Coming off a quick lunch break following their tour of the
University of South Florida Athletic Department, the Baldwin Wallace University
Sport Management program continued their College Football Playoff Experiential
Learning opportunity with a visit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at One Buc Place.
Entering what many consider to be the "Taj Mahal of NFL
training facilities, the students were amazed even before entering as they
gazed upon the Buccaneers 4,000 square foot flag that flies over the complex.
Atop a 147.5-foot pole, the 80 foot x 50 foot flag, like a modern day Jolly
Roger, is an imposing piece of fabric that signals to all who owns the facility
Upon walking through the Buccaneers main entrance, the
students were greeted with display cases full of Buccaneers memorabilia and statues
of former Head Coach Jon Gruden and members of the Super Bowl XXXVII winning
team. It’s an awesome spectacle and one that is unrivaled in the NFL.
Once they entered, the students were greeted by Buccaneers Senior
Writer Scott Smith, who helped coordinate the day’s events. The groups were
then split into two with one group taking a tour and the other group engaging
in a Q&A with Buccaneers staffers. The tours were led by Club Member
Relations Manager Jerrett Burke and Member Relations Associates Lindsey Banks,
Kaitlyn Huntzinger, and Nathaniel Ligon. The Q&A session included Smith;
Director of Sales Deno Anagnost, Senior Public Relations Manager Michael
Pehanich, and Corporate Partnerships Development Manager Adam Smith.
As with the Rays, Lightning, and USF Athletic Department staff,
the Q&A, moderated by Scott Smith, was informative. Questions touched on
topics such as TV blackouts, working in sales, the culture in Tampa to the
culture in other organizations, how to get ahead, and breaking through the
clutter.
The Buccaneers staff stressed the importance of internships
and getting experience.
“Find the internships that throw you into the fire a bit,” said
Pehanich.
As the discussion moved to career goals and progressing in
the NFL or any career in sport, Adam Smith told the students, “People focus on
what they want to become and not who they want to become, I don’t think that’s
the right way to go about it. Focus on the who, not the what.”
As the first Q&A and tour wrapped up, the groups
switched places.
The tour began in the Media Wing of the Buccaneers facility
and the main press room for announcements and post-practice press conferences.
Following the media center, the students stepped out onto the three Buccaneers
practice fields. The dining facility, fresh with Buccaneers logoed plates and
chairs, was next, followed by the Players’ Lounge, and weight room. The
position meeting rooms and locker room to rival all locker rooms were the final
two places the students visited and provided a fitting capstone to an amazing
day.
Dr. Charles Campisi, who worked with Scott Smith during the
Super Bowl XXXVII winning season, even ran into and had a brief conversation
with Buccaneers Director of Football Operations Shelton Quarles, who was a
linebacker on that Super Bowl winning team.
“It was great to see Shelton and provide the students the
opportunity to visit the facility,” Said Dr. Campisi. “Scott [Smith] was one of
my mentors when I worked here and he’s always been willing to help; whether it’s
skyping into my Sport Media class or coordinating this visit for us, I can’t
thank him and the Buccaneers staff enough for providing us this opportunity.”
All in all, it was a great day and a great experience for
the Baldwin Wallace Sport Management students.
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!
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