Super experience
BEREA, Ohio — Mars graduate Cole Horan reached the Super Bowl — by way of Baldwin-Wallace University.
The former Planets defensive end and current B-W freshman was one of 22 Sports Management Club members from the university who performed hospitality and guest relations tasks at MetLife Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday.
“I’m a sports management major, so to be able to experience behind the scenes stuff at the biggest sports event in America was a tremendous experience for me,” Horan said.
B-W sports management professor Charles Campisi set his students up for the Super Bowl opportunity for a second straight year. He had students work at The NFL Experience in New Orleans during the week leading up to the Super Bowl last year.
Campisi worked in the NFL for five seasons, earned a Super Bowl ring while a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers front office, and used his NFL contacts to get his students a credentialed role at the game.
“We had to fund-raise to pay for the (bus) transportation and other expenses, but it was worth it,” Horan said.
After seeing the sights of New York City the Saturday before the game, Horan and his fellow club members reported to the Super Bowl at noon Sunday.
“We were briefed about what our jobs would be and given a sheet of paper with frequently-asked questions,” Horan said. “It was very well organized. We knew what people were going to ask when they arrived at the game and we were ready.”
From 1 to 4:30 p.m., Horan stood on a street corner, pointing people in the direction they needed to go and fielding questions. After being able to go inside the stadium to watch the first half of the game and halftime show, they left to get prepared to work the postgame party for NFL Network across the street.
“Again, we fielded questions and just helped people out,” Horan said.
Their work day didn’t end until 11:30 p.m. But they received an NFL paycheck for the day and were able to keep the full package of Super Bowl attire they were supplied with and wore for the occasion.
Horan plays football at B-W and saw plenty of action for the Yellow Jackets’ freshman and junior varsity team last fall. He hopes to play for the university’s main team next season.
He considered Waynesburg and Robert Morris before opting to attend B-W.
“Waynesburg didn’t have the sports management program I wanted and I didn’t think I could play football for Robert Morris,” Horan said. “Here, I feel like I’m getting the best of both worlds.
“I’m able to continue playing football while preparing for a job when I’m out of school.”
Horan plans to take part in the sports management club’s trip to next year’s Super Bowl in Phoenix, Ariz.
“Plans have already started for that,” he said. “The sports management club is separate from the curriculum, but I’m glad I got involved. As a member. I’m required to do 10 hours of community service on campus a year.
“I’ll work a track meet for three or four hours, do a couple of other things. It’s good to be involved,” he said.
It’s good to go to the Super Bowl, too.
“I want to work in sports management at the pro level someday and I may be able to get an inter nship with the Cleveland Browns, Indians or Cavs through the school,” Horan said.
“Just walking around the stadium that day, taking in the atmosphere of the Super Bowl and everything that surrounds it ... I just want to get into that industry that much more.
“I was fortunate to have that experience,” Horan added.
