Baldwin Wallace Sport Management students are gearing up for College Football Playoff Trip...

As the players and coaches at Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Washington prepare for the Peach & Fiesta Bowls in an attempt to reach the College Football Playoff Championship Game in Tampa, FL, students from the Division III Baldwin Wallace University already have their reservations confirmed.

While the students at BW won't be setting foot on the gridiron, they will be heading to Tampa to assist with the event management at the College Football Playoff Championship Game, Outback Bowl, and Florida Cup events from Jan. 1st - Jan. 10th. It's an opportunity that was offered by BW Sport Management alum Evan Helgesen ('10). Helgesen, who  is an Event Manager for Sentry Event Services after previously working for the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns, contacted the BW Sport Management program in October pitching the opportunity to work a multitude of events with the College Football Playoff Championship Game as the culmination of a weeks worth of events.

"I knew about the Super Bowl experiences the program had done the past several years," said Helgesen. "So I pitched the idea to my boss first and he loved it. He liked the idea of having knowledgeable students with major event experience coming down to help us out."

After getting the go-ahead from his Supervisor, Helgesen worked with the BW Sport Management faculty to put the program into place. In all, 40 BW students, faculty, staff, and alumni will be supporting Helgesen and his efforts on the evening of Mon., Jan. 9th at the College Football Playoff.

"It's a great opportunity for our students," said Assistant Professor of Sport Management James Mattern. "We've have some students who within a 12 month span will be able to add Super Bowl 50, Game 7 of the World Series, the College Football Playoff Championship, and Super Bowl LI to their resumes. Those are some impressive and memorable events that will separate those students' resumes from the pack."

As the Fall semester has reached it's conclusion, the College Football Playoff Championship Game is an excellent way for BW Sport Management students to kick off their Spring Semester.