were spread at the various venues, events, and stations across the Championship Tailgate event that featured enormous VIP tents, an ESPN Guest Center, interactive games, and a concert stage. As the day wore on, the students were shifted to different positions in an around the grounds and prepared for the various acts to take the stage.

First on the stage were the Shadowboxers, a pop band discovered by Justin Timberlake. The Shadowboxers were followed by the Clemson and Alabama bands and cheerleaders, with all of this leading up to a performance by Championship Tailgate headliner and country music star Dierks Bentley.

The performances ended about 6:00 p.m. as the 8:00 p.m. kickoff approached. With fans filling out, the students, faculty, and staff were brought back to Raymond James Stadium and assigned duties inside the stadium. Some were ushers, some were responsible for providing breaks to staff who were already in place, and others manned various different posts throughout the game.

However, as the third quarter was coming to a close, BW Sport Management alum and Sentry Event Services Event Manager Evan Helgesen ('10) put the call in to have all BW students, faculty, and staff report to the tunnels that led to the field. After getting all BW participants in place, Helgesen informed the students they would be responsible for the on-filed protection during the fourth quarter and the post-game presentations.

It was a perfect culmination to the week, as the students took to the field with approximately 10 minutes left in the 4^th quarter. Taking positions in either the Clemson or Alabama endzones, the BW group was on the field for the final three touchdowns of the game and several students were near the corner of the endzone where Clemson WR Hunter Renfrow caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson.

Following the game, the students helped secure the field and ensure that fans and others did not interrupt the Championship Trophy presentation and celebration.

It was a great day for all and one the student will not soon forget.

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!